CEDAR email: Invitation to ST-33 Session of AOGS2026

[Chun Yen Huang]

Subject: AOGS-2026 Session (ST-33) | Advances in Equatorial Plasma Bubbles
(EPB) Observation, Modeling, and Forecasting

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to invite you to consider submitting an abstract to Session
ST33 at AOGS-2026, which will be held in Fukuoka, Japan, from 2–7 August
2026. This session aims to bring together researchers to share recent
advances in the understanding of equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) dynamics,
their driving mechanisms, and their impacts on the ionosphere.
Contributions addressing observations, modeling, and forecasting of EPBs
are welcome, and this session aims to promote active discussion among
researchers.

Session Description:
Equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) are the most occurring space weather
phenomena in the low-latitude ionosphere. The plasma density irregularities
associated with EPBs cause severe fluctuations in signal amplitude and
phase, resulting in signal fading. Consequently, applications such as GNSS
positioning, navigation, satellite communication, and radio occultation
measurements are significantly impacted. A variety of observational
techniques have been developed to monitor EPBs. The range and frequency
spread displayed on radar diagrams indicate the occurrence of EPBs.
Ground-based and satellite-borne optical instruments enable the detection
of plasma depletions/dark stripes in airglow. Networks of ground-based GNSS
receivers can capture amplitude and phase fluctuations caused by EPBs,
while radio occultation techniques provide complementary space-based
perspectives. In-situ plasma measurements offer the highest spatial
resolution, though they remain limited to satellite orbital altitudes.
Extensive climatological analyses have revealed that EPB seeding exhibits
complexities, including waves, vertical convection, pre-reversal
enhancements (PREs), and geomagnetic activities. These complexities pose
significant challenges for EPB prediction. Physical models are crucial for
understanding the growth and evolution of EPB structures and their
interactions with background neutral winds and electrodynamics. Meanwhile,
data-driven and machine-learning approaches have recently emerged as
powerful tools for forecasting the occurrence of regional
scintillation.This session welcomes contributions covering all aspects of
EPB research, including observations (e.g., optical, GNSS, radio
occultation, and in-situ probes, etc.), physical modeling, and data-driven
forecasting techniques. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary studies
and the use of novel or repurposed instruments for EPB observations.

We sincerely look forward to your participation in this AOGS session.
Please note that the abstract submission deadline is Friday, 23 January
2026, at 23:55 (GMT+8, Singapore Standard Time).

Sincerely,
Session Conveners: Shih-Ping Chen, Yang-Yi Sun, Chun-Yen Huang
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