Ionospheric response to a geomagnetic storm during November 8\textendash10, 2004

<p>This paper investigates the response of the equatorial, and near equatorial, ionosphere to geomagnetic disturbances during the period November 8-10, 2004. Ionosonde data from Trivandrum (8.5\textdegreeN 77\textdegreeE and dip 0.5\textdegreeN) and SHAR (13.5\textdegreeN, 80.2\textdegreeE, dip \~5.5\textdegreeN), magnetic field data from Tirunelveli (8.7\textdegreeN, 76.9\textdegreeE, dip latitude 0.5\textdegreeS) and Alibag (18.64\textdegreeN, 72.87\textdegreeE), and GUVI O/N₂ data in the Indian longitude sector, are used for the study. The behavior of interplanetary parameters is also examined in conjunction with the ionospheric data. On 8 November, the EIA around noontime is not fully inhibited even though the electrojet strength an indicates inhibition of EIA due to a disturbance dynamo electric field effect. It is the enhanced O/N₂ over TRV and SHAR, with a larger increase over SHAR, which results in a larger (than expected) value of the EIA proxy parameter. On 9 November, the comparable values of <em>f</em>_o<em>F</em>₂ at TRV and SHAR around noon time is due to the combined effect of a weakened anomaly in the presence disturbance dynamo electric field effects leading to the EIA crest being near SHAR, and increased O/N₂ values at TRV and SHAR with a larger increase at TRV. On 10 November, the very strong values of the EIA proxy-SHAR parameter is attributed to the combined effects of prompt penetration electric field related modulations of EIA, and significant O/N₂ changes at the equatorial, and near equatorial, latitude. Thus, the study reveals the important role of storm-induced O/N₂ changes, along with prompt penetration electric fields and disturbance dynamo electric fields in modulating the ionization distribution in the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) region during this period.</p>