Bibliography





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Found 2276 entries in the Bibliography.


Showing entries from 51 through 100


2022

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

Coherence Scale and Directivity of Nighttime Equatorial Plasma Irregularities: Results From Swarm Formation Flight

Since the launch in 2013, the three satellites of the Swarm constellation have been conducting multipoint observations of ionospheric plasma density. The variety of their flight formations is advantageous for investigating (a) coherence scale and (b) directivity of nighttime Equatorial Plasma Irregularities (EPIs). In this study, we address the two topics statistically using in situ plasma density measured at 2 Hz rates by the Swarm constellation from 2013 to 2021. Maximum cross-correlation coefficients between two Swarm density profiles decrease as longitude differences between the observation pair increase. The coefficient is larger than 0.6 only when two satellites are within about 0.1° in geographic longitude (GLON), which approximately corresponds to 10 km. When two density profiles are considerably correlated, we can determine preferred bearings of the EPI structure. A majority of EPIs conform to the backward-C shapes astride the dip equator. The preference for backward-C is more conspicuous later at night than in the early evening. Different GLON sectors exhibit slightly different directions of EPI structures, but the behavior is not well organized with the geomagnetic declinations of the respective sectors. EPI directions do not display monotonic dependence on Ap or F10.7, but further studies during the coming solar maximum are necessary to better represent high solar/geomagnetic activity.

Park, Jaeheung;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA030233

backward-C structure; Equatorial plasma irregularity; ionospheric coherence scale; swarm

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)

Properties of AKR-Like Emissions Recorded by the Low Altitude Satellite DEMETER During 6.5 Years

Normally, auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) which is emitted in the auroral zones escapes from the Earth. But since a few decades very similar radiations are observed by ground-based receivers and by satellites at altitudes below the AKR generation area. They are called leaked AKR or AKR-like emissions because it is expected that there are linked to AKR. This paper deals with observations of such AKR-like emissions observed in the auroral zones (in the North and in the South) by the low-altitude satellite DEMETER. In total, 2,526 events have been recorded during 6.5 years. These events are not very rare as they occur at least 2\% of the time. Although this data set has a severe flaw due to a latitudinal constraint, it was possible to draw interesting properties of these emissions. In fact they are very similar to usual AKR observed at much higher altitudes during auroral activities (the same frequency range, magnetic local time (MLT) sector, and invariant latitude). The main difference concerns a strong asymmetry between the Northern and the Southern hemispheres: (a) the number of AKR-like emissions in the Northern hemisphere is 32\% larger than in the Southern hemisphere but this percentage decreases when the auroral activity increases, and (b) there is an important seasonal effect because the number of events decreases during the winter season both in the North and in the South.

Parrot, M.; Němec, F.; Santolík, O.;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2022JA030495

AKR; Ionosphere; magnetic activity

Climatology of Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Residual Circulations and Mesopause Height Derived From SABER Observations

In the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region, residual circulations driven by gravity wave breaking and dissipation significantly impact constituent distribution and the height and temperature of the mesopause. The distribution of CO2 can be used as a proxy for the residual circulations. Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) CO2 volume mixing ratio (VMR) and temperature measurements from 2003 to 2020 are used to study the monthly climatology of MLT residual circulations and the mesopause height. Our analyses show that (a) mesopause height strongly correlates with the CO2 VMR vertical gradient during solstices; (b) mesopause height has a discontinuity at midlatitude in the summer hemisphere, with a lower mesopause height at mid-to-high latitudes as a result of adiabatic cooling driven by strong adiabatic upwelling; (c) the residual circulations have strong seasonal variations at mid-to-high latitudes, but they are more uniform at low latitudes; and (d) the interannual variability of the residual circulations and mesopause height is larger in the Southern Hemisphere (SH; 4–5 km) than in the Northern Hemisphere (NH; 0.5–1 km).

