Bibliography

Geomagnetic Storm Effect on F2-Region Ionosphere during 2012 at Low- and Mid-Latitude-Latitude Stations in the Southern Hemisphere

The ionospheric effects of six intense geomagnetic storms with Dst index ≤ −100 nT that occurred in 2012 were studied at a low-latitude station, Darwin (Geomagnetic coordinates, 21.96° S, 202.84° E), a low-mid-latitude station, Townsville (28.95° S, 220.72° E), and a mid-latitude station, Canberra (45.65° S, 226.30° E), in the Australian Region, by analyzing the storm–time variations in the critical frequency of the F2-region (foF2). Out of six storms, a storm of 23–24 April did not produce any ionospheric effect. The storms of 30 September–3 October (minimum Dst = −122 nT) and 7–10 October (minimum Dst = −109 nT) are presented as case studies and the same analysis was done for the other four storms. The storm of 30 September–3 October, during its main phase, produced a positive ionospheric storm at all three stations with a maximum percentage increase in foF2 (∆foF2\%) of 45.3\% at Canberra whereas during the recovery phase it produced a negative ionospheric storm at all three stations with a maximum ∆foF2\% of −63.5\% at Canberra associated with a decrease in virtual height of the F-layer (h’F). The storm of 7–10 October produced a strong long-duration negative ionospheric storm associated with an increase in h’F during its recovery phase at all three stations with a maximum ∆foF2\% of −65.1\% at Townsville. The negative ionospheric storms with comparatively longer duration were more pronounced in comparison to positive storms and occurred only during the recovery phase of storms. The storm main phase showed positive ionospheric storms for two storms (14–15 July and 30 September–3 October) and other three storms did not produce any ionospheric storm at the low-latitude station indicating prompt penetrating electric fields (PPEFs) associated with these storms did not propagate to the low latitude. The positive ionospheric storms during the main phase are accounted to PPEFs affecting ionospheric equatorial E × B drifts and traveling ionospheric disturbances due to joule heating at the high latitudes. The ionospheric effects during the recovery phase are accounted to the disturbance dynamo electric fields and overshielding electric field affecting E × B drifts and the storm-induced circulation from high latitudes toward low latitudes leading to changes in the natural gas composition [O/N2] ratio.

Kumar, Edwin; Kumar, Sushil;

Published by: Atmosphere      Published on: mar

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.3390/atmos13030480

Geomagnetic storms; \textbfE × \textbfB drifts; disturbance dynamo electric fields; prompt penetrating electric fields; storm-induced circulation

Distinct ionospheric response to three different geomagnetic storms during 2016 using GPS-TEC observations over the Indian equatorial and low latitude sectors

The ionospheric response during three distinct geomagnetic storms occurred in the year 2016 is investigated using GPS-TEC observations in the Indian equatorial and low latitude sectors. The three geomagnetic storms are considered for this study which were occurred on 20 January 2016 (2230 LT), 6 March 2016 (0230 LT) and 13 October 2016 (0530 LT) with minimum Sym-H values of −95 nT, −110 nT and −114 nT respectively. These three geomagnetic storms are different from one another in the sustainment of main and recovery phases and are occurred at three different local times corresponding to the Indian longitudes. This study brings out the major differences of these three geomagnetic storms characteristics and their distinct effects on the equatorial and low latitude ionosphere. Significant changes in the VTEC during main and recovery phases of these three storms are found to be mainly associated with prompt penetration electric fields and thermospheric neutral compositional changes. During the storm of 20 January 2016, positive storm effects during main and recovery phases of the storm are in association with the penetration electric fields. The complete main phase for the 6 March 2016 geomagnetic storm was occurred during night time and no changes in VTEC has been identified, which could be due to the weak background electron density. A positive storm effect is noticed during the recovery phases of the storms of 6 March 2016 and 13 October 2016, due to the storm induced electric fields differences and in particular due to the enhanced [O]/[N2] ratio in thermospheric composition. A strong positive storm effect caused by Co-rotating Interacting Region (CIR) induced disturbances after the 13 October 2016 storm is also discussed.

