Researcher Profile

Contacts

Dr John Bosco Habarulema

Unit: Science Research and Applications Position: Researcher Qualifications: PhD

Dr John Bosco Habarulema completed his MSc (2008) and PhD (2011) in Space Physics (from Rhodes University, South Africa) focussing on analytical and empirical modelling of total electron content (on a regional scale) with the use of satellite and ground based data. This still remains one of his research interests in addition to investigations leading to understanding physical mechanisms driving ionospheric dynamics especially during disturbed conditions, low latitude electrodynamics and their potential to launch atmospheric gravity waves (TIDs) which propagate to mid-latitude regions from the equatorial regions. He is the currently the scientific Principal Investigator of the South African Ionosonde Network which comprises of four ionosonde stations.

John joined SANSA as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2011. Since 2013, he has been a researcher within the Science Research and Applications unit at SANSA, Hermanus.

In 2014, John was the first African recipient of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) International Sunanda and Santimay Basu Early-Career Award in Sun-Earth systems science for his contributions to ionospheric physics and space weather. In 2016 he was awarded the prestigious AGU Africa Award for Research Excellence in Space Science.

He works with postgraduate students at all levels and has published over 30 papers in international peer reviewed journals

Research Interests

  • Ionospheric modelling (mainly empirical for peak ionospheric parameters and total electron content)
  • Low latitude electrodynamics (including modelling of verticaldrifts) and relationship with gravity waves (especially large scale TIDs)
  • Long-term trends in ionospheric storm effects and related physical mechanisms

Publications

Title DOI Number Link
Simultaneous storm time equatorward and poleward large-scale TIDs on a global scale Habarulema, J. B., Z. T. Katamzi, E. Yizengaw, Y. Yamazaki and and G. Seemala 10.1002/2016GL069740
Mid-latitude ionospheric changes to four great geomagnetic storms of solar cycle 23 in southern and northern hemispheres Matamba, T. M., J. B. Habarulema and D. Buresova 10.1002/2016SW001516
Long-term analysis between radio occultation and ionosonde peak electron density and height during geomagnetic storms J. B. Habarulema and S. A Carelse 10.1002/2016GL068944
Trends of ionospheric irregularities over African low latitude region during quiet geomagnetic conditions P. Mungufeni, J. B. Habarulema and E. Jurua 10.1016/j.jastp.2016.01.015
First observations of poleward large scale travelling ionospheric disturbances over the African sector during geomagnetic storm conditions J. B. Habarulema, Z. T. Katamzi and E. Yizengaw 10.1002/2015JA021066
Modelling total electron content during geomagnetic storm conditions using empirical orthogonal functions and neural networks J. C. Uwamahoro and J. B. Habarulema 10.1002/2015JA021961
Statistical analysis of the ionospheric response during geomagnetic storm conditions over South Africa using ionosonde and GPS data T. M. Matamba, J.B. Habarulema and L.-A. McKinnell 10.1002/2015SW001218
GA simultaneous study of ionospheric parameters derived from FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC, GRACE and CHAMP missions over mid, low and equatorial latitudes: comparison with ionosonde data J. B. Habarulema, Z. T. Katamzi and E. Yizengaw 10.1002/2014JA020192
Traveling ionospheric disturbances observed at South African midlatitudes during the 29-31 October 2003 geomagnetically disturbed period Z. T. Katamzi and J. B. Habarulema 10.1016/j.asr.2013.10.019
Empirical modeling of the storm time geomagnetic indices: a comparison between the local K and global Kp indices J. Uwamahoro and J. B. Habarulema 10.1186/1880-5981-66-95
Estimating the propagation characteristics of ionospheric disturbances using satellite and ground based data J. B. Habarulema, Z. T. Katamzi and L.-A. McKinnell 10.1002/2013JA018997
A comparative study of TEC response for African equatorial and mid-latitudes during storm conditions J. B. Habarulem, L.-A. McKinnell, D. Buresova, Y. Zhang, G. Seemala, C. M. Ngwira, J. Chum, and B. Opperman 10.1016/j.jastp.2013.05.008