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Found 737 entries in the Bibliography.


Showing entries from 1 through 50


2022

Low-latitude plasma blobs above Africa: Exploiting GOLD and multi-satellite in situ measurements

Low-latitude plasma blobs are localized density enhancements of electron density that are occasionally observed in the night-time tropical ionosphere. Two-dimensional (2D) imaging of this phenomenon has been rare and frequently restricted to Central/South America, which is densely covered with ground-based airglow imagers and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers. In Africa, on the contrary, no 2D image of a blob has been reported. Here we present two low-latitude blob events above Africa, one in the Northern summer and the other in winter, in the 2-dimensional Far-UltraViolet (FUV) images from the Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission. Additionally, multiple satellites (four spacecraft per event) on the Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) encountered the blob events, some within the GOLD images and some outside. The LEO data support the robustness of GOLD observations and bridge time gaps between the consecutive images. Properties of the two blob events above Africa generally support the conclusions in a previous case study for Central/South America. Plasma therein exhibited higher O+ fraction and faster ion flow toward outer L-shells than the ambient. The blobs were conjugate to locally intensified Equatorial Ionization Anomaly crests without conspicuous equatorward-westward propagation. Our results demonstrate the usefulness of GOLD and multiple LEO satellites in monitoring the ionosphere above Africa, which is a fascinating laboratory of low-latitude electrodynamics but still waiting for more observatories to be deployed.

Park, Jaeheung; Min, Kyoung; Eastes, Richard; Chao, Chi; Kim, Hee-Eun; Lee, Junchan; Sohn, Jongdae; Ryu, Kwangsun; Seo, Hoonkyu; Yoo, Ji-Hyeon; Lee, Seunguk; Woo, Changho; Kim, Eo-Jin;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on: may

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2022.05.021

COSMIC-2; GOLD; ICON; Low-latitude blobs; NextSat-1; swarm

Low-latitude plasma blobs above Africa: Exploiting GOLD and multi-satellite in situ measurements

Low-latitude plasma blobs are localized density enhancements of electron density that are occasionally observed in the night-time tropical ionosphere. Two-dimensional (2D) imaging of this phenomenon has been rare and frequently restricted to Central/South America, which is densely covered with ground-based airglow imagers and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers. In Africa, on the contrary, no 2D image of a blob has been reported. Here we present two low-latitude blob events above Africa, one in the Northern summer and the other in winter, in the 2-dimensional Far-UltraViolet (FUV) images from the Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission. Additionally, multiple satellites (four spacecraft per event) on the Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) encountered the blob events, some within the GOLD images and some outside. The LEO data support the robustness of GOLD observations and bridge time gaps between the consecutive images. Properties of the two blob events above Africa generally support the conclusions in a previous case study for Central/South America. Plasma therein exhibited higher O+ fraction and faster ion flow toward outer L-shells than the ambient. The blobs were conjugate to locally intensified Equatorial Ionization Anomaly crests without conspicuous equatorward-westward propagation. Our results demonstrate the usefulness of GOLD and multiple LEO satellites in monitoring the ionosphere above Africa, which is a fascinating laboratory of low-latitude electrodynamics but still waiting for more observatories to be deployed.

Park, Jaeheung; Min, Kyoung; Eastes, Richard; Chao, Chi; Kim, Hee-Eun; Lee, Junchan; Sohn, Jongdae; Ryu, Kwangsun; Seo, Hoonkyu; Yoo, Ji-Hyeon; Lee, Seunguk; Woo, Changho; Kim, Eo-Jin;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on: may

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2022.05.021

COSMIC-2; GOLD; ICON; Low-latitude blobs; NextSat-1; swarm

The investigation on daytime conjugate hemispheric asymmetry along 100°E longitude using observations and model simulations: New insights

The hemispherical asymmetry of the low latitude region along 100°E ± 5°E is scrutinized for the year 2015 at magnetically conjugate points on seasonal and intra-seasonal time scales. Two conjugate Ionosonde station pairs are selected- one pair in the inner valley (from SEALION) and the other in the outer edges of the EIA region. The anomaly in the stations is estimated using the difference of low latitude NmF2 from the dip equatorial NmF2 in the same meridian. A monthly average scheme is used instead of a seasonal mean, as the month-to-month variations are found to provide intricate details. The anomaly at the conjugate stations is highly asymmetric even during the equinoctial months of March and October, whereas it is nearly symmetric during April. During June/July, the morning time hemispheric asymmetry (larger on the winter side) temporarily reduces in the midday period and then reverses sign (larger in summer) in the afternoon. The NmF2 observations suggest a close relation of hemispheric symmetry to the position of the subsolar point with respect to the dip equator and a shift/expansion of the trough region of the EIA towards the summer hemisphere. The inter-hemispheric comparison of the hmF2 suggests a strong modulating influence of meridional winds at both the inner and outer stations which depend strongly on the relative position of the subsolar point with respect to the field line geometry. Theoretical (SAMI3/SAMI2) and empirical model (IRI) simulations show a meridional movement of the EIA region with the subsolar point. The winter to summer hemisphere movement of the EIA trough and crest region is also reproduced in the GIM-TEC along 100°E for 2015. This shifting or tailoring of the trough and the crest region is attributed primarily to the meridional wind field, which varies with the shifting position of subsolar point relative to the field line geometry. The seasonal and intra-seasonal difference in the NmF2 hemispheric asymmetry is attributed to the misalignment of the two centers of power viz., the thermospheric/neutral processes and the electromagnetic forces, due to the geographic-geomagnetic offset in this longitude.

Kalita, B.; Bhuyan, P.; Nath, S.; Choudhury, M.; Chakrabarty, D.; Wang, K.; Hozumi, K.; Supnithi, P.; Komolmis, T.; . Y. Yatini, C; Le Huy, M.;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on: may

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2022.02.058

NmF2; asymmetry; Conjugate; EIA; model; Hemisphere; hmF2; Subsolar

Total Electron Content Variations during an HSS/CIR driven storm at high and middle latitudes

Geethakumari, Gopika; Aikio, Anita; Cai, Lei; Vanhamaki, Heikki; Pedersen, Marcus; Coster, Anthea; Marchaudon, Aurélie; Blelly, Pierre-Louis; Haberle, Veronika; Maute, Astrid; Ellahouny, Nada; Virtanen, Ilkka; Norberg, Johannes; Soyama, Shin-Ichiro; Grandin, Maxime;

Published by:       Published on: mar

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu22-8194

Total Electron Content Variations during an HSS/CIR driven storm at high and middle latitudes

Geethakumari, Gopika; Aikio, Anita; Cai, Lei; Vanhamaki, Heikki; Pedersen, Marcus; Coster, Anthea; Marchaudon, Aurélie; Blelly, Pierre-Louis; Haberle, Veronika; Maute, Astrid; Ellahouny, Nada; Virtanen, Ilkka; Norberg, Johannes; Soyama, Shin-Ichiro; Grandin, Maxime;

Published by:       Published on: mar

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.5194/egusphere-egu22-8194

A long-range forecasting model for the thermosphere based on the intelligent optimized particle filtering

The uncertainties associated with the variations in the thermosphere are responsible for the inaccurate prediction of the orbit decay of low Earth orbiting space objects due to the drag force. Accurate forecasting of the thermosphere is urgently required to avoid satellite collisions, which is a potential threat to the rapid growth of spacecraft applications. However, owing to the imperfections in the physics-based forecast model, the long-range forecast of the thermosphere is still primitive even if the accurate prediction of the external forcing is achieved. In this study, we constructed a novel methodology to forecast the thermosphere for tens of days by specifying the uncertain parameters in a physics-based model using an intelligent optimized particle filtering algorithm. A comparison of the results suggested that this method has the capability of providing a more reliable forecast with more than 30-days leading time for the thermospheric mass density than the existing ones under both weak and severe disturbed conditions, if solar and geomagnetic forcing is known. Moreover, the accurate estimation of the state of thermosphere based on this technique would further contribute to the understanding of the temporal and spatial evolution of the upper atmosphere.