Lissa, D.; Venkatesh, K.; Prasad, D.; Niranjan, K.;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on: aug

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2022.05.027

Disturbance Dynamo; Geomagnetic storms; Positive Storm Effect; Prompt Penetration Electric Fields (PPEF); Total electron content (TEC)

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

Latitudinal Dependence of Ionospheric Responses to Some Geomagnetic Storms during Low Solar Activity

The Latitudinal dependence in the response of the Ionospheric F2-layer electron density (NmF2) and peak height (hmF2) to three geomagnetic storms of May and August 2010 has been examined. The data-sets used for the study were obtained from Ilorin, Nigeria (1.87° S/76.67° E), San Vito, Italy (34.68° N/90.38° E), Hermanus, South Africa (42.34° S/82.15° E), and Pruhonice, Czech Republic (45.66° N/90.38° E) geomagnetic coordinates. The quiet time result shows that the rise in NmF2 began earlier at San Vito, followed by Pruhonice. The rate of ionization was observed to be highest in Ilorin, while, the rate of decay in NmF2 is faster at Hermanus. For disturbed NmF2 condition, remarkable similarities in the NmF2 responses during geomagnetic storms were recorded from Hermanus in the mid-latitude and Ilorin, an equatorial station. NmF2 enhancements (\textgreater6 hours) that is consistent with the increase in hmF2 were observed at all the mid-latitude stations during the main phase of the 02 May, 2010 storm, without any noticeable change over ILN. Similarly, 12 hours of positive phase was observed at ILN and HMN, with 30 hours of NmF2 depletions at PRN and SVT during the recovery phase. ILN is in the equatorial Trough, so most of the NmF2 produced at this region is lifted to the higher latitudes by the fountain effect during the main phase. The suppression of the zonal electric field at ILN is responsible for the NmF2 enhancement during the recovery phase, while the mid-latitude responses have been attributed to the effect of the thermospheric winds and neutral composition changes.

Joshua, B.; Adeniyi, J.; Olawepo, A.; Rabiu, Babatunde; Daniel, Okoh; Adebiyi, S.; Adebesin, B.; Ikubanni, S.; Abdurahim, B.;

Published by: Geomagnetism and Aeronomy      Published on: may

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1134/S0016793221030063

Electric field; Electron density; Geomagnetic storms; magnetosphere; peak height

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

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

MLT science enabled by atmospheric lidars

With the pioneering development and deployment of different types of narrowband sodium fluorescence lidars in Europe (1985) and North America (1990) along with subsequent potassium and iron lidars, temperature and wind profilers have been observed to investigate atmospheric dynamics in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) in midlatitude, polar and equatorial regions. Their achieved resolution allows investigation ranging from small-scale gravity waves to long-term global change. This chapter highlights MLT science enabled by resonance fluorescence lidars in the past 30 years, divided into sections on climatology and long-term change of the atmospheric (background) state; MLT responses to external forcings that lead to atmospheric tides, the global-scale impacts of sudden stratospheric warming as well as geomagnetic storms; gravity wave dynamics and their fluxes; synergistic campaigns with lidars serving as a central instrument, and lidar observation of metal layers in the thermosphere at ever-higher altitudes. Recent advances in maintenance-free resonance lidars will increase the time and duration of lidar observation as well as their ease of operation. These should lead to more coherent multiple-day continuous observations of the MLT. Continued efforts to increase lidar signal/noise and to extend measurements from the main metal layers (80–110 km) into the lower thermosphere (up to 150 km) are ongoing. Further technology developments will also enable more lidar deployment on airplanes and in space to study the MLT over the oceans and other remote areas.

