Effects of Space Weather on the Ionosphere: A Case Study of Geomagnetic Storms During 17-28 February, 2014

This study focused on the effects of space weather on the ionosphere during geomagnetic storms for theperiod 17 - 28 February, 2014 over the African low latitude region. During this period, a series of in-terplanetary shocks successively hit the Earth’s magnetosphere, leading to geomagnetic storms. The dualfrequency Global Positioning System (GPS) data was analysed to obtain Total Electron Content (TEC) andthis was used to study the response of the ionosphere to the geomagnetic storms. Positive and negativeionospheric storm effects were observed during the period of study. These storm effects were discussed interms of the Prompt Penetration Electric Field (PPEF), storm induced wind-lifting effect, and DisturbanceDynamo (DD) electric field. Although these storms occurred during the same period and were all drivenby Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), their impacts and associated features on the ionosphere varied dueto different contributing factors to their driving mechanisms. In addition, Rate Of Change of TEC Index(ROTI) was used to examine the occurrence of ionospheric irregularities. The generation of post-sunsetirregularities were attributed to the Rayleigh Taylor Instability mechanism