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Climatology of Medium‐Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances Over Continental US Using GNSS TEC From 2012 to 2023.

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Title: Climatology of Medium‐Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances Over Continental US Using GNSS TEC From 2012 to 2023.
Authors: Liu, Jing1 (AUTHOR) jingl90@mit.edu, Zhang, Shun‐Rong1 (AUTHOR) shunrong@mit.edu, Coster, Anthea J.1 (AUTHOR), Erickson, Philip J.1 (AUTHOR), Liu, Hanli2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics. Jan2026, Vol. 131 Issue 1, p1-21. 21p.
Subject Terms: *Climatology, *Solar activity, *Spatio-temporal variation, Ionospheric disturbances, Ionospheric techniques
Geographic Terms: United States
Company/Entity: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract: Medium‐Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (MSTIDs) have long been a subject of interest in ionospheric research. However, their spatiotemporal variability across regions, local times, seasons, and solar cycles is very complicated and remains not well established. Using Total Electron Content (TEC) data from global GNSS receiver networks processed at MIT Haystack Observatory, we perform a detailed statistical analysis of MSTIDs over the Continental US (CONUS). Differential TEC data every day from 2012 to 2023 are processed using a keogram‐based image processing technique to identify MSTID wave properties, including the occurrence, propagation direction, phase speed, wavelength, and period. Focusing on eastern US midlatitudes (80°W, 40°N), we extend comparisons longitudinally and latitudinally across CONUS. Our results reveal significant variability in MSTID occurrence rates and propagation directions, notably linked to solar terminators. MSTID occurrence peaks after summer sunrise (with minor maxima near winter daytime), around summer sunset, and after summer midnight. Occurrence generally correlates positively with solar activity in summer but can become negative after winter midnight. In winter, MSTIDs propagate southeastward in the morning and rotate clockwise to west‐northwestward after midnight; in summer, propagation is more variable. Comparisons across the CONUS highlight strong regional differences. Our findings reflect complex drivers behind MSTIDs, including gravity waves, electrodynamic processes, and solar terminators. Their relative influences vary with local time, season, and location. This long‐term analysis provides critical insights into MSTID climatology and forms a basis for in‐depth investigations of MSTID generation mechanisms. Plain Language Summary: Medium‐Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (MSTIDs) are wave‐like disturbances in Earth's upper atmosphere that can affect communication and navigation signals. Our study analyzed over a decade of data (2012–2023) from GNSS signals across the Continental United States (CONUS), focusing on MSTIDs' characteristics in eastern midlatitudes and extending comparisons to other longitudes and latitudes over CONUS. We used a special image processing method to identify how often MSTIDs appear, their propagation directions and phase speeds, and their spatial scales. Results show that MSTIDs occur more frequently after summer sunrise, with smaller occurrence peaks in winter daytime, around summer sunset, and after midnight in summer. Their occurrence usually increases with stronger solar activity in summer but can decrease with stronger solar activity after winter midnight. We also noticed that MSTIDs in winter typically travel southeastward in the morning and gradually rotate clockwise to west‐northwest after midnight, while in summer their directions are more complex. These patterns highlight the influence of solar terminators, gravity waves, and potentially electrodynamic processes. Our long‐term analysis helps us better understand how MSTIDs vary because of factors such as local time, season, and geographic location, and lays the groundwork for deeper research into the causes of these ionospheric waves. Key Points: MSTID climatology is obtained using extensive MIT GNSS Total Electron Content data over 2012–2023MSTIDs occurrence, propagation direction, phase speed, period, and horizontal wavelength are presentedSummer nighttime MSTIDs can propagate both northward and southward [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Climatology of Medium‐Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances Over Continental US Using GNSS TEC From 2012 to 2023.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Liu%2C+Jing%22">Liu, Jing</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> jingl90@mit.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Shun‐Rong%22">Zhang, Shun‐Rong</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> shunrong@mit.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Coster%2C+Anthea+J%2E%22">Coster, Anthea J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Erickson%2C+Philip+J%2E%22">Erickson, Philip J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Liu%2C+Hanli%22">Liu, Hanli</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Space+Physics%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics</searchLink>. Jan2026, Vol. 131 Issue 1, p1-21. 21p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Climatology%22">Climatology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Solar+activity%22">Solar activity</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spatio-temporal+variation%22">Spatio-temporal variation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ionospheric+disturbances%22">Ionospheric disturbances</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ionospheric+techniques%22">Ionospheric techniques</searchLink>