She, Chiao-Yao; Liu, Alan; Yuan, Tao; Yue, Jia; Li, Tao; Ban, Chao; Friedman, Jonathan;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1002/9781119815631.ch20

Geomagnetic storms; atmospheric stabilities; atmospheric state; climatology; clustered instrumentation; gravity wave dynamics; MLT science; resonance fluorescence lidars; sporadic metal layers; thermospheric metal layers

Ionospheric Response Over Brazil to the August 2018 Geomagnetic Storm as Probed by CSES-01 and Swarm Satellites and by Local Ground-Based Observations

The geomagnetic storm that occurred on 25 August 25 2018, that is, during the minimum of solar cycle 24, is currently the strongest ever probed by the first China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES-01). By integrating the in situ measurements provided by CSES-01 (orbiting at altitude of 507 km) and by Swarm A satellite (orbiting at ca., 460 km) with ground-based observations (ionosondes, magnetometers, and Global Navigation Satellite System receivers), we investigate the ionospheric response at lower- and mid-latitudes over Brazil. Specifically, we investigate the electrodynamic disturbances driven by solar wind changes, by focusing on the disturbances driving modifications of the equatorial electrojet (EEJ). Our proposed multisensor technique analysis mainly highlights the variations in the topside and bottomside ionosphere, and the interplay between prompt penetrating electric fields and disturbance dynamo electric fields resulting in EEJ variations. Thanks to this approach and leveraging on the newly available CSES-01 data, we complement and extend what recently investigated in the Western South American sector, by highlighting the significant longitudinal differences, which mainly come from the occurrence of a daytime counter-EEJ during both 25 and 26 August at Braziliian longitudes and during part of 26 August only in the Peruvian sector. In addition, the increased thermospheric circulation driven by the storm has an impact on the EEJ during the recovery phase of the storm. The observations at the CSES-01/Swarm altitudes integrated with the ground-based observation recorded signatures of equatorial ionospheric anomaly crests formation and modification during daytime coupled with the positive ionospheric storm effects at midlatitude.

Spogli, L.; Sabbagh, D.; Regi, M.; Cesaroni, C.; Perrone, L.; Alfonsi, L.; Di Mauro, D.; Lepidi, S.; Campuzano, S.; Marchetti, D.; De Santis, A.; Malagnini, A.; Scotto, C.; Cianchini, G.; Shen, Xu; Piscini, A.; Ippolito, A.;

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

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1029/2020JA028368

Geomagnetic storms; Equatorial Electrojet; in situ plasma density; ionospheric elctroduamics; Ionospheric storms; low-latitude ionosphere

Equatorial Ionization Anomaly Variations During Geomagnetic Storms

The equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) was discovered in the 1940s. Since then, the research on ionospheric storm effects at the equatorial and low latitudes has become one of the hottest topics in the ionospheric community. During the past 2 decades, large amounts of ionospheric and thermospheric data from the ground-based and satellite-borne observations and also from the novel capability of three-dimensional numerical models stimulated the ionospheric weather studies. Recent scientific progresses on the EIA response to geomagnetic storms are briefly described here, together with some suggestions for the future research directions of the EIA storm effects.

Luan, Xiaoli;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1002/9781119815617.ch13

Geomagnetic storms; Equatorial ionization anomaly; equatorial ionospheric response; equatorial regions; low latitude regions; physical mechanisms

Auroral Energy Flux and Joule Heating Derived From Global Maps of Field-Aligned Currents

We calculate auroral energy flux and Joule heating in the high-latitude ionosphere for 27 geomagnetically active days using two-dimensional maps of field-aligned currents determined by the Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Response Experiment. The energy input to the ionosphere due to Joule heating increases more rapidly with geomagnetic activity than that due to precipitating particles. The energy flux varies more smoothly with time than Joule heating, which is impulsive in nature on time scales from minutes to tens of minutes. These impulsive events correlate well with recoveries in the Sym-H index, with the maximum correlation when compared to Sym-H recoveries 70 min later. Because of prior studies that have associated transient recoveries of Sym-H with substorm expansions, the delay found here suggests that dissipation of energy in the ionosphere occurs during the substorm growth phase prior to the release of magnetic energy caused by diversion of tail currents.

