Longitude dependent response of the GPS derived ionospheric ROTI to geomagnetic storms

The local time dependent effects of geomagnetic storm on the ionospheric TEC and Rate of change of TEC Index (ROTI) are studied here using the GPS data for four different low latitude stations: Ogaswara, Japan (24.29?°N, 153.91?°E; Geomagnetic: 17.21?°N, 136.16?°W); Surat, India (21.16?°N, 72.78?°E; Geomagnetic: 12.88?°N, 146.91?°E); Bogota, Colombia (4.64?°N, ?74.09?°E; Geomagnetic: 14.42?°N, 1.67?°W); and Kokee park Waimea, Hawaii, US (22.12?°N, ?159.67?°E; Geomagnetic: 22.13?°N, 91.19?°W). The solar wind velocity and geomagnetic indices: Dst, Kp and IMF Bz are utilized to validate the geomagnetic storms registered during the years 2011 and 2012. Using the GPS based TEC data and computed values of ROTI, the storm induced ionospheric irregularities generation and inhibition has been studied for all stations. The present study suggests that, the F-region irregularities of a scale length of few kilometers over the magnetic equator are locally affected by geomagnetic storms. This study also shows a good agreement (70–84 %) with the Aaron’s criteria (Aarons, Radio Sci., 26:1131–1149, 1991; Biktash, Ann. Geophys., 19:731–739, 2004) as significant absence and enhancement of ROTI was found to be influenced by the local time of the negative peak of Dst index association.