Wang, Ningchao; Qian, Liying; Yue, Jia; Wang, Wenbin; Mlynczak, Martin; Russell, James;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JD035666

climatology; interannual variation; MLT region; residual circulation; seasonal variation

Response of the Ionospheric TEC to SSW and Associated Geomagnetic Storm Over the American Low Latitudinal Sector

During the sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) event in 2013, we investigated the American low latitude around 75°W. We used 12 Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, a pair of magnetometers, and the NASA Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite airglow instrument to unveil the total electron content (TEC), inferred vertical drift, and the changes in the neutral composition, respectively. A major SSW characterized the 2013 SSW event with the main phase (7–27 January 2013) overlapped by a minor geomagnetic storm (17 January 2013). The late morning inferred downward-directed E X B drift did not support the varying equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) signature during the SSW onset (7 January 2013). The mid-January (15–16 January 2013) witnessed enhancement in the varying inferred upward-directed E X B drift at both hemispheres. On 17 January 2013, there were reductions in the varying inferred upward-directed E X B drift at both hemispheres. Generally, the SSW effect on TEC around 15–16 January 2013 is more pronounced than the SSW onset. During the mid-January (15–16 January 2013), the higher northern EIA crests are facilitated majorly by the SSW compared to the photo-ionization that primarily enabled the southern crests. On 17 January 2013, the combined effect of photo-ionization and SSW contribution was majorly responsible for the slight reduction in the northern crest. In the southern hemisphere, photo-ionization played the lead role as the SSW, and the minor geomagnetic storm roles are secondary in enhancing the southern crest.

Fashae, J.; Bolaji, O.; Rabiu, A.;

Published by: Space Weather      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021SW002999

equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA); geomagnetic storm; low-latitude ionosphere; sudden stratospheric wind (SSW)

Satellite In Situ Electron Density Observations of the Midlatitude Storm Enhanced Density on the Noon Meridional Plane in the F Region During the 20 November 2003 Magnetic Storm

Ionospheric storm enhanced density (SED) has been extensively investigated using total electron content deduced from GPS ground and satellite-borne receivers. However, dayside in situ electron density measurements have not been analyzed in detail for SEDs yet. We report in situ electron density measurements of a SED event in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) at the noon meridian plane measured by the Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) polar-orbiting satellite at about 390 km altitude during the 20 November 2003 magnetic storm. The CHAMP satellite measurements render rare documentation about the dayside SED s life cycle at a fixed magnetic local time (MLT) through multiple passes. Solar wind drivers triggered the SED onset and controlled its lifecycle through its growth and retreat phases. The SED electron density enhancement extended from the equatorial ionization anomaly to the noon cusp. The midlatitude electron density increased to a maximum at the end of the growth phase. Afterward, the dayside SED region retreated gradually to lower magnetic latitudes. The observations showed a hemisphere asymmetry, with the NH electron density exhibiting a more significant enhancement. The simulations using the Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamic General Circulation model show a good agreement with the CHAMP observations. The simulations indicate that the dayside midlatitude electron density enhancement has a complicated dependence on vertical ion drift, neutral wind, magnetic latitude, MLT, and the height of the F2 layer. Finally, we discuss the notion of using the mean cross-polar cap electric field as a proxy for assessing the effects of solar wind drivers on producing midlatitude electron density enhancement.

Lin, Chin; Sutton, Eric; Wang, Wenbin; Cai, Xuguang; Liu, Guiping; Henney, Carl; Cooke, David;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029831

in situ plasma density; ionospheric electron density; prompt penetration electric field; Storm enhanced density; tongue of ionization

Assimilative Mapping of Auroral Electron Energy Flux Using SSUSI Lyman-Birge-Hopfield (LBH) Emissions