Robinson, R.; Zanetti, L.;

Published by: Geophysical Research Letters      Published on:

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1029/2020GL091527

Geomagnetic storms; Auroral energy flux; auroral energy input; auroral substorms; Joule heating; ring current

Inhibition of F3 Layer at Low Latitude Station Sanya During Recovery Phase of Geomagnetic Storms

A special F2 layer stratification structure named F3 layer occurs frequently in equatorial and low latitude ionosphere during summer daytime. In this study, a new phenomenon of decreasing occurrence of the F3 layer, and narrowing differences of virtual heights between the F3 and F2 layers in the recovery phase of geomagnetic storms is reported. We named this phenomenon as the inhibition of F3 layer event (IFLE). Using the ionosonde observations during summer of 2012–2015 at Sanya (18.3°N, 109.6°E, dip latitude 12.6°N), we found that IFLE occurred during 14 geomagnetic storms (−127 nT ≤ Dstmin ≤ −22 nT), which was accompanied by the thinning and lowering bottom ionosphere, and decreasing the crest-to-trough ratio of total electron content (TEC). Together with the ion drift data measured by Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F18, we suggest that the IFLE is mainly caused by the westward disturbance dynamo electric field (DDEF; downward drift velocity), taking disadvantage of the formation of the F3 layer. The observed decrease in the crest-to-trough ratio of TEC also indicates that the westward DDEF should prompt IFLE by providing less plasma from the equatorial region to the low latitude. Hence, IFLE then can be a good indicator to show how the magnetosphere-ionospheric coupling process affects the low and equatorial ionosphere. Notably, the results also indicate that even a very weak geomagnetic storm can generate significant changes in ionospheric state at low latitude.

Jin, Yuyan; Zhao, Biqiang; Li, Guozhu; Li, Zishen; Zhou, Xu;

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

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029850

F3 layer; Geomagnetic storms; westward disturbance dynamo electric field

Multi-scale ionosphere responses to the May 2017 magnetic storm over the Asian sector

We investigate multi-scale ionospheric responses to the May 27, 2017, geomagnetic storm over the Asian sector by using multi-instrumental observations, including ground-based global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) network, constellation observing system for meteorology, ionosphere and climate radio occultation, the FengYun-3C (FY-3C) GNSS occultation sounder electron density profiles and in situ plasma density observations provided by both Swarm and defense meteorological satellite program missions. This geomagnetic storm was an intense storm with the minimum symmetric horizontal component reaching - 150\ nT and was caused by a coronal mass ejection released on May 23. The main observations are summarized below: (1) two ionospheric positive storm periods were observed. The first one was observed in the noon\textendashafternoon sector during the main phase of the storm on May 28, with nearly 120\% TEC enhancement. The second one was of a smaller scale and occurred on the nightside during the recovery phase of the storm on May 29. The first dayside positive storm was initiated by the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz southward turning and eastward penetration electric field, while the second nightside one was terminated by a later southward turning of the IMF Bz since the Asian sector was on the nightside and the penetration electric field changed westward. (2) A negative storm occurred from 00:00 to 12:00 UT on May 30 over the Asian sector, nearly 2\ days after the main phase, which was due to the thermospheric composition change, i.e., decrease in the O/N₂ ratio, as shown in the TIMED/GUVI measurements. (3) A band-like TEC enhancement was observed aligning in the northwest\textendashsoutheast direction and propagated slowly southwestward from 15:00 to 20:00 UT (23:00\textendash04:00 LT, near midnight) on May 28 during the recovery phase of the storm. In situ density observations from the Swarm B and DMSP F15\&16 satellites confirmed the density enhancement at 510\ km and 850\ km, respectively, and revealed that this band-like TEC enhancement structure resembles the so-called plasma blob. The similarities of the observed plasma blob characteristics in terms of spatial structure, propagation trend and temporal evolution with the nighttime traveling ionospheric disturbance (TID) are consistent with the TID-blob theory.