Ren, Dexin; Lei, Jiuhou;

Published by: Science China Earth Sciences      Published on: jan

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1007/s11430-021-9847-9

Forecast; Intelligent optimized particle filter; thermosphere; Uncertain parameters

Middle and low latitudes hemispheric asymmetries in ∑O/N2 and TEC during intense magnetic storms of solar cycle 24

We have investigated the global hemispheric differences in thermospheric ∑O/N2 and its impact on the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) at mid- and low-latitudes. Four intense storms of solar cycle 24 (SC-24) have been considered, three of them occurred in Spring equinox and one in Summer solstice season. It is found that the mid-latitudes region has exhibited a large decrease in ∑O/N2 during all the phases of the storms under consideration, which corresponds well to the observed negative storm effects. This decrease is directly related with the storm intensity. The maximum reduction in the ∑O/N2 is observed for the St. Patrick day storm of 2015 (which was the most intense geomagnetic storm of SC-24), whereas the respective minimum decrease is found for the storm of April 2012. Strong hemispheric asymmetries, in ∑O/N2 variation, have been observed at the mid-latitudes sector, and can be associated with the asymmetric energy input as indicated by polar cap (PC) indices. The high speed solar winds streams (HSSWs) during the recovery phases of March 2013 and 2015 storms have caused a significant reduction in ∑O/N2 at mid-latitudes, which could not be reproduced by the coupled thermosphere-ionosphere-plasmasphere electrodynamics (CTIPe) model. On the other hand the low-latitudes region depicts an enhancement in ∑O/N2 during all the storms except for the early recovery phases. The positive storm effect at low-latitudes agrees well with this ∑O/N2 increase, thus indicating that the composition change is one of the major drivers of TEC enhancement at low-latitudes. The CTIPe model showed discrepancies in reproducing the satellite data for all the considered storms, especially during the recovery phases. Furthermore, the model is failed to replicate the hemispheric asymmetries at low and mid-latitudes during the main and early recovery phases.

Younas, Waqar; Khan, Majid; Amory-Mazaudier, C.; Amaechi, Paul; Fleury, R.;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on: jan

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2021.10.027

CTIPe model; Disturbed ∑O/N; GUVI/TIMED data; Hemispheric asymmetries; REC

Morphologies of ionospheric-equivalent slab-thickness and scale height over equatorial latitude in Africa

Accurate representation of ionospheric equivalent slab thickness (τ) and scale height (Hm) plays a crucial role in characterizing the complex dynamics of topside and bottomside ionospheric constituents. In the present work, we examined the corresponding morphologies of ionospheric profile parameters with collocated global positioning system (GPS) and Digisonde Portable Sounder (DPS) setups at an equatorial location in west Africa Ilorin (8.50°N, 4.68°E), during a low solar activity year 2010. The extracted τ from GPS and DPS in selected quiet periods confirm it to be a first-order measure of Hm over Africa. The seasonal analysis of τ shows substantial enhancement in the magnitude during the post-sunset and solstice seasons, of which December solstice manifests relatively higher values than June solstice. This result could be associated with the elevation of the meridional wind and drift in the parameters, which are more substantial during the post-noon and solstices. Therefore, at solstices, the post-night increase could indicate solar cycle dynamics during HSA (high solar activity) and LSA (low solar activity). However, the extracted Hm from its relationship with τ did not show visible effects of dynamics in E × B plasma drift and the meridional wind. In our study, a decline in morphologies of Hm and τ from December solstice to June solstice through the equinox is not consistent with the existing observations at mid-latitude. The results would complement the relationships between bottomside and topside profile peak parameters and dynamics of ionospheric constituents for a realistic representation and modeling of the ionosphere over African equatorial and low latitude regions. Thus, it also contributes to the global effort of improving ionospheric prediction and forecasting models.

Odeyemi, Olumide; Adeniyi, Jacob; Oyeyemi, Elijah; Panda, Sampad; Jamjareegulgarn, Punyawi; Olugbon, Busola; Oluwadare, Esholomo; Akala, Andrew; Olawepo, Adeniji; Adewale, Adekola;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on: jan

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2021.10.030

Global positioning system; Digital portable sounder; Equatorial latitude; Equivalent slab thickness; scale height

Signatures of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles and Ionospheric Scintillations from Magnetometer and GNSS Observations in the Indian Longitudes during the Space Weather Events of Early September 2017

Scintillation due to ionospheric plasma irregularities remains a challenging task for the space science community as it can severely threaten the dynamic systems relying on space-based navigation services. In the present paper, we probe the ionospheric current and plasma irregularity characteristics from a latitudinal arrangement of magnetometers and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations from the equator to the far low latitude location over the Indian longitudes, during the severe space weather events of 6–10 September 2017 that are associated with the strongest and consecutive solar flares in the 24th solar cycle. The night-time influence of partial ring current signatures in ASYH and the daytime influence of the disturbances in the ionospheric E region electric currents (Diono) are highlighted during the event. The total electron content (TEC) from the latitudinal GNSS observables indicate a perturbed equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) condition on 7 September, due to a sequence of M-class solar flares and associated prompt penetration electric fields (PPEFs), whereas the suppressed EIA on 8 September with an inverted equatorial electrojet (EEJ) suggests the driving disturbance dynamo electric current (Ddyn) corresponding to disturbance dynamo electric fields (DDEFs) penetration in the E region and additional contributions from the plausible storm-time compositional changes (O/N2) in the F-region. The concurrent analysis of the Diono and EEJ strengths help in identifying the pre-reversal effect (PRE) condition to seed the development of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) during the local evening sector on the storm day. The severity of ionospheric irregularities at different latitudes is revealed from the occurrence rate of the rate of change of TEC index (ROTI) variations. Further, the investigations of the hourly maximum absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) of ROTI from the reference quiet days’ levels and the timestamps of ROTI peak magnitudes substantiate the severity, latitudinal time lag in the peak of irregularity, and poleward expansion of EPBs and associated scintillations. The key findings from this study strengthen the understanding of evolution and the drifting characteristics of plasma irregularities over the Indian low latitudes.

Vankadara, Ram; Panda, Sampad; Amory-Mazaudier, Christine; Fleury, Rolland; Devanaboyina, Venkata; Pant, Tarun; Jamjareegulgarn, Punyawi; Haq, Mohd; Okoh, Daniel; Seemala, Gopi;

Published by: Remote Sensing      Published on: jan

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.3390/rs14030652

space weather; equatorial plasma bubbles; ionospheric irregularity; global navigation satellite system; magnetometer; poleward drift; rate of change of TEC index; scintillations; storm-time electric currents

Chapter 4 - Energetic particle dynamics, precipitation, and conductivity

This chapter reviews cross-scale coupling and energy transfer in the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere system via convection, precipitation, and conductance. It begins with an introduction into Earth’s plasma sheet characteristics including particles, plasma moments, and magnetic fields, and their dependence on solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field parameters. Section 4.2 transitions to observations of the magnetosphere convection, precipitation, and coupling with the ionosphere on multiple scales, with Section 4.3 focusing on related global modeling efforts for particle precipitation. This chapter describes basic concepts and principles of major pitch angle scattering processes—wave-particle interactions and field-line curvature scattering—as well as the resulting precipitation and conductance. Section 4.4 continues the discussion started in 4.2 Observations of multiscale convection, precipitation, and conductivity, 4.3 Simulating particle precipitation of magnetospheric origin in global models regarding the resulting ionosphere conductance, delving more deeply into empirical and data assimilative techniques. This chapter describes techniques used over the years to observe and model precipitation and conductance on multiple scales.

