Variation of Total Electron Content over May 10 - 13 2024 Geomagnetic Super Storm in South Africa

Efrem Amanuel Data

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11

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Variation of Total Electron Content over May 10 - 13 2024 Geomagnetic Super Storm in South Africa

Efrem Amanuel Data^*

Published in International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science (Volume 13, Issue 2)

Received: 4 March 2025 Accepted: 27 March 2025 Published: 11 April 2025

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Abstract

This study investigates the variation of Total Electron Content (TEC) over South Africa during the geomagnetic superstorm of May 10 - 13, 2024. This study aims to analyze the variation of TEC over South Africa during the May 10 - 13, 2024, geomagnetic superstorm using data from the IRI-2020 model, GNSS-based TEC measurements, and other geomagnetic parameters. The root mean square error (RMSE) method was applied to quantify the deviations between GPS-derived TEC measurements and the IRI-2020 model during the geomagnetic storm. The results reveal significant TEC fluctuations, with a pronounced increase during the main phase due to prompt penetration electric fields (PPEFs) and storm-induced ionospheric disturbances. This was followed by a sharp TEC depletion in the recovery phase, attributed to thermospheric composition changes, particularly oxygen-to-nitrogen ratio variations. Magnetometer H-component observations further confirm the strong geomagnetic activity associated with the storm, indicating enhanced ionospheric currents and electrodynamic coupling. Latitudinal variations in TEC revealed complex ionospheric dynamics, with more pronounced disturbances at mid-latitudes. The ionospheric irregularities affected GNSS-based positioning, highlighting the impact of geomagnetic storms on navigation systems. These findings provide valuable insights into ionospheric storm effects over South Africa, contributing to improved space weather forecasting, GNSS accuracy, and regional ionospheric modeling.

Published in	International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science (Volume 13, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11
Page(s)	21-35
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Super Storm, Mid-latitude Ionosphere, PPEFs, TEC, Storm-time

References

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APA Style

Data, E. A. (2025). Variation of Total Electron Content over May 10 - 13 2024 Geomagnetic Super Storm in South Africa. International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science, 13(2), 21-35. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11

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ACS Style

Data, E. A. Variation of Total Electron Content over May 10 - 13 2024 Geomagnetic Super Storm in South Africa. Int. J. Astrophys. Space Sci. 2025, 13(2), 21-35. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11

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AMA Style

Data EA. Variation of Total Electron Content over May 10 - 13 2024 Geomagnetic Super Storm in South Africa. Int J Astrophys Space Sci. 2025;13(2):21-35. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11,
  author = {Efrem Amanuel Data},
  title = {Variation of Total Electron Content over May 10 - 13 2024 Geomagnetic Super Storm in South Africa},
  journal = {International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {21-35},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijass.20251302.11},
  abstract = {This study investigates the variation of Total Electron Content (TEC) over South Africa during the geomagnetic superstorm of May 10 - 13, 2024. This study aims to analyze the variation of TEC over South Africa during the May 10 - 13, 2024, geomagnetic superstorm using data from the IRI-2020 model, GNSS-based TEC measurements, and other geomagnetic parameters. The root mean square error (RMSE) method was applied to quantify the deviations between GPS-derived TEC measurements and the IRI-2020 model during the geomagnetic storm. The results reveal significant TEC fluctuations, with a pronounced increase during the main phase due to prompt penetration electric fields (PPEFs) and storm-induced ionospheric disturbances. This was followed by a sharp TEC depletion in the recovery phase, attributed to thermospheric composition changes, particularly oxygen-to-nitrogen ratio variations. Magnetometer H-component observations further confirm the strong geomagnetic activity associated with the storm, indicating enhanced ionospheric currents and electrodynamic coupling. Latitudinal variations in TEC revealed complex ionospheric dynamics, with more pronounced disturbances at mid-latitudes. The ionospheric irregularities affected GNSS-based positioning, highlighting the impact of geomagnetic storms on navigation systems. These findings provide valuable insights into ionospheric storm effects over South Africa, contributing to improved space weather forecasting, GNSS accuracy, and regional ionospheric modeling.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Variation of Total Electron Content over May 10 - 13 2024 Geomagnetic Super Storm in South Africa
AU  - Efrem Amanuel Data
Y1  - 2025/04/11
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11
T2  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
JF  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
JO  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
SP  - 21
EP  - 35
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2376-7022
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11
AB  - This study investigates the variation of Total Electron Content (TEC) over South Africa during the geomagnetic superstorm of May 10 - 13, 2024. This study aims to analyze the variation of TEC over South Africa during the May 10 - 13, 2024, geomagnetic superstorm using data from the IRI-2020 model, GNSS-based TEC measurements, and other geomagnetic parameters. The root mean square error (RMSE) method was applied to quantify the deviations between GPS-derived TEC measurements and the IRI-2020 model during the geomagnetic storm. The results reveal significant TEC fluctuations, with a pronounced increase during the main phase due to prompt penetration electric fields (PPEFs) and storm-induced ionospheric disturbances. This was followed by a sharp TEC depletion in the recovery phase, attributed to thermospheric composition changes, particularly oxygen-to-nitrogen ratio variations. Magnetometer H-component observations further confirm the strong geomagnetic activity associated with the storm, indicating enhanced ionospheric currents and electrodynamic coupling. Latitudinal variations in TEC revealed complex ionospheric dynamics, with more pronounced disturbances at mid-latitudes. The ionospheric irregularities affected GNSS-based positioning, highlighting the impact of geomagnetic storms on navigation systems. These findings provide valuable insights into ionospheric storm effects over South Africa, contributing to improved space weather forecasting, GNSS accuracy, and regional ionospheric modeling.
VL  - 13
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Efrem Amanuel Data