Liu, Lei; Zou, Shasha; Yao, Yibin; Aa, Ercha;

Published by: GPS Solutions      Published on: 12/2019

YEAR: 2020     DOI: 10.1007/s10291-019-0940-1

Blob structure; Positive and negative ionosphere responses; TID; Geomagnetic storms

Dynamical Properties of Peak and Time-Integrated Geomagnetic Events Inferred From Sample Entropy

We provide a comprehensive statistical analysis of the sample entropy of peak and time-integrated geomagnetic events in 2001\textendash2017, considering different measures of event strength, different geomagnetic indices, and a simplified solar wind-magnetosphere coupling function . Our investigations reveal the existence of significant correlations between the entropies of , , and , and between such entropies and event strengths, as well as good correlations between peak levels of solar wind-magnetosphere coupling and ring current ( ) and entropies, suggesting a potential predictability of significant and events on the basis of appropriate functions of . Sensibly weaker correlations are found with entropy. We further show the presence of several significant entropy correlations between geomagnetic indices, solar wind-magnetosphere coupling, and trapped or precipitated energetic electron and ion fluxes measured by geostationary and low Earth orbit satellites in the outer radiation belt during the same periods. Entropy correlations between and trapped or precipitated 30- to 80-keV ion fluxes at low and between and trapped 40-keV electron fluxes at geostationary orbit correspond well with ring current properties and substorm-induced injections, respectively. Entropy correlations between and precipitation rates of energetic ion and electron fluxes demonstrate the sensibility of index entropy to both low-energy (5\textendash30 keV) electron injections and ring current. The stronger entropy correlation between solar wind-magnetosphere coupling and than likely stems from the more stochastic behavior of electron injections and fast losses near geostationary orbit.

Mourenas, D.; Artemyev, A.; Zhang, X.-J.;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 02/2020

YEAR: 2020     DOI: 10.1029/2019JA027599

Dynamical complexity; Entropy; geomagnetic indices; Geomagnetic storms; Solar wind magnetosphere coupling

On the latitudinal changes in ionospheric electrodynamics and composition based on observations over the 76--77 E meridian from both hemispheres during a geomagnetic storm

The relative contributions of the composition disturbances and the disturbance electric fields in the redistribution of ionospheric plasma is investigated in detail by taking the case of a long-duration positive ionospheric storm that occurred during 18\textendash21 February 2014. GPS total electron content (TEC) data from the Indian Antarctic station, Bharti (69.4\textdegreeS, 76.2\textdegreeE geographic), the northern midlatitude station Hanle (32.8\textdegreeN, 78.9\textdegreeE geographic), northern low-latitude station lying in the vicinity of the anomaly crest, Ahmedabad (23.04\textdegreeN, 72.54\textdegreeE geographic, dip latitude 17\textdegreeN), and the geomagnetic equatorial station, Trivandrum (8.5\textdegreeN, 77\textdegreeE geographic, dip latitude 0.01\textdegreeS) are used in the study. These are the first simultaneous observations of TEC from Bharti and Hanle during a geomagnetic storm. The impact of the intense geomagnetic storm (Dst\~-130\ nT) on the southern hemisphere high-latitude station was a drastic reduction in the TEC (negative ionospheric storm) starting from around 0330 Indian standard time (IST) on 19 February which continued till 21 February, the maximum reduction in TEC at Bharti being \~35 TEC units on 19 February. In the northern hemisphere midlatitude and equatorial stations, a positive ionospheric storm started on 19 February at around 0900 IST and lasted for 3\ days. The maximum enhancement in TEC at Hanle was about \~25 TECU on 19 February while over Trivandrum it was \~10 TECU. This long-duration positive ionospheric storm provided an opportunity to assess the relative contributions of disturbance electric fields and composition changes latitudinally. The results indicate that the negative ionospheric storm over Bharti and the positive ionospheric storm over Hanle are the effect of the changes in the global wind system and the storm-induced composition changes. At the equatorial latitudes, the positive ionospheric storm was due to the interplay of prompt penetration electric field and disturbance dynamo electric field.