Gabrielse, Christine; Kaeppler, Stephen; Lu, Gang; Wang, Chih-Ping; Yu, Yiqun; Nishimura, Yukitoshi; Verkhoglyadova, Olga; Deng, Yue; Zhang, Shun-Rong;

Published by:       Published on: jan

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-821366-7.00002-0

Conductance; Conductivity; Convection; particle precipitation

Effect of Weak Magnetic Storms on the Propagation of HF Radio Waves

Vertical and oblique sounding data for northeastern Russia have been used to analyze the conditions for the propagation of radio waves during weak geomagnetic storms observed in fall seasons of 2018–2020 at minimal solar activity. Even during weak storms, the maximum observed frequencies have been found to decrease by 25–35\% in daytime and by 40–50\% at night. Variations in the parameters of the distribution of high frequency radio waves during disturbances depend on the spatio-temporal dynamics of large scale structures of the high-latitude ionosphere, which, in turn, depends on the processes of magnetosphere–ionosphere interaction. Here, the depth and duration of the negative disturbance are larger if the geomagnetic storm occurs on a disturbed background.

Kurkin, V.; Polekh, N.; Zolotukhina, N.;

Published by: Geomagnetism and Aeronomy      Published on: feb

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1134/S0016793222020116

The Role of High Energy Photoelectrons on the Dissociation of Molecular Nitrogen in Earth's Ionosphere

Soft x-ray radiation from the sun is responsible for the production of high energy photoelectrons in the D and E regions of the ionosphere, where they deposit most of their ionization

Samaddar, Srimoyee; Venkataramani, Karthik; Yonker, Justin; Bailey, Scott; , others;

Published by: arXiv preprint arXiv:2209.11185      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2209.11185

The 15 January 2022 Hunga Tonga Eruption History as Inferred From Ionospheric Observations

On 15 January 2022, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai submarine volcano erupted violently and triggered a giant atmospheric shock wave and tsunami. The exact mechanism of this extraordinary eruptive event, its size and magnitude are not well understood yet. In this work, we analyze data from the nearest ground-based receivers of Global Navigation Satellite System to explore the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) response to this event. We show that the ionospheric response consists of a giant TEC increase followed by a strong long-lasting depletion. We observe that the explosive event of 15 January 2022 began at 04:05:54UT and consisted of at least five explosions. Based on the ionospheric TEC data, we estimate the energy released during the main major explosion to be between 9 and 37 Megatons in trinitrotoluene equivalent. This is the first detailed analysis of the eruption sequence scenario and the timeline from ionospheric TEC observations.

Astafyeva, E.; Maletckii, B.; Mikesell, T.; Munaibari, E.; Ravanelli, M.; Coisson, P.; Manta, F.; Rolland, L.;

Published by: Geophysical Research Letters      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2022GL098827

co-volcanic ionospheric disturbances; eruption timeline; GNSS; Hunga Tonga eruption; Ionosphere; ionospheric geodesy

A Simulation Study on the Variation of Thermospheric O/N2 With Solar Activity

The ratio of number density of atomic oxygen (O) to that of molecular nitrogen (N2) in the thermosphere (O/N2) on the constant pressure surface, which has complex temporal and spatial characteristics, is widely regarded as an important parameter connecting the terrestrial thermosphere and daytime ionosphere. Previous studies demonstrated that the thermospheric O/N2 increases with increasing solar activity, and the changes in O/N2 with solar activity show significant difference between winter and summer hemispheres. However, the root causes, which are responsible for the solar activity variation of O/N2, are not fully understood. In this study, the contributions of various physical and chemical processes on the response of O/N2 to the solar radiation change were quantitatively investigated through a series of controlled simulations from the Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model. The simulation results suggested that the chemical processes lead to the increase of thermospheric O/N2 over the globe with increasing solar activity. The increase of O/N2 with solar activity is dominated by the enrichment of O abundance and the loss of N2 abundance in the lower and upper thermosphere, respectively. Moreover, the simulation results suggested that the stronger hemispheric asymmetry is attributed to the stronger thermospheric circulation, which changes the vertical advection of O/N2 through both direct and indirect effects.

Li, Zhongli; Luan, Xiaoli; Lei, Jiuhou; Ren, Dexin;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2022JA030305

circulation; O/N2; photochemistry; solar cycle; thermosphere

Disappearance of the Polar Cap Ionosphere During Geomagnetic Storm on 11 May 2019

Multi-instrument data from Jang Bogo Station (JBS) in Antarctica were utilized to study ionospheric responses to the 11 May 2019 moderate geomagnetic storm. These include Vertical Incident Pulsed Ionospheric Radar (VIPIR)/Dynasonde, Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FPI), GPS vertical total electron content (vTEC), and magnetometer. The VIPIR/Dynasonde observed long-lasting (\textgreater11 hr) severe depletion of the electron density in the F-region ionosphere over JBS. During the depletion interval, GPS TEC also correspondingly decreased, FPI neutral temperature was significantly enhanced, and the polar magnetic field variations showed positive and negative excursions in the Y (east) and Z (vertical) components, respectively. GK-2 A satellite, located ∼2.5 hr west of JBS, observed negative magnetic field perturbations in the azimuthal BD component at geosynchronous orbit during the depletion of ionospheric plasma. Such a BD perturbation at geosynchronous orbit is due to the field-aligned currents flowing out of the ionosphere. From these observations we suggest that transpolar ionospheric currents connected to the field-aligned currents flowing on a substorm wedge-shaped circuit act as a source of polar atmospheric heating during the moderate geomagnetic storm interval and that elevated heavy molecular gases (O2 and N2) by atmospheric heating contribute to the electron density depletion via increased recombination rate.

Kwon, H.-J.; Kim, K.-H.; Jee, G.; Seon, J.; Lee, C.; Ham, Y.-B.; Hong, J.; Kim, E.; Bullett, T.; Auster, H.-U.; Magnes, W.; Kraft, S.;

Published by: Space Weather      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2022SW003054

Disappearance of the Polar Cap Ionosphere During Geomagnetic Storm on 11 May 2019

Multi-instrument data from Jang Bogo Station (JBS) in Antarctica were utilized to study ionospheric responses to the 11 May 2019 moderate geomagnetic storm. These include Vertical Incident Pulsed Ionospheric Radar (VIPIR)/Dynasonde, Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FPI), GPS vertical total electron content (vTEC), and magnetometer. The VIPIR/Dynasonde observed long-lasting (\textgreater11 hr) severe depletion of the electron density in the F-region ionosphere over JBS. During the depletion interval, GPS TEC also correspondingly decreased, FPI neutral temperature was significantly enhanced, and the polar magnetic field variations showed positive and negative excursions in the Y (east) and Z (vertical) components, respectively. GK-2 A satellite, located ∼2.5 hr west of JBS, observed negative magnetic field perturbations in the azimuthal BD component at geosynchronous orbit during the depletion of ionospheric plasma. Such a BD perturbation at geosynchronous orbit is due to the field-aligned currents flowing out of the ionosphere. From these observations we suggest that transpolar ionospheric currents connected to the field-aligned currents flowing on a substorm wedge-shaped circuit act as a source of polar atmospheric heating during the moderate geomagnetic storm interval and that elevated heavy molecular gases (O2 and N2) by atmospheric heating contribute to the electron density depletion via increased recombination rate.