Far ultraviolet (FUV) imaging of the aurora from space provides great insight into the dynamic coupling of the atmosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere on global scales. To gain a quantitative understanding of these coupling processes, the global distribution of auroral energy flux is required, but the inversion of FUV emission to derive precipitating auroral particles energy flux is not straightforward. Furthermore, the spatial coverage of FUV imaging from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) altitudes is often insufficient to achieve global mapping of this important parameter. This study seeks to fill these gaps left by the current geospace observing system using a combination of data assimilation and machine learning techniques. Specifically, this paper presents a new data-driven modeling approach to create instantaneous, global assimilative mappings of auroral electron total energy flux from Lyman-Birge-Hopfield (LBH) emission data from the Defense Meteorological System Program (DMSP) Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager (SSUSI). We take a two-step approach; the creation of assimilative maps of LBH emission using optimal interpolation, followed by the conversion to energy flux using a neural network model trained with conjunction observations of in-situ auroral particles and LBH emission from the DMSP Special Sensor J and SSUSI instruments. The paper demonstrates the feasibility of this approach with a model prototype built with DMSP data from 17 February 2014 to 23 February 2014. This study serves as a blueprint for a future comprehensive data-driven model of auroral energy flux that is complementary to traditional inversion techniques to take advantage of FUV imaging from LEO platforms for global assimilative mapping of auroral energy flux.

Li, J.; Matsuo, T.; Kilcommons, L.;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029739

Spatial-Temporal Behaviors of Large-Scale Ionospheric Perturbations During Severe Geomagnetic Storms on September 7–8 2017 Using the GNSS, SWARM and TIE-GCM Techniques

Geomagnetic storms on 7–8 September 2017 triggered severe ionospheric disturbances that had a serious effect on satellite navigation and radio communication. Multiple observations derived from Global Navigation Satellite System receivers, Earth s Magnetic Field and Environment Explorers (SWARM) and the Thermosphere-Ionosphere -Electrodynamics General Circulation Model s simulations are utilized to investigate the spatial-temporal ionospheric behaviors under storm conditions. The results indicate that the electron density in the Asia-Australia, Europe-Africa and America sectors suddenly changed with the Bz southward excursion, and the ionosphere over low-middle latitudes under the sunlit hemisphere is easily affected by the disturbed magnetic field. The SWARM observations verified the remarkable double-peak structure of plasma enhancements over the equator and middle latitudes. The physical mechanism of low-middle plasma disturbances can be explained by a combination effect of equatorial electrojets, vertical E × B drifts, meridional wind and thermospheric O/N2 change. Besides, the severe storms triggered strong Polar plasma disturbances on both dayside and nightside hemispheres, and the Polar disturbances had a latitudinal excursion associated with the offset of geomagnetic field. Remarkable plasma enhancements at the altitudes of 100–160 km were also observed in the auroral zone and middle latitudes (\textgreater47.5°N/S). The topside polar ionospheric plasma enhancements were dominated by the O+ ions. Furthermore, the TIE-GCM s simulations indicate that the enhanced vertical E × B drifts, cross polar cap potential and Joule heating play an important role in generating the topside plasma perturbations.

Li, Wang; Zhao, Dongsheng; He, Changyong; Hancock, Craig; Shen, Yi; Zhang, Kefei;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029830

hemispheric asymmetry; ionospheric disturbances; Magnetic storms; thermospheric composition changes; TIE-GCM

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

Transpolar Arcs: Seasonal Dependence Identified by an Automated Detection Algorithm

Transpolar arcs (TPAs) are auroral features that occur polewards of the main auroral oval suggesting that the magnetosphere has acquired a complicated magnetic topology. They are primarily a northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) auroral phenomenon, and their formation and evolution have no single explanation that is unanimously agreed upon. An automated detection algorithm has been developed to detect the occurrence of TPAs in UV images captured from the Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager (SSUSI) instrument onboard the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) spacecraft, in order to further study their occurrence. Via this detection algorithm TPAs are identified as a peak in the average radiance intensity poleward of 12.5° colatitude, in two or more of the wavelengths/bands sensed by SSUSI. Using the detection algorithm for the years 2010 to 2016, over 5000 images containing TPAs are identified. The occurrence of these TPAs shows a seasonal dependence, with more arcs being visible in the winter hemisphere. The orbital plane of DMSP has been investigated as a possible explanation of the dependences in the results of the detection algorithm. For the spacecraft of interest this leads to a preferential observation of the northern hemisphere with the detection algorithm missing TPAs in the southern hemisphere around 01–06 UT. No seasonal bias has been found for these spacecraft. We discuss the ramifications of these findings in terms of proposed TPA generation mechanisms and suggest reasons for the seasonal dependence including it being a reflection of probability of seeing TPAs due to visibility.

