Multi-instrument ionospheric disturbance detection over the Eastern Mediterranean region

This paper presents examples of a multi-instrument approach in ionospheric disturbance detection over the Eastern Mediterranean region. The results presented are based on a scientific initiative to establish an ionospheric monitoring network over Cyprus and Egypt by linking the corresponding instruments in operation in the two countries: a group of three Coherent Ionospheric Doppler Receiver (CIDR) systems being deployed in a roughly north-south chain in Egypt and a modern digital DPS-4D digisonde and a dual-frequency GNSS receiver in Cyprus. The CIDR and DPS-4D instruments considered in this paper have been recently installed in an effort to initiate ionospheric research in the two countries. The cooperation in the frames of this project is considered very beneficial especially taking into account the fact that both countries lack important infrastructure and a tradition of ionospheric observations.