Kwon, H.-J.; Kim, K.-H.; Jee, G.; Seon, J.; Lee, C.; Ham, Y.-B.; Hong, J.; Kim, E.; Bullett, T.; Auster, H.-U.; Magnes, W.; Kraft, S.;

Published by: Space Weather      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2022SW003054

Impacts of Lower Thermospheric Atomic Oxygen and Dynamics on the Thermospheric Semiannual Oscillation Using GITM and WACCM-X

The latitudinal and temporal variation of atomic oxygen (O) is opposite between the empirical model, NRLMSISE-00 (MSIS) and the whole atmosphere model, whole atmosphere community climate model with thermosphere and ionosphere extension (WACCM-X) at 97–100 km. Atomic Oxygen from WACCM-X has maxima at solstices and summer mid-high latitudes, similar to [O] from Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER). We use the densities and dynamics from WACCM-X to drive the Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (GITM) at its lower boundary and compare it with the MSIS driven GITM. We focus on the differences in the modeling of the thermospheric and ionospheric semiannual oscillation (T-I SAO). Our results reveal that driving GITM with WACCM-X causes the T-I SAO to maximize around solstices, opposite to when MSIS is used. This is because the global mixing in GITM during solstices is not strong enough to decrease the solstitial [O] densities below the equinoctial values between mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) and upper thermosphere. Larger summer [O] in the MLT leads to the accumulation of [O] at lower latitudes in the thermosphere due to weaker meridional transport, which further increases the amplitude of the oppositely phased SAO. WACCM-X itself has the right phase of SAO in the upper thermosphere but wrong at lower altitudes. The exact mechanisms that can correct the phase of T-I SAO in GITM while using SABER-like [O] in the MLT are currently unknown and warrant further investigation. We suggest mechanisms that can reduce the solstitial maxima in the lower thermosphere, for example, stronger interhemispheric meridional winds, stronger residual circulation, seasonal variations in eddy diffusion, and momentum from breaking gravity waves.

Malhotra, Garima; Ridley, Aaron; , Jones;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029320

global ionosphere thermosphere modeling; semiannual oscillation; thermospheric and ionospheric SAO; thermospheric spoon mechanism; vertical coupling of thermosphere with lower atmosphere; whole atmosphere community climate model with thermosphere and ionosphere extension (WACCM-X)

Exospheric Temperature Measured by NASA-GOLD Under Low Solar Activity: Comparison With Other Data Sets

Exospheric temperature is one of the key parameters in constructing thermospheric models and has been extensively studied with in situ observations and remote sensing. The Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) at a geosynchronous vantage point provides dayglow limb images for two longitude sectors, from which we can estimate the terrestrial exospheric temperature since 2018. In this paper, we investigate climatological behavior of the exospheric temperature measured by GOLD. The temperature has positive correlations with solar and geomagnetic activity and exhibits a morning-afternoon asymmetry, both of which agree with previous studies. We have found that the arithmetic sum of F10.7 (solar) and Ap (geomagnetic) indices is highly correlated with the exospheric temperature, explaining ∼64\% of the day-to-day variability. Furthermore, the exospheric temperature has good correlation with thermospheric parameters (e.g., neutral temperature, O2 density, and NO emission index) sampled at various heights above ∼130 km, in spite of the well-known thermal gradient below ∼200 km. However, thermospheric temperature at altitudes around 100 km is not well correlated with the GOLD exospheric temperature. The result implies that effects other than thermospheric heating by solar Extreme Ultraviolet and geomagnetic activity take control below a threshold altitude that exists between ∼100 and ∼130 km.

Park, Jaeheung; Evans, Joseph; Eastes, Richard; Lumpe, Jerry; van den Ijssel, Jose; Englert, Christoph; Stevens, Michael;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA030041

Aura/MLS; exospheric temperature; GOLD; ICON; swarm; TIMED/SABER

Sounding Rocket Observation of Nitric Oxide in the Polar Night

An altitude profile of Nitric Oxide (NO) in the 80–110 km altitude range was measured in the polar night from a sounding rocket on 27 January 2020. The observations were made using the technique of stellar occultation with a UV spectrograph observing the γ (1,0) band of NO near 215 nm. The tangent point for the altitude profile was at 74° latitude, a location that had been in darkness for 80 days. The retrieved slant column density profile is interpreted using an assumed four-parameter analytic profile shape. Retrievals of the fitting parameters yield a profile with a peak NO concentration of 2.2 ± 0.7 × 108 cm−3 at 93.5 ± 4.1 km. The observations were made during a time of minimum solar and geomagnetic activity. The NO maximum retrieved from the rocket profile is significantly larger in abundance and lower in altitude than other observations on the same day at nearby latitudes just outside the polar night. These rocket-borne results are consistent with NO that is created over the course over the polar winter and is confined to high latitudes in the polar night by the mesospheric polar vortex. During the course of that confinement the abundance increases due to the lack of photodissociation, allowing the NO to descend. We show that the observed descent can be explained by eddy diffusion-driven transport, though vertical advection cannot be ruled out.

Bailey, Scott; McClintock, William; Carstens, Justin; Thurairajah, Brentha; Das, Saswati; Randall, Cora; Harvey, Lynn; Siskind, David; Stevens, Michael; Venkataramani, Karthik;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA030257

Lower thermosphere; mesosphere; nitric oxide; polar night; sounding rocket; stellar occultation

The origin of midlatitude plasma depletions detected during the 12 February 2000 and 29 October 2003 geomagnetic storms

Kil, Hyosub; Chang, Hyeyeon; Lee, Woo; Paxton, Larry; Sun, Andrew; Lee, Jiyun;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI:

The origin of midlatitude plasma depletions detected during the 12 February 2000 and 29 October 2003 geomagnetic storms

Kil, Hyosub; Chang, Hyeyeon; Lee, Woo; Paxton, Larry; Sun, Andrew; Lee, Jiyun;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI:

Two different properties of ionospheric perturbations detected in the vicinity of the Korean Peninsula after the Hunga-Tonga volcanic eruption on 15 January 2022

Hong, Junseok; Kil, Hyosub; Lee, Woo; Kwak, Young-Sil; Choi, Byung-Kyu; Paxton, Larry;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI:

The Terrestrial Magnetospheric Response to the 28th October 2021 CME

Waters, James; Jackman, Caitriona; Whiter, Daniel; Fogg, Alexandra; Lamy, Laurent; Carter, Jennifer; Fryer, Laura; Louis, Corentin; Carley, Eion; Briand, Carine; , others;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI:

Height-integrated polar cap conductances during an average substorm

Carter, Jennifer; Milan, Steven; Lester, Mark; Forsyth, Colin; Paxton, Larry; Gjerloev, Jesper; Anderson, Brian;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI:

Extreme Enhancements of Electron Temperature in Low Latitude Topside Ionosphere During the October 2016 Storm

We use the in-situ observations of DMSP and SWARM satellites to report the changes of the topside ionospheric electron temperature during the October 2016 storm. Electron temperature in the afternoon sector dramatically increases in low latitudes in the recovery phase of the storm. Furthermore, the temperature enhancements have an obvious dependence on longitude and are mainly centralized around 100°–150°E in different satellite observations. The temperature enhancements attain more than 2,000 K at 840 km and 1,500 K at 450 km around the magnetic equator. The decrease in the electron-ion collision cooling rate, resulting from the lessened topside electron density, could not fully explain the temperature enhancement. At the same time, the electron densities in crests of the equatorial ionization anomaly are suppressed drastically at 100°–150°E, which cause a less heat conduction effect from the equatorial topside ionosphere to low altitudes via magnetic field lines and heat the topside ionospheric electron temperature. Further analysis indicates that dayside westward disturbance dynamo electric field presents a significant longitude structure and is a primary driver for the topside ionospheric temperature enhancement during the storm.