Shreedevi, P.; Thampi, Smitha; Chakrabarty, D.; Choudhary, R.; Pant, Tarun; Bhardwaj, Anil; Mukherjee, S.;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 02/2016

YEAR: 2016     DOI: 10.1002/2015JA021841

Geomagnetic storms; High latitude low latitude coupling; Ionosphere; positive ionospheric storm

Statistical analysis of the ionospheric response during geomagnetic storm conditions over South Africa using ionosonde and GPS data

This paper presents a statistical analysis of ionospheric response over ionosonde stations Grahamstown (33.3\textdegreeS, 26.5\textdegreeE, geographic) and Madimbo (22.4\textdegreeS, 30.9\textdegreeE, geographic), South Africa, during geomagnetic storm conditions which occurred during the period 1996\textendash2011. Such a climatological study is important in establishing local ionospheric behavior trend which later forms a basis for accurate modeling and forecasting electron density and critical frequency of the\ F₂\ layer (f_oF₂) useful for high-frequency communication. The analysis was done using\ f_oF₂\ and total electron content (TEC), and to identify the geomagnetically disturbed conditions, the\ Dst\ index with a storm criterion of\ Dst\ <=\ nT was used. Results show a strong solar cycle dependence with negative ionospheric storm effects following the solar cycle and positive ionospheric storm effects occurring most frequently during solar minimum. Seasonally, negative and positive ionospheric storm effects occurred most in summer (63.24\%) and in winter (53.62\%), respectively. An important finding is that only negative ionospheric storms were observed during great geomagnetic storm activity (Dst\ <=\ nT). For periods when both\ f_oF₂\ and TEC data (from colocated ionosonde and GPS receiver stations) were available, a similar response in terms of variational trend was observed. Hence, GPS data can be used to effectively identify the ionospheric response in the absence of ionosonde data.

Matamba, Tshimangadzo; Habarulema, John; McKinnell, Lee-Anne;

Published by: Space Weather      Published on: 09/2015

YEAR: 2015     DOI: 10.1002/swe.v13.910.1002/2015SW001218

Geomagnetic storms; ionospheric storm effects; midlatitude ionosphere

Interplanetary magnetic field By control of prompt total electron content increases during superstorms

Large magnitude increases in ionospheric total electron content (TEC) that occur over 1\textendash3\ h on the dayside are a significant manifestation of the main phases of superstorms. For the largest superstorms of solar cycle 23 (based on the Dst index), ground networks of GPS receivers measured peak total electron content increases greater than a factor of 2 relative to quiet time TEC averaged over the broad latitude band \textpm40\textdegree for local times 1200\textendash1600\ LT. Near 30\textdegree latitude, the Halloween storms of October 29\textendash30, 2003 appeared to produce storm-time TEC exceeding quiet time values by a factor of 5 within 2\textendash3\ h of storm onset, at 1300\ LT. The physical cause of these large positive phase ionospheric storms is usually attributed to prompt penetration electric fields (PPEFs) initiated by Region 1 current closure through the ionosphere ( Nopper and Carovillano, 1978 mechanism). An unresolved question is what determines variation of the TEC response for different superstorms. It has been suggested that the cross polar cap potential and Region 1 currents are significant factors in determining PPEF in the equatorial ionosphere, which are related to the solar wind reconnection electric field estimated by Kan\textendashLee and others. In this paper, we show evidence that suggests B_y may be a significant factor controlling the TEC response during the main phase of superstorms. We analyzed the interplanetary conditions during the period that TEC was increasing for eight superstorms. We find that increasing daytime TEC during superstorms only occurs for large reconnection electric fields when B_y magnitude is less than B_z. The data suggest that B_z is a far more important factor in the TEC response than the reconnection electric field. We also find that TEC decreases following its peak storm-time value for two superstorms, even though B_z remains large and B_y magnitudes are less than B_z. Such decreases during the geomagnetic disturbance may indicate the role of magnetospheric shielding currents, or of changes in the thermosphere that have developed over the prolonged period of large solar wind electric field. Further analysis is warranted covering a wider range of storm intensities on the role of B_y in affecting the daytime TEC response for a range of storm intensities.

