SINOPSIS

Basic principles and first results of verification of a technique for identifying Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (TIDs) are described using Total Electron Content (TEC) measurements above the Antarctic Peninsula. The TEC data have been retrieved from records of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals which are continuously monitored at the Ukrainian Antarctic Base "Akademik Vernadsky" (since April 2005) and at three nearest permanent GNSS stations. Simultaneous records of F-layer critical frequency variations measured by a vertical ionospheric sounder at "Vernadsky" are analyzed to verify the hypothesis of detecting wavelike ionospheric disturbances. It is concluded that wave patterns in the ionosphere can be stimulated by passages of powerful warm weather fronts near the Earth’s surface, severe near-surface winds and geomagnetic activity.