10/03/2025
By Lynne Schaufenbil
Please join the Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology on Thursday, October 16 at 11am for the talk "Plasma Bubbles in the Earth's Ionosphere: Theory and Observations" by Giorgio Picanco of UMass Lowell's Space Science Laboratory
Abstract: Equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) are phenomena characterized by the formation of plasma-depleted regions generated by instabilities that rise vertically in the Earth’s ionosphere and spread along geomagnetic field lines. Their occurrence is directly associated with specific electrodynamic conditions, such as the post-sunset pre-reversal enhancement (PRE) of the vertical plasma drift. These irregularities can significantly affect trans-ionospheric signals, causing scintillation and loss of lock in GNSS receivers, as well as disruptions in HF radio communications and satellite-based navigation systems. This seminar presents a comprehensive review of the theoretical and observational aspects of EPBs, addressing their morphology, seasonal variability, and the influence of solar and geomagnetic activity on their formation and evolution. In addition, it discusses the main monitoring techniques, including GNSS data, ionosondes, VHF radars, all-sky imagers, and satellite-based observations (e.g., GOLD), which are fundamental for characterizing these ionospheric irregularities. Recent studies indicate that the latitudinal extent of EPBs is intrinsically linked to the intensity of the vertical plasma drift, being more pronounced during periods of high solar activity. Other factors, such as neutral winds and thermospheric oscillations, are also analyzed, highlighting the complexity of the processes involved in the formation and evolution of these structures. The seminar further explores atypical EPB events associated with changes in ionospheric electrodynamics during recent geomagnetic storms, particularly the May 2024 “Gannon Storm” and the October 2024 event. Finally, it emphasizes the need for continuous research to improve predictive models and deepen the understanding of the longitudinal and seasonal variability of EPBs.
Bio: Giorgio Picanço was born in a city in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, where his curiosity about the natural world led him to pursue a career in physics and geosciences. He holds a B.Sc. in Geophysics and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Space Physics, with research mainly focused on ionospheric physics and space weather phenomena.
He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the UML Space Science Laboratory, working on the project Next-generation Infrastructure for Ionosonde Data Rescue (IDAR), funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research. His work involves identifying and standardizing legacy ionosonde data to enrich global databases that support data assimilation into near real-time ionospheric models. From these datasets, he also develops open-source Python libraries that integrate GNSS, LEO satellite, and radio occultation data, creating multi-layer modeling methodologies to study the Earth’s ionosphere and its response to geomagnetic storms and other space weather events.
With more than 35 peer-reviewed publications, he is an active member of the ionospheric physics community, collaborating with international groups including INPE (Brazil), UNLP (Argentina), UANL (Mexico), FGI (Finland), and DLR (Germany). When he is not working on ionospheric research, Giorgio enjoys playing Brazilian music, especially samba and bossa nova.
To attend either in person or via a Zoom link, please email Lynne_Schaufenbil@uml.edu to reserve your spot.