Mannucci, A.J.; Crowley, G.; Tsurutani, B.T.; Verkhoglyadova, O.P.; Komjathy, A.; Stephens, P.;

Published by: Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics      Published on: 08/2014

YEAR: 2014     DOI: 10.1016/j.jastp.2014.01.001

Geomagnetic storms; Ionosphere

Ionospheric TEC, thermospheric cooling and $\Sigma$ [O/N2] compositional changes during the 6--17 March 2012 magnetic storm interval (CAWSES II)

A series of four geomagnetic storms (the minimum SYM-H~-148\ nT) occurred during the March 6\textendash17, 2012 in the ascending phase of the solar cycle 24. This interval was selected by CAWSES II for its campaign. The GPS total electron content (TEC) database and JPL\textquoterights Global Ionospheric Maps (GIM) were used to study vertical TEC (VTEC) for different local times and latitude ranges. The largest response to geomagnetic activity is shown in increases of the low-latitude dayside VTEC. Several GPS sites feature post-afternoon VTEC \textquotedblleftbite-outs\textquotedblright. During Sudden Impulse (SI⁺) event on March 8th a peak daytime VTEC restores to about quiet-time values. It is shown that the TIMED/SABER zonal flux of nitric oxide (NO) infrared cooling radiation correlates well with auroral heating. A factor of ~5 cooling increase is noted in some storms. The cooling radiation intensifies in the auroral zone and spreads towards the equator. Effects of the storm appear at lower latitudes ~18.6\ h later. The column density ratio Σ[O/N₂] is analyzed based on TIMED/GUVI measurements. Both increases (at low latitudes) and decreases (from auroral to middle latitudes) in the ratio occurs during the geomagnetic storms. We suggest that the column density ratio could be enhanced at low to middle latitudes on the dayside partially due to the superfountain effect (atomic oxygen uplift due to ion-neutral drag). It is suggested that decreases in the Σ[O/N₂] ratio at high to middle-latitudes may be caused by high thermospheric temperatures. During SI⁺s, there is an increase in Σ[O/N₂] ratio at auroral latitudes.

Verkhoglyadova, O.P.; Tsurutani, B.T.; Mannucci, A.J.; Mlynczak, M.G.; Hunt, L.A.; Paxton, L.J.;

Published by: Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics      Published on: 08/2014

YEAR: 2014     DOI: 10.1016/j.jastp.2013.11.009

Geomagnetic storms; Ionosphere; thermosphere

Statistical analysis of the ionospheric response during geomagnetic storm conditions over South Africa using ionosonde and GPS data

Matamba, Tshimangadzo; Habarulema, John; McKinnell, Lee-Anne;

Published by: Space Weather      Published on:

YEAR: 2014     DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/2015SW001218

ionospheric storm effects; Geomagnetic storms; midlatitude ionosphere

Estimating the propagation characteristics of large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances using ground-based and satellite data

In this article, the propagation characteristics of large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (LS TIDs) are estimated during the geomagnetic storm periods of 14\textendash16 May 2005 and 25\textendash27 September 2011 over South Africa. One and two GPS arrays have been independently considered for the storms of 15 May 2005 and 26 September 2011, respectively. The average periods of dominant modes (≈ 2.5\textendash3.5h) in the time series data were determined by applying wavelet analysis on both ionosonde and GPS data. The consideration of diurnal GPS total electron content (TEC) variability from receivers along three different longitude sectors showed a time shift in TEC enhancement with increasing latitude, the first indication of equatorward motion of the traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs). The statistical method (based on GPS radio interferometry) employed shows that these TIDs were mostly propagating nearly equatorward (for both storm periods), which is consistent with the existing literature about storm-induced TIDs. On storm days, TID horizontal velocities have been determined in the range of ≈200\textendash500m/s. The analysis of diurnal TEC response from different stations confirmed that the positive storm effect observed on 15 May 2005 was a result of the large-scale TIDs of wavelength ≈4000 km. On the other hand, the estimated wavelengths of LS TIDs on 26 September 2011 were ≈2400\textendash3400km between 10 and 17 UT. A time lag is observed between the times at which enhancements in TEC, ionosonde f_oF₂, and h_mF₂ data are revealed, and this has been attributed to the passage of the TID.