Bower, G.; Milan, S.; Paxton, L.; Imber, S.;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029743

auroras; magnetosphere; transpolar arc

Creating a Database to Identify High-Latitude Scintillation Signatures With Unsupervised Machine Learning

In high latitudes, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals experience scintillation due to moving irregularity structures in the ionosphere. These develop as a result of different physical mechanisms, which are as yet principally described on an elementary level for certain storm cases and events. Since there are years of GNSS data available from stations around the globe, we are investigating an unsupervised Machine Learning approach to extract a large variety of groups of scintillation events with similar features. We create a database containing high-rate scintillation events from two geomagnetic storm cases and several stations in the high-latitude region of the Northern hemisphere. By clustering high-rate signatures in signal phase and power according to their major signal characteristics with an agglomerative hierarchical clustering, it is possible to extract different groups of similar types of scintillation signatures. As a result of this study, the database of scintillation signatures in various locations in the auroral oval and polar cap evolves and will be further expanded beyond the storm cases studied in this paper. These can then be linked to the geomagnetic conditions and dynamics in the ionosphere through additional datasets from other instruments, therefore potentially helping us to get a further insight into the ionospheric irregularity physics.

Bals, Anna-Marie; Thakrar, Chintan; Deshpande, Kshitija;

Published by: IEEE Journal of Radio Frequency Identification      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1109/JRFID.2022.3163913

Databases; Feature extraction; Fluctuations; global navigation satellite system; GNSS data noise elimination; GNSS scintillation; Indexes; Instruments; ionospheric scintillation event detection; Radiofrequency identification; unsupervised machine learning

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

Thermospheric density enhancement and limb O 130.4 nm radiance increase during geomagnetic storms

Zhang, Yongliang; Paxton, Larry; Schaefer, R;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI:

Comments on “A new method to subtract dayglow for auroral observation of SSUSI in LBH ranges based on the improved AURIC” by Wang et al.(2021)

Zhang, Yongliang; Paxton, Larry; Schaefer, Robert;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI:

Occurrence statistics of horse collar aurora

Bower, Gemma; Milan, Stephen; Paxton, Larry; Anderson, Brian;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI:

Empirical modelling of SSUSI derived auroral ionization rates

Bender, Stefan; Espy, Patrick; Paxton, Larry;

Published by:       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:

Novel Observations of the Aurora (NOA) from New Platforms

Paxton, LJ; Hibbitts, CA; Swartz, WH;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI:

Increased Sensitivity FUV Spectrographic Imager

Schaefer, RK; Paxton, LJ; Zhang, Y; Kil, H; Liou, K;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI:

Statistics of transpolar arcs identified by an automated detection algorithm

Bower, Gemma; Milan, Steve; Paxton, Larry; Imber, Suzie;

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:

Lobe Reconnection and Cusp-Aligned Auroral Arcs

Abstract Following the St. Patrick s Day (17 March) geomagnetic storm of 2013, the interplanetary magnetic field had near-zero clock angle for almost two days. Throughout this period multiple cusp-aligned auroral arcs formed in the polar regions; we present observations of, and provide a new explanation for, this poorly understood phenomenon. The arcs were observed by auroral imagers onboard satellites of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. Ionospheric flow measurements and observations of energetic particles from the same satellites show that the arcs were produced by inverted-V precipitation associated with upward field-aligned currents (FACs) at shears in the convection pattern. The large-scale convection pattern revealed by the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network and the corresponding FAC pattern observed by the Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment suggest that dual-lobe reconnection was ongoing to produce significant closure of the magnetosphere. However, we propose that once the magnetosphere became nearly closed complicated lobe reconnection geometries arose that produced interleaving of regions of open and closed magnetic flux and spatial and temporal structure in the convection pattern that evolved on timescales shorter than the orbital period of the DMSP spacecraft. This new model naturally explains many features of cusp-aligned arcs, including why they focus in from the nightside toward the cusp region.