Zhang, Ruilong; Liu, Libo; Ma, Han; Chen, Yiding; Le, Huijun; Yoshikawa, Akimasa;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2022JA030278

electron temperature; equatorial topisde; Ionospheric storm; vertical drift

AMICal Sat: A sparse RGB imager on board a 2U cubesat to study the aurora

AMICal sat, a dedicated 2U cubesat, has been developed, in order to monitor the auroral emissions, with a dedicated imager. It aims to help to reconstruct the low energy electrons fluxes up to 30 keV in Earth auroral regions. It includes an imager entirely designed in Grenoble University Space Center. The imager uses a 1.3 Mpixels sparse RGB CMOS detector and a wide field objective (f=22.5 mm). The satellite platform has been built by the polish company Satrevolution. Launched September, 3rd, 2020 from Kuru (French Guyana) on board the Vega flight 16, it produces its first images in October 2020. The aim of this paper is to describe the design of the payload especially the optics and the proximity electronics, to describe the use of the payload for space weather purpose. A preliminary analysis of a first image showing the relevance of such an instrument for auroral monitoring is performed. This analysis allowed to reconstruct from one of the first images the local electron input flux at the top of the atmosphere during the exposure time.

Barthelemy, Mathieu; Robert, Elisa; Kalegaev, Vladimir; Grennerat, Vincent; Sequies, Thierry; Bourdarot, Guillaume; Le Coarer, Etienne; Correia, Jean-Jacques; Rabou, Patrick;

Published by: IEEE Journal on Miniaturization for Air and Space Systems      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1109/JMASS.2022.3187147

Aerospace electronics; AURORA; cubesat; Detectors; imager; Instruments; Ion radiation effects; magnetosphere; Monitoring; Satellites

AMICal Sat: A sparse RGB imager on board a 2U cubesat to study the aurora

AMICal sat, a dedicated 2U cubesat, has been developed, in order to monitor the auroral emissions, with a dedicated imager. It aims to help to reconstruct the low energy electrons fluxes up to 30 keV in Earth auroral regions. It includes an imager entirely designed in Grenoble University Space Center. The imager uses a 1.3 Mpixels sparse RGB CMOS detector and a wide field objective (f=22.5 mm). The satellite platform has been built by the polish company Satrevolution. Launched September, 3rd, 2020 from Kuru (French Guyana) on board the Vega flight 16, it produces its first images in October 2020. The aim of this paper is to describe the design of the payload especially the optics and the proximity electronics, to describe the use of the payload for space weather purpose. A preliminary analysis of a first image showing the relevance of such an instrument for auroral monitoring is performed. This analysis allowed to reconstruct from one of the first images the local electron input flux at the top of the atmosphere during the exposure time.

Barthelemy, Mathieu; Robert, Elisa; Kalegaev, Vladimir; Grennerat, Vincent; Sequies, Thierry; Bourdarot, Guillaume; Le Coarer, Etienne; Correia, Jean-Jacques; Rabou, Patrick;

Published by: IEEE Journal on Miniaturization for Air and Space Systems      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1109/JMASS.2022.3187147

Aerospace electronics; AURORA; cubesat; Detectors; imager; Instruments; Ion radiation effects; magnetosphere; Monitoring; Satellites

AMICal Sat: A sparse RGB imager on board a 2U cubesat to study the aurora

AMICal sat, a dedicated 2U cubesat, has been developed, in order to monitor the auroral emissions, with a dedicated imager. It aims to help to reconstruct the low energy electrons fluxes up to 30 keV in Earth auroral regions. It includes an imager entirely designed in Grenoble University Space Center. The imager uses a 1.3 Mpixels sparse RGB CMOS detector and a wide field objective (f=22.5 mm). The satellite platform has been built by the polish company Satrevolution. Launched September, 3rd, 2020 from Kuru (French Guyana) on board the Vega flight 16, it produces its first images in October 2020. The aim of this paper is to describe the design of the payload especially the optics and the proximity electronics, to describe the use of the payload for space weather purpose. A preliminary analysis of a first image showing the relevance of such an instrument for auroral monitoring is performed. This analysis allowed to reconstruct from one of the first images the local electron input flux at the top of the atmosphere during the exposure time.

Barthelemy, Mathieu; Robert, Elisa; Kalegaev, Vladimir; Grennerat, Vincent; Sequies, Thierry; Bourdarot, Guillaume; Le Coarer, Etienne; Correia, Jean-Jacques; Rabou, Patrick;

Published by: IEEE Journal on Miniaturization for Air and Space Systems      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1109/JMASS.2022.3187147

Aerospace electronics; AURORA; cubesat; Detectors; imager; Instruments; Ion radiation effects; magnetosphere; Monitoring; Satellites

Ionospheric Disturbances and Irregularities during the 25--26 August 2018 Geomagnetic Storm

We use ground-based (GNSS, SuperDARN, and ionosondes) and space-borne (Swarm, CSES, and DMSP) instruments to study ionospheric disturbances due to the 25–26 August 2018 geomagnetic storm. The strongest large-scale storm-time enhancements were detected over the Asian and Pacific regions during the main and early recovery phases of the storm. In the American sector, there occurred the most complex effects caused by the action of multiple drivers. At the beginning of the storm, a large positive disturbance occurred over North America at low and high latitudes, driven by the storm-time reinforcement of the equatorial ionization anomaly (at low latitudes) and by particle precipitation (at high latitudes). During local nighttime hours, we observed numerous medium-scale positive and negative ionospheric disturbances at middle and high latitudes that were attributed to a storm-enhanced density (SED)-plume, mid-latitude ionospheric trough, and particle precipitation in the auroral zone. In South America, total electron content (TEC) maps clearly showed the presence of the equatorial plasma bubbles, that, however, were not seen in data of Rate-of-TEC-change index (ROTI). Global ROTI maps revealed intensive small-scale irregularities at high latitudes in both hemispheres within the auroral region. In general, the ROTI disturbance “imaged” quite well the auroral oval boundaries. The most intensive ionospheric fluctuations were observed at low and mid-latitudes over the Pacific Ocean. The storm also affected the positioning accuracy by GPS receivers: during the main phase of the storm, the precise point positioning error exceeded 0.5 m, which is more than five times greater as compared to quiet days.

Astafyeva, E.; Yasyukevich, Y.; Maletckii, B.; Oinats, A.; Vesnin, A.; Yasyukevich, A.; Syrovatskii, S.; Guendouz, N.;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029843

Geomagnetic storms; Ionosphere; ROTI; ionospheric disturbances; ionospheric irregularities; multi-instrumental approach

Ionospheric Disturbances in Low- and Midlatitudes During the Geomagnetic Storm on 26 August 2018

Plasma density depletions at midlatitudes during geomagnetic storms are often understood in terms of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) due to their morphological similarity. However, our study reports the observations that reveal the generation of plasma depletions at midlatitudes by local sources. During the geomagnetic storm on 26 August 2018, the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program and Swarm satellites detected plasma depletions at midlatitudes in the Asian sector in the absence of EPBs in the equatorial region. This observation and the total electron content (TEC) maps over Japan demonstrate that traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) are the sources of midlatitude plasma depletions in the Asian sector. Near the west coast of the United States, the development of a narrow TEC depletion band was identified from TEC maps. The TEC depletion band, which is elongated in the northwest–southeast direction, moves toward the west with a velocity of approximately 240 m/s. The TEC at the TEC depletion band is about 5 TEC units (1016 m−2) smaller than the ambient TEC. As this band is confined to the midlatitudes, this phenomenon is not associated with an EPB. The characteristics of the TEC depletion band are consistent with those of medium-scale TIDs. Observations in the Asian sector and the TEC depletion band over the United States demonstrate that plasma depletions can develop at midlatitudes by local sources. Therefore, the morphological similarity between midlatitude irregularities and EPBs or their coincident occurrence does not provide corroborating evidence of their connection.