Habarulema, John; Katamzi, Zama; McKinnell, Lee-Anne;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 12/2013

YEAR: 2013     DOI: 10.1002/2013JA018997

characteristics of large scale TIDs; Geomagnetic storms; ionospheric irregularities

Physical mechanisms of the ionospheric storms at equatorial and higher latitudes during the recovery phase of geomagnetic storms

The paper studies the physical mechanisms of the ionospheric storms at equatorial and higher latitudes, which are generally opposite both during the main phase (MP) and recovery phase (RP) of geomagnetic storms. The mechanisms are based on the natural tendency of physical systems to occupy minimum energy state which is most stable. The paper first illustrates the recent developments in the understanding of the mechanisms during daytime MPs when generally negative ionospheric storms (in Nmax and TEC) develop at equatorial latitudes and positive storms occur at higher latitudes, including why the storms are severe only in some cases. The paper then investigates the relative importance of the physical mechanisms of the positive ionospheric storms observed at equatorial latitudes (within \textpm15\textdegree) during daytime RPs when negative storms occur at higher latitudes using CHAMP Ne and GPS-TEC data and Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model. The results indicate that the mechanical effect of the storm-time equatorward neutral winds that causes plasma convergence at equatorial F region could be a major source for the positive storms, with the downwelling effect of the winds and zero or westward electric field, if present, acting as minor sources.

Balan, N.; Otsuka, Y.; Nishioka, M.; Liu, J; Bailey, G.;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 05/2013

YEAR: 2013     DOI: 10.1002/jgra.50275

Geomagnetic storms; Ionospheric storms; physical mechanisms

Analyzing the hemispheric asymmetry in the thermospheric density response to geomagnetic storms

The thermospheric densities derived by CHAMP/STAR accelerometer within the time period from 01 May 2001 to 31 December 2007 are utilized to investigate the hemispheric asymmetry in response to strong storm driving conditions. The geomagnetic storms of 03\textendash07 April 2004 are first studied since the storms occurred close to the vernal equinox, allowing the seasonal asymmetry to be eliminated to the greatest extent. The averaged density enhancements in the southern polar region were much larger than that in the northern polar region. The comparisons of density versus Dst and Apindex indicate a strong linear dependence with the slopes of the fitted lines in the southern hemisphere being 50\% greater than that in the northern hemisphere. This effect can possibly be attributed to the non-symmetric geomagnetic field. 102 storm events are used to conduct a statistical analysis. For each storm, a linear fit is made between the averaged mass density and theDst and Ap indices independently in each hemisphere. The seasonal variation of the intercepts and the slopes of the fitted lines are further explored. The baseline is strongly dependent on season, with the hemisphere receiving the larger amount of sunlight having larger density. The slopes showed considerable hemispheric differences around the vernal equinox yet no statistical differences around other seasons. It is speculated that competing mechanisms cancel each other during the solstices, while during the equinoxes, the lower magnetic field in the southern hemisphere may allow stronger ion flows, thereby causing more Joule heating. It is uncertain why the vernal equinox would be favored in this explanation though.

Ercha, A.; Ridley, Aaron; Zhang, Donghe; Xiao, Zuo;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research      Published on: 08/2012

YEAR: 2012     DOI: 10.1029/2011JA017259

Geomagnetic storms; hemispheric asymmetry; thermospheric density

Introduction to violent Sun-Earth connection events of October\textendashNovember 2003

The solar-terrestrial events of late October and early November 2003, popularly referred to as the Halloween storms, represent the best observed cases of extreme space weather activity observed to date and have generated research covering multiple aspects of solar eruptions and their space weather effects. In the following article, which serves as an abstract for this collective research, we present highlights taken from 61 of the 74 papers from the Journal of Geophysical Research, Geophysical Research Letters, and Space Weather which are linked under this special issue. (An overview of the 13 associated papers published in Geophysics Research Letters is given in the work of Gopalswamy et al. (2005a)).

Gopalswamy, N.; Barbieri, L.; Cliver, E.; Lu, G.; Plunkett, S.; Skoug, R.;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research      Published on: 09/2005

YEAR: 2005     DOI: 10.1029/2005JA011268

coronal mass ejections; Geomagnetic storms; interplanetary shocks; solar energetic particles; Solar flares; superstorms