Milan, S.; Bower, G.; Carter, J.; Paxton, L.; Anderson, B.; Hairston, M.;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA030089

Hemispheric Asymmetry in the Auroral Ionosphere-Thermosphere System

Liou, K; Zhang, Y-L; Paxton, LJ; Kil, H; Schaefer, R;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI:

Temporal Evolution of Low-Latitude Plasma Blobs Identified From Multiple Measurements: ICON, GOLD, and Madrigal TEC

Low-latitude plasma blobs have been studied since their first being reported in 1986. However, investigations on temporal evolution of a blob or on continental scale (\textgreater2,000 km) ionospheric contexts around it are relatively rare. Overcoming these limitations can help elucidate the blob generation mechanisms. On 21 January 2021, the Ionospheric Connection Explorer satellite encountered a typical low-latitude blob near the northeastern coast of South America. The event was collocated with a local enhancement in 135.6 nm nightglow at the poleward edge of an equatorial plasma bubble (EPB), as observed by the Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) imager. Total electron content maps from the Global Navigation Satellite System confirm the GOLD observations. Unlike typical medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs), the blob had neither well-organized wavefronts nor moved in the southwest direction. Neither was the blob a monotonically decaying equatorial ionization anomaly crest past sunset. Rather, the blob varied following latitudinal expansion/contraction of EPBs at similar magnetic longitudes. The observational results support that mechanisms other than MSTIDs, such as EPBs, can also contribute to blob generation.

Park, Jaeheung; Huang, Chao-Song; Eastes, Richard; Coster, Anthea;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029992

GOLD; ICON; low-latitude plasma blob; Madrigal TEC

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

Interhemispheric Asymmetries in Ionospheric Electron Density Responses During Geomagnetic Storms: A Study Using Space-Based and Ground-Based GNSS and AMPERE Observations

We utilize Total Electron Content (TEC) measurements and electron density (Ne) retrieval profiles from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers onboard multiple Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to characterize large-scale ionosphere-thermosphere system responses during geomagnetic storms. We also analyze TEC measurements from GNSS receivers in a worldwide ground-based network. Measurements from four storms during June and July 2012 (boreal summer months), December 2015 (austral summer month), and March 2015 (equinoctial month) are analyzed to study global ionospheric responses and the interhemispheric asymmetry of these responses. We find that the space-based and ground-based TECs and their responses are consistent in all four geomagnetic storms. The global 3D view from GNSS-Radio Occultation (RO) Ne observations captures enhancements and the uplifting of Ne structures at high latitudes during the initial and main phases. Subsequently, Ne depletion occurs at high latitudes and starts progressing into midlatitude and low latitude as the storm reaches its recovery phase. A clear time lag is evident in the storm-induced Ne perturbations at high latitudes between the summer and winter hemispheres. The interhemispheric asymmetry in TEC and Ne appears to be consistent with the magnitudes of the Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment (AMPERE) high latitude integrated field-aligned currents (FACs), which are 3–4 MA higher in the summer hemisphere than in the winter hemisphere during these storms. The ionospheric TEC and Ne responses combined with the AMPERE-observed FACs indicate that summer preconditioning in the ionosphere-thermosphere system plays a key role in the interhemispheric asymmetric storm responses.