Chang, Hyeyeon; Kil, Hyosub; Sun, Andrew; Zhang, Shun-Rong; Lee, Jiyun;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029879

Ionospheric Response to the 23-31 August 2018 Geomagnetic Storm in the Europe-African Longitude Sector Using Multi-Instrument Observations

This study presents ionospheric responses of the mid and low-latitude region in the Europe-African longitude sector (along 30 +/- 10 deg E) to the intense geomagnetic storm of 23–31 August 2018 (SYM-Hmin = −207 nT) using the Global Ionospheric Map (GIM) and Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers data, the satellite data (SWARM, Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), Global Ultraviolet Imager on board the Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (GUVI/TIMED)), and Prompt Penetration Equatorial Electric Field model (PPEFM). The percentage deviation in total electron content (TEC) denoted by TEC () was used to observe the ionospheric storm effects.

Dugassa, Teshome; Mezgebe, Nigussie; Habarulema, John; Habyarimana, Valence; Oljira, Asebe;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2022.10.063

VTEC observations of intense geomagnetic storms above Nepal: comparison with satellite data, CODE and IGSG models

In this article, we analyze vertical total electron content (VTEC) over Nepal for 4 periods: March 14–25, 2015, June 18–29, 2015, May 24–June 4, 2017, and September 3–14, 2017. In each period, there are quiet geomagnetic days and intense geomagnetic stormy days. The VTEC observed during these periods has observed both positive and negative ionospheric storms. We compared VTEC Receiver-Independent Exchange Format (RINEX) observations with the Global Ionospheric Map (GIM), Centre for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE), and IGS working group (IGSG). We found in RINEX observation of the VTEC a noon bite out profile with predominance of morning and afternoon peaks and a nighttime peak, but this was not noticeable clearly with CODE and IGSG models. The comparison between RINEX TEC, CODE, and IGSG models shows that the GIM model does not estimate RINEX VTEC over Nepal. The disagreement between VTEC CODE/IGSG and VTEC RINEX is important during geomagnetically quiet periods, while there is good agreement between VTEC CODE/IGSG and VTEC RINEX during strong geomagnetic storms. We also find a greater disagreement between the models and the data at the equinoxes when the VTEC is larger. It is, therefore, necessary to introduce data from Nepal stations into the models CODE and IGSG in order to improve them

Pandit, D; Amory-Mazaudier, Christine; Fleury, R; Chapagain, NP; Adhikari, B;

Published by: Indian Journal of Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1007/s12648-022-02441-w

Middle and low latitudes hemispheric asymmetries in∑ O/N2 and TEC during intense magnetic storms of Solar Cycle 24

We have investigated the global hemispheric differences in thermospheric ∑O/N2 and its impact on the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) at mid- and low-latitudes. Four intense storms of solar cycle 24 (SC-24) have been considered, three of them occurred in Spring equinox and one in Summer solstice season.

Younas, Waqar; Khan, Majid; Amory-Mazaudier, C; Amaechi, Paul; Fleury, R;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2021.10.027

The Role of Solar Soft X-rays Irradiance in Thermospheric Structure

We use a new Atmospheric Chemistry and Energetics one-dimensional (ACE1D) thermospheric model to show that the energies deposited by the solar soft x-rays in the lower

Samaddar, Srimoyee; Venkataramani, Karthik; Bailey, Scott; , others;

Published by: arXiv preprint arXiv:2209.10543      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2209.10543

A Model of the Globally-averaged Thermospheric Energy Balance

Similar to the MSIS data, we bin the GUVI temperatures by latitude It should be noted that GUVI observations at high values of While the GUVI observations cannot be compared directly

Venkataramani, Karthik; Bailey, Scott; Samaddar, Srimoyee; Yonker, Justin;

Published by: arXiv preprint arXiv:2211.05301      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2211.05301

Latitudinal variations of ionospheric-thermospheric responses to Geomagnetic Storms from Multi-Instruments

Scintillations of transionospheric satellite signals during geomagnetic storms can severely threaten navigation accuracy and the integrity of space assets. We analyze vertical Total

Shahzad, Rasim; Shah, Munawar; Abbas, Ayesha; Hafeez, Amna; Calabia, Andres; Melgarejo-Morales, Angela; Naqvi, Najam;

Published by: Annales Geophysicae Discussions      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.5194/angeo-2022-18

Retrospect and prospect of ionospheric weather observed by FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC and FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2

FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC (F3/C) constellation of six micro-satellites was launched into the circular low-earth orbit at 800 km altitude with a 72-degree inclination angle on 15 April 2006

Liu, Tiger; Lin, Charles; Lin, Chi-Yen; Lee, I-Te; Sun, Yang-Yi; Chen, Shih-Ping; Chang, Fu-Yuan; Rajesh, Panthalingal; Hsu, Chih-Ting; Matsuo, Tomoko; , others;

Published by: Terrestrial, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1007/s44195-022-00019-x

2021

The ionospheric response to high-intensity long duration continuous AE activity (HILDCAA) event (13--15 April 2005) over mid-latitude African region

The ionospheric responses to High-Intensity Long Duration Continuous Auroral Electrojet Activity (HILDCAA) event which happened following the CIR-driven storm were studied over the southern hemisphere mid-latitude in the African sector. The 13–15 April 2005 event was analysed to understand some of the mechanisms responsible for the ionospheric changes during HILDCAA event. The ionosonde critical frequency of F2 layer (foF2) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Total Electron Content (TEC) were used to analyse the ionospheric responses. The daytime increase in foF2 and TEC values were observed on 13 April 2005. The TEC and foF2 enhancement could be attributed to Large Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (LSTIDs), increase in thermospheric neutral composition changes, Prompt Penetration Electric Field (PPEF) and an expansion of Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) to the mid-latitude.

Matamba, Tshimangadzo; Habarulema, John;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on: jan

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2020.10.034

CIR; HILDCAA; Ionospheric storm; PPEF; TEC; TIDs

Effects of the 12 May 2021 Geomagnetic Storm on Georeferencing Precision

In this work, we present the positioning error analysis of the 12 May 2021 moderate geomagnetic storm. The storm happened during spring in the northern hemisphere (fall in the south). We selected 868 GNSS stations around the globe to study the ionospheric and the apparent position variations. We compared the day of the storm with the three previous days. The analysis shows the global impact of the storm. In the quiet days, 93\% of the stations had 3D errors less than 10 cm, while during the storm, only 41\% kept this level of accuracy. The higher impact was over the Up component. Although the stations have algorithms to correct ionospheric disturbances, the inaccuracies lasted for nine hours. The most severe effects on the positioning errors were noticed in the South American sector. More than 60\% of the perturbed stations were located in this region. We also studied the effects produced by two other similar geomagnetic storms that occurred on 27 March 2017 and on 5 August 2019. The comparison of the storms shows that the effects on position inaccuracies are not directly deductible neither from the characteristics of geomagnetic storms nor from enhancement and/or variations of the ionospheric plasma.

Valdés-Abreu, Juan; Díaz, Marcos; Báez, Juan; Stable-Sánchez, Yohadne;

Published by: Remote Sensing      Published on: jan

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.3390/rs14010038

Geomagnetic storms; total electron content; global navigation satellite system; Global positioning system; precise point positioning; rate of change of the tec index

B2 Thickness Parameter Response to Equinoctial Geomagnetic Storms

The thickness parameters that most empirical models use are generally defined by empirical relations related to ionogram characteristics. This is the case with the NeQuick model that uses an inflection point below the F2 layer peak to define a thickness parameter of the F2 bottomside of the electron density profile, which is named B2. This study is focused on the effects of geomagnetic storms on the thickness parameter B2. We selected three equinoctial storms, namely 17 March 2013, 2 October 2013 and 17 March 2015. To investigate the behavior of the B2 parameter before, during and after those events, we have analyzed variations of GNSS derived vertical TEC (VTEC) and maximum electron density (NmF2) obtained from manually scaled ionograms over 20 stations at middle and low latitudes of Asian, Euro-African and American longitude sectors. The results show two main kinds of responses after the onset of the geomagnetic events: a peak of B2 parameter prior to the increase in VTEC and NmF2 (in \textasciitilde60\% of the cases) and a fluctuation in B2 associated with a decrease in VTEC and NmF2 (\textasciitilde25\% of the cases). The behavior observed has been related to the dominant factor acting after the CME shocks associated with positive and negative storm effects. Investigation into the time delay of the different measurements according to location showed that B2 reacts before NmF2 and VTEC after the onset of the storms in all the cases. The sensitivity shown by B2 during the studied storms might indicate that experimentally derived thickness parameter B2 could be incorporated into the empirical models such as NeQuick in order to adapt them to storm situations that represent extreme cases of ionospheric weather-like conditions.