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– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Medium‐Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (MSTIDs) have long been a subject of interest in ionospheric research. However, their spatiotemporal variability across regions, local times, seasons, and solar cycles is very complicated and remains not well established. Using Total Electron Content (TEC) data from global GNSS receiver networks processed at MIT Haystack Observatory, we perform a detailed statistical analysis of MSTIDs over the Continental US (CONUS). Differential TEC data every day from 2012 to 2023 are processed using a keogram‐based image processing technique to identify MSTID wave properties, including the occurrence, propagation direction, phase speed, wavelength, and period. Focusing on eastern US midlatitudes (80°W, 40°N), we extend comparisons longitudinally and latitudinally across CONUS. Our results reveal significant variability in MSTID occurrence rates and propagation directions, notably linked to solar terminators. MSTID occurrence peaks after summer sunrise (with minor maxima near winter daytime), around summer sunset, and after summer midnight. Occurrence generally correlates positively with solar activity in summer but can become negative after winter midnight. In winter, MSTIDs propagate southeastward in the morning and rotate clockwise to west‐northwestward after midnight; in summer, propagation is more variable. Comparisons across the CONUS highlight strong regional differences. Our findings reflect complex drivers behind MSTIDs, including gravity waves, electrodynamic processes, and solar terminators. Their relative influences vary with local time, season, and location. This long‐term analysis provides critical insights into MSTID climatology and forms a basis for in‐depth investigations of MSTID generation mechanisms. Plain Language Summary: Medium‐Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (MSTIDs) are wave‐like disturbances in Earth's upper atmosphere that can affect communication and navigation signals. Our study analyzed over a decade of data (2012–2023) from GNSS signals across the Continental United States (CONUS), focusing on MSTIDs' characteristics in eastern midlatitudes and extending comparisons to other longitudes and latitudes over CONUS. We used a special image processing method to identify how often MSTIDs appear, their propagation directions and phase speeds, and their spatial scales. Results show that MSTIDs occur more frequently after summer sunrise, with smaller occurrence peaks in winter daytime, around summer sunset, and after midnight in summer. Their occurrence usually increases with stronger solar activity in summer but can decrease with stronger solar activity after winter midnight. We also noticed that MSTIDs in winter typically travel southeastward in the morning and gradually rotate clockwise to west‐northwest after midnight, while in summer their directions are more complex. These patterns highlight the influence of solar terminators, gravity waves, and potentially electrodynamic processes. Our long‐term analysis helps us better understand how MSTIDs vary because of factors such as local time, season, and geographic location, and lays the groundwork for deeper research into the causes of these ionospheric waves. Key Points: MSTID climatology is obtained using extensive MIT GNSS Total Electron Content data over 2012–2023MSTIDs occurrence, propagation direction, phase speed, period, and horizontal wavelength are presentedSummer nighttime MSTIDs can propagate both northward and southward [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1029/2025JA034134
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 21
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Climatology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Solar activity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spatio-temporal variation
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      – SubjectFull: Ionospheric disturbances
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      – SubjectFull: Ionospheric techniques
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      – SubjectFull: United States
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      – SubjectFull: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Climatology of Medium‐Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances Over Continental US Using GNSS TEC From 2012 to 2023.
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            NameFull: Liu, Jing
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            NameFull: Zhang, Shun‐Rong
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            NameFull: Coster, Anthea J.
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            NameFull: Erickson, Philip J.
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            NameFull: Liu, Hanli
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              Text: Jan2026
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              Y: 2026
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