The relation between the occurrence of ionospheric irregularities and the spatial gradient of TEC derived from two closely located stations, located within the equatorial region over Ethiopia, was investigated. The relationship between σ(∆TEC/∆long) and ROTI_ave correlate linearly with correlation coefficients of C = 0.7975 and C = 0.7915 over ASAB and DEBK, respectively. In addition to latitudinal gradients, the longitudinal gradient of TEC has a significant contribution to the TEC fluctuations.

Based on hourly averages of the total electron content (TEC), a regional model of the TEC was constructed. Annual averages calculated from monthly medians of the detrended TEC were used to estimate any trends in the TEC over the African low latitudes. A predominantly negative trend in the ionospheric TEC was observed in the vicinity of the dip equator.

We have established that, over the East African region, the trough of the equatorial ionisation anomaly (EIA) during high solar activity and quiet geomagnetic conditions lies slightly south of the magnetic equator. During the equinox and December solstice seasons, and a local time interval of 13:00–15:00, the probability of observing the EIA on days with daytime equatorial electrojet (EEJ) strength ≥ 40 nT was mostly > 80 %.

An unusual geomagnetic storm effect on the ionosphere in the form of localized enhancement of total electron content southward of South Africa is investigated using data from different ionosphere sounding facilities. Global ionospheric maps allow us to get the occurrence rate of such irregularities over the period of 2002–2016 and to see its correlation with solar cycle. The events we detected occur during geomagnetic storms, but not every geomagnetic storm produces such an effect.

Daytime twin-peak structures, also known as bite-out or diurnal double-maxima structures, are ionospheric phenomena in which the diurnal ionospheric trend shows two peaks (instead of the normal one) during the daytime. This study reports on first simultaneous observations of these structures in the Global Positioning System and ionosonde measurements from the southern African and European middle-latitude stations during a mostly quiet geomagnetic condition period of 8–13 April 2012.