Migoya-Orué, Yenca; Alazo-Cuartas, Katy; Kashcheyev, Anton; Amory-Mazaudier, Christine; Radicella, Sandro; Nava, Bruno; Fleury, Rolland; Ezquer, Rodolfo;

Published by: Sensors      Published on: jan

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.3390/s21217369

Geomagnetic storms; total electron content; ionospheric empirical models; NeQuick model; thickness parameter

Latitudinal Dependence of the Ionospheric Slab Thickness for Estimation of Ionospheric Response to Geomagnetic Storms

The changes in the ionosphere during geomagnetic disturbances is one of the prominent Space Weather effects on the near-Earth environment. The character of these changes can differ significantly at different regions on the Earth. We studied ionospheric response to five geomagnetic storms of March 2012, using data of Total Electron Content (TEC) and F2-layer critical frequency (foF2) along the meridian of 70° W in the Northern Hemisphere. There are few ionosondes along this longitudinal sector: in Thule, Sondrestrom, Millstone Hill and Puerto Rico. The lacking foF2 values between the ionosondes were determined by using the experimental latitudinal dependences of the equivalent ionospheric slab thickness and TEC values. During geomagnetic storms, the following features were characteristic: (a) two-hours (or longer in one case) delay of the ionospheric response to disturbances, (b) the more prominent mid-latitude trough and (c) the sharper border of the EIA northern crest. During four storms of 7–17 March, the general tendency was the transition from negative disturbances at high latitudes to intense positive disturbances at low latitudes. During the fifth storm, the negative ionospheric disturbance controlled by O/N2 change was masked by the overall prolonged electron density increase during 21–31 March. The multiple correlation analysis revealed the latitudinal dependence of dominant Space Weather parameters’ impacts on foF2.

Sergeeva, Maria; Maltseva, Olga; Caraballo, Ramon; Gonzalez-Esparza, Juan; Corona-Romero, Pedro;

Published by: Atmosphere      Published on: feb

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.3390/atmos12020164

foF2; geomagnetic storm; Ionospheric disturbance; ionospheric equivalent slab thickness; statistical analysis; TEC

Spread-F occurrence during geomagnetic storms near the southern crest of the EIA in Argentina

This work presents, for the first time, the analysis of the occurrence of ionospheric irregularities during geomagnetic storms at Tucumán, Argentina, a low latitude station in the Southern American longitudinal sector (26.9°S, 294.6°E; magnetic latitude 15.5°S) near the southern crest of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA). Three geomagnetic storms occurred on May 27, 2017 (a month of low occurrence rates of spread-F), October 12, 2016 (a month of transition from low to high occurrence rates of spread-F) and November 7, 2017 (a month of high occurrence rates of spread-F) are analyzed using Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and ionosondes. The rate of change of total electron content (TEC) Index (ROTI), GPS Ionospheric L-band scintillation, the virtual height of the F-layer bottom side (h F) and the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) are considered. Furthermore, each ionogram is manually examined for the presence of spread-F signatures. The results show that, for the three events studied, geomagnetic activity creates favorable conditions for the initiation of ionospheric irregularities, manifested by ionogram spread-F and TEC fluctuation. Post-midnight irregularities may have occurred due to the presence of eastward disturbance dynamo electric fields (DDEF). For the May storm, an eastward over-shielding prompt penetration electric field, (PPEF) is also acting. A possibility is that the PPEF is added to the DDEF and produces the uplifting of the F region that helps trigger the irregularities. Finally, during October and November, strong GPS L band scintillation is observed associated with strong range spread-F (SSF), that is, irregularities extending from the bottom-side to the topside of the F region.

González, Gilda;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on: feb

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2020.10.051

Geomagnetic storms; ionospheric irregularities; space weather; Spread-F

Teleseismic measurements of upper mantle shear wave anisotropy in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico

Shear wave splitting measurements in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (IT), southern Mexico, inferred from teleseismic core phases are presented. Measurements were made along a south-to-north profile across the IT. The results show a predominantly trench-normal pattern of fast polarization orientations with averaged delay times up to 2.2 s. Fast orientations near the trench suggest a corner flow in the mantle wedge and an entrained flow in the subslab region. Away the trench, fast orientations are parallel to the Absolute Plate Motion, suggesting that the anisotropy in that region is driven by a simple asthenospheric flow. A comparison with splitting measurements made in the Mexican subduction zone shows a 17° clockwise rotation of the fast orientations of between east and west Mexico. This is consistent with the observed change in orientation of 19° clockwise in the Middle American Trench (MAT). This suggests that the rotation of the fast orientations is controlled by the change of orientation in the MAT.

León Soto, Gerardo; Valenzuela, Raúl; Arceo, R; Huesca-Pérez, Eduardo; Rosas, Ricardo;

Published by: Geophysical Journal International      Published on: dec

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1093/gji/ggab301

Teleseismic measurements of upper mantle shear wave anisotropy in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico

Shear wave splitting measurements in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (IT), southern Mexico, inferred from teleseismic core phases are presented. Measurements were made along a south-to-north profile across the IT. The results show a predominantly trench-normal pattern of fast polarization orientations with averaged delay times up to 2.2 s. Fast orientations near the trench suggest a corner flow in the mantle wedge and an entrained flow in the subslab region. Away the trench, fast orientations are parallel to the Absolute Plate Motion, suggesting that the anisotropy in that region is driven by a simple asthenospheric flow. A comparison with splitting measurements made in the Mexican subduction zone shows a 17° clockwise rotation of the fast orientations of between east and west Mexico. This is consistent with the observed change in orientation of 19° clockwise in the Middle American Trench (MAT). This suggests that the rotation of the fast orientations is controlled by the change of orientation in the MAT.

León Soto, Gerardo; Valenzuela, Raúl; Arceo, R; Huesca-Pérez, Eduardo; Rosas, Ricardo;

Published by: Geophysical Journal International      Published on: dec

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1093/gji/ggab301

Longitudinal Variation of Postsunset Plasma Depletions From the Global-Scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) Mission

The Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission, launched in 2018, aims to investigate the low latitude ionosphere from a geostationary orbit at 47.5°W. It uses two identical spectrometers measuring the wavelength range from 134.0 to 163.0 nm. The configuration of the Earth s magnetic field shows that the largest offset between geographic and geomagnetic equators occurs in the longitude sectors sampled by GOLD. In an attempt to investigate the longitude dependence of the occurrence rate and time of onset of plasma bubbles, or plasma depletions, GOLD data were separated in three sectors: 65°-55°W, 50°-40°W, and 10°W–0°. Observations of the nighttime emissions in 135.6 nm on November 2018 and March 2019 show plasma depletions occurring very frequently at these longitudes. The growth rate of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability was computed at these longitudes under similar low solar activity conditions, assuming an empirical model of upward plasma drifts. The time and value of the maximum growth rates obtained cannot always explain the observations. On average, the observed occurrence rate of plasma depletions is high, with a maximum of 73\% (observed during November 2018 at ∼45°W). Most of the depletions observed in November at 45°W and 60°W occur within 1 h after sunset. When compared with the November 2018 observations, depletions in March 2019 occur at later times.