Swarnalingam, N.; Wu, D.; Gopalswamy, N.;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA030247

Pronounced Suppression and X-Pattern Merging of Equatorial Ionization Anomalies After the 2022 Tonga Volcano Eruption

Following the 2022 Tonga Volcano eruption, dramatic suppression and deformation of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crests occurred in the American sector ∼14,000 km away from the epicenter. The EIA crests variations and associated ionosphere-thermosphere disturbances were investigated using Global Navigation Satellite System total electron content data, Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk ultraviolet images, Ionospheric Connection Explorer wind data, and ionosonde observations. The main results are as follows: (a) Following the eastward passage of expected eruption-induced atmospheric disturbances, daytime EIA crests, especially the southern one, showed severe suppression of more than 10 TEC Unit and collapsed equatorward over 10° latitudes, forming a single band of enhanced density near the geomagnetic equator around 14–17 UT, (b) Evening EIA crests experienced a drastic deformation around 22 UT, forming a unique X-pattern in a limited longitudinal area between 20 and 40°W. (c) Thermospheric horizontal winds, especially the zonal winds, showed long-lasting quasi-periodic fluctuations between ±200 m/s for 7–8 hr after the passage of volcano-induced Lamb waves. The EIA suppression and X-pattern merging was consistent with a westward equatorial zonal dynamo electric field induced by the strong zonal wind oscillation with a westward reversal.

Aa, Ercha; Zhang, Shun-Rong; Wang, Wenbin; Erickson, Philip; Qian, Liying; Eastes, Richard; Harding, Brian; Immel, Thomas; Karan, Deepak; Daniell, Robert; Coster, Anthea; Goncharenko, Larisa; Vierinen, Juha; Cai, Xuguang; Spicher, Andres;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2022JA030527

EIA suppression and X-pattern; Equatorial ionization anomaly; GNSS TEC; GOLD UV images; ICON MIGHTI neutral wind; Tonga volcano eruption

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

Correlations Between Giant Undulations and Plasmapause Configurations

In this letter, we report the correlations between giant undulations (GUs) and plasmapause (PP) configurations based on GUs images and corresponding PP crossings of satellites between 2005 and 2019. Typically, GUs occur when the plasmasphere is eroded to form a thin and sharp PP during the storm main phase and early recovery phase. The thicknesses of the PP are usually comparable with the azimuthal wavelengths of the GUs and are smaller than the radial amplitudes of the GUs. The amplitudes and wavelengths are quasi-proportional to the thicknesses of the PP and are inversely quasi-proportional to the ion density gradients around the PP. The radial centers of GUs are typically aligned with the PP surfaces and their radial geocentric locations show positive correlations for different geomagnetic storms. These results would provide both physical insights and model constrains on the magnetosphere-plasmasphere-ionosphere energy coupling and the generation mechanisms of the GUs and plasmapause surface waves.

Zhou, Yi-Jia; He, Fei; Yao, Zhong-Hua; Wei, Yong; Zhang, Xiao-Xin; Zhang, Yong-Liang;

Published by: Geophysical Research Letters      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2022GL098627

Ionosphere; Giant Undulations; plasmapause; plasmapause surface waves

Diurnal and Seasonal Characteristics of the Longitudinal Variations of Electron Densities in the Topside Ionosphere at Middle Latitudes

The ionosphere experiences strong diurnal and seasonal changes. The longitudinal variations of electron density (Ne) in the ionosphere at the middle latitudes also show strong diurnal and seasonal changes. In this paper, we use in situ Ne measurements from the DEMETER satellite and electron density profiles retrieved from the COSMIC data to study the local time (LT) and seasonal dependence of the longitudinal variations of topside Ne at middle latitudes during 2007–2009. With regard to the diurnal trend, the reversal phase of longitudinal peaks/valleys of topside Ne with a 12 hr interval occurred in less than half of the cases, and there were less cases with eastward phase shift of the longitudinal variations of topside Ne with LT in winter than those in other seasons. The seasonal trends of transition longitudes of topside Ne might be westward from winter to summer and eastward from summer to winter in the daytime and in the opposite direction at night in both hemispheres in some cases and sometimes they were located within 20° of longitude at 52°N in other cases. The longitudinal peaks/valleys of hmF2 and/or NmF2 and the longitudinal peaks/valleys of topside Ne were within 30° of longitude in most cases at all local times, in all seasons, and in both hemispheres. Exceptions to this were independent of season or LT.

Su, Fanfan; Wang, Wenbin;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2022JA030308

Electron density; middle latitude; season; topside ionosphere

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

Impact of Soft Electron Precipitