We report the results of the ionospheric measurement obtained from the instruments on board the Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite - 1 (KOMPSAT-l). We observed a deep electron density trough in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere during the great magnetic storm on 15 July 2000. We attribute the phenomena to the up-lifted F-layer caused by the enhanced eastward electric field, while the spacecraft passed underneath the layer. We also present the results of our statistical study on the equatorial plasma bubble formation. We confirm the previous results regarding its seasonal and longitudinal dependence. In addition, we obtain new statistical results of the bubble temperature variations. The whole data set of measurement for more than a year is compared with the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI). It is seen that the features of the electron density and temperature along the magnetic equator are more prominent in the KOMPSAT-l observations than in the IRI model.

• KYOUNG W. MIN(Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
• JAEJIN LEE(Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
• JAEHEUNG PARK(Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
• HEEJUN KIM(Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
• ENSANG LEE(Department of Physics, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)