Martinis, C.; Daniell, R.; Eastes, R.; Norrell, J.; Smith, J.; Klenzing, J.; Solomon, S.; Burns, A.;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1029/2020JA028510

F region; longitude variability; plasma bubbles; Plasma depletions; upward drifts

Transpolar Arcs During a Prolonged Radial Interplanetary Magnetic Field Interval

Transpolar arcs (TPAs) are believed to predominantly occur under northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions with their hemispheric asymmetry controlled by the Sun-Earth (radial) component of the IMF. In this study, we present observations of TPAs that appear in both the northern and southern hemispheres even during a prolonged interval of radially oriented IMF. The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F16 and the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellites observed TPAs on the dawnside polar cap in both hemispheres (one TPA structure in the southern hemisphere and two in the northern hemisphere) during an interval of nearly earthward-oriented IMF on October 29, 2005. The southern hemisphere TPA and one of the northern hemisphere TPAs are associated with electron and ion precipitation and mostly sunward plasma flow (with shears) relative to their surroundings. Meanwhile, the other TPA in the northern hemisphere is associated with an electron-only precipitation and antisunward flow relative to its surroundings. Our observations indicate the following: (a) the TPA formation is not limited to northward IMF conditions; (b) the TPAs can be located on both closed field lines rooted in the polar cap of both hemispheres and open field lines connected to the northward field lines draped over one hemisphere of the magnetopause. We believe that the TPAs presented here are the result of both indirect and direct processes of solar wind energy transfer to the high-latitude ionosphere.

Park, Jong-Sun; Shi, Quan; Nowada, Motoharu; Shue, Jih-Hong; Kim, Khan-Hyuk; Lee, Dong-Hun; Zong, Qiu-Gang; Degeling, Alexander; Tian, An; Pitkänen, Timo; Zhang, Yongliang; Rae, Jonathan; Hairston, Marc;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029197

radial IMF; solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling; transpolar arc

First Results From the Retrieved Column O/N2 Ratio From the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON): Evidence of the Impacts of Nonmigrating Tides

In near-Earth space, variations in thermospheric composition have important implications for thermosphere-ionosphere coupling. The ratio of O to N2 is often measured using far-UV airglow observations. Taking such airglow observations from space, looking below the Earth s limb allows for the total column of O and N2 in the ionosphere to be determined. While these observations have enabled many previous studies, determining the impact of nonmigrating tides on thermospheric composition has proved difficult, owing to a small contamination of the signal by recombination of ionospheric O+. New ICON observations of far-UV are presented here, and their general characteristics are shown. Using these, along with other observations and a global circulation model, we show that during the morning hours and at latitudes away from the peak of the equatorial ionospheric anomaly, the impact of nonmigrating tides on thermospheric composition can be observed. During March–April 2020, the column O/N2 ratio was seen to vary by 3–4\% of the zonal mean. By comparing the amplitude of the variation observed with that in the model, both the utility of these observations and a pathway to enable future studies is shown.

England, Scott; Meier, R.; Frey, Harald; Mende, Stephen; Stephan, Andrew; Krier, Christopher; Cullens, Chihoko; Wu, Yen-Jung; Triplett, Colin; Sirk, Martin; Korpela, Eric; Harding, Brian; Englert, Christoph; Immel, Thomas;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029575

airglow; atmospheric composition; Atmospheric tides; thermosphere

First Results From the Retrieved Column O/N2 Ratio From the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON): Evidence of the Impacts of Nonmigrating Tides

In near-Earth space, variations in thermospheric composition have important implications for thermosphere-ionosphere coupling. The ratio of O to N2 is often measured using far-UV airglow observations. Taking such airglow observations from space, looking below the Earth s limb allows for the total column of O and N2 in the ionosphere to be determined. While these observations have enabled many previous studies, determining the impact of nonmigrating tides on thermospheric composition has proved difficult, owing to a small contamination of the signal by recombination of ionospheric O+. New ICON observations of far-UV are presented here, and their general characteristics are shown. Using these, along with other observations and a global circulation model, we show that during the morning hours and at latitudes away from the peak of the equatorial ionospheric anomaly, the impact of nonmigrating tides on thermospheric composition can be observed. During March–April 2020, the column O/N2 ratio was seen to vary by 3–4\% of the zonal mean. By comparing the amplitude of the variation observed with that in the model, both the utility of these observations and a pathway to enable future studies is shown.

England, Scott; Meier, R.; Frey, Harald; Mende, Stephen; Stephan, Andrew; Krier, Christopher; Cullens, Chihoko; Wu, Yen-Jung; Triplett, Colin; Sirk, Martin; Korpela, Eric; Harding, Brian; Englert, Christoph; Immel, Thomas;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029575

airglow; atmospheric composition; Atmospheric tides; thermosphere

First Results From the Retrieved Column O/N2 Ratio From the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON): Evidence of the Impacts of Nonmigrating Tides

In near-Earth space, variations in thermospheric composition have important implications for thermosphere-ionosphere coupling. The ratio of O to N2 is often measured using far-UV airglow observations. Taking such airglow observations from space, looking below the Earth s limb allows for the total column of O and N2 in the ionosphere to be determined. While these observations have enabled many previous studies, determining the impact of nonmigrating tides on thermospheric composition has proved difficult, owing to a small contamination of the signal by recombination of ionospheric O+. New ICON observations of far-UV are presented here, and their general characteristics are shown. Using these, along with other observations and a global circulation model, we show that during the morning hours and at latitudes away from the peak of the equatorial ionospheric anomaly, the impact of nonmigrating tides on thermospheric composition can be observed. During March–April 2020, the column O/N2 ratio was seen to vary by 3–4\% of the zonal mean. By comparing the amplitude of the variation observed with that in the model, both the utility of these observations and a pathway to enable future studies is shown.

England, Scott; Meier, R.; Frey, Harald; Mende, Stephen; Stephan, Andrew; Krier, Christopher; Cullens, Chihoko; Wu, Yen-Jung; Triplett, Colin; Sirk, Martin; Korpela, Eric; Harding, Brian; Englert, Christoph; Immel, Thomas;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029575

airglow; atmospheric composition; Atmospheric tides; thermosphere

FTA: A Feature Tracking Empirical Model of Auroral Precipitation

The Feature Tracking of Aurora (FTA) model was constructed using 1.5 years of Polar Ultraviolet Imager data and is based on tracking a cumulative energy grid in 96 magnetic local time (MLT) sectors. The equatorward boundary, poleward boundary, and 19 cumulative energy bins are tracked with the energy flux and the latitudinal position. With AE increasing, the equatorward boundary moves to lower latitudes everywhere, while the poleward boundary moves poleward in the 2300–0300 MLT region and equatorward in other MLT sectors. This results in the aurora getting wider on the nightside and becoming narrower on the dayside. The peak intensity of the aurora in each MLT sector is almost linearly related to AE, with the global peak moving from pre-midnight to post-midnight as geomagnetic activity increases. Ratios between the Lyman-Birge-Hopfield-long and -short models allow the average energy to be calculated. Predictions from the FTA and two other auroral models were compared to the measurements by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imagers (SSUSI) on March 17, 2013. Among the three models, the FTA model specified the most confined patterns with the highest energy flux, agreeing with the spatial and temporal evolution of SSUSI measurements better and predicted auroral power (AP) better during higher activity levels (SSUSI AP \textgreater 20 GW). The Fuller-Rowell and Evans (1987) and FTA models specified very similar average energy compared with SSUSI measurements, doing slightly better by ∼1 keV than the OVATION Prime model.

Wu, Chen; Ridley, Aaron; DeJong, Anna; Paxton, Larry;

Published by: Space Weather      Published on:

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1029/2020SW002629

Auroral Precipitation Model; cumulative energy bins; data-model comparisons; M-I coupling; statistical analyses



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