Department of Physics, College of Natural and Computational Science, Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0006-3668-5445

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APA Style

Data, E. A. (2025). Variation of Total Electron Content over May 10 - 13 2024 Geomagnetic Super Storm in South Africa. International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science, 13(2), 21-35. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11

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ACS Style

Data, E. A. Variation of Total Electron Content over May 10 - 13 2024 Geomagnetic Super Storm in South Africa. Int. J. Astrophys. Space Sci. 2025, 13(2), 21-35. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11

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AMA Style

Data EA. Variation of Total Electron Content over May 10 - 13 2024 Geomagnetic Super Storm in South Africa. Int J Astrophys Space Sci. 2025;13(2):21-35. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11,
  author = {Efrem Amanuel Data},
  title = {Variation of Total Electron Content over May 10 - 13 2024 Geomagnetic Super Storm in South Africa},
  journal = {International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {21-35},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijass.20251302.11},
  abstract = {This study investigates the variation of Total Electron Content (TEC) over South Africa during the geomagnetic superstorm of May 10 - 13, 2024. This study aims to analyze the variation of TEC over South Africa during the May 10 - 13, 2024, geomagnetic superstorm using data from the IRI-2020 model, GNSS-based TEC measurements, and other geomagnetic parameters. The root mean square error (RMSE) method was applied to quantify the deviations between GPS-derived TEC measurements and the IRI-2020 model during the geomagnetic storm. The results reveal significant TEC fluctuations, with a pronounced increase during the main phase due to prompt penetration electric fields (PPEFs) and storm-induced ionospheric disturbances. This was followed by a sharp TEC depletion in the recovery phase, attributed to thermospheric composition changes, particularly oxygen-to-nitrogen ratio variations. Magnetometer H-component observations further confirm the strong geomagnetic activity associated with the storm, indicating enhanced ionospheric currents and electrodynamic coupling. Latitudinal variations in TEC revealed complex ionospheric dynamics, with more pronounced disturbances at mid-latitudes. The ionospheric irregularities affected GNSS-based positioning, highlighting the impact of geomagnetic storms on navigation systems. These findings provide valuable insights into ionospheric storm effects over South Africa, contributing to improved space weather forecasting, GNSS accuracy, and regional ionospheric modeling.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Variation of Total Electron Content over May 10 - 13 2024 Geomagnetic Super Storm in South Africa
AU  - Efrem Amanuel Data
Y1  - 2025/04/11
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11
T2  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
JF  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
JO  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
SP  - 21
EP  - 35
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2376-7022
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20251302.11
AB  - This study investigates the variation of Total Electron Content (TEC) over South Africa during the geomagnetic superstorm of May 10 - 13, 2024. This study aims to analyze the variation of TEC over South Africa during the May 10 - 13, 2024, geomagnetic superstorm using data from the IRI-2020 model, GNSS-based TEC measurements, and other geomagnetic parameters. The root mean square error (RMSE) method was applied to quantify the deviations between GPS-derived TEC measurements and the IRI-2020 model during the geomagnetic storm. The results reveal significant TEC fluctuations, with a pronounced increase during the main phase due to prompt penetration electric fields (PPEFs) and storm-induced ionospheric disturbances. This was followed by a sharp TEC depletion in the recovery phase, attributed to thermospheric composition changes, particularly oxygen-to-nitrogen ratio variations. Magnetometer H-component observations further confirm the strong geomagnetic activity associated with the storm, indicating enhanced ionospheric currents and electrodynamic coupling. Latitudinal variations in TEC revealed complex ionospheric dynamics, with more pronounced disturbances at mid-latitudes. The ionospheric irregularities affected GNSS-based positioning, highlighting the impact of geomagnetic storms on navigation systems. These findings provide valuable insights into ionospheric storm effects over South Africa, contributing to improved space weather forecasting, GNSS accuracy, and regional ionospheric modeling.
VL  - 13
IS  - 2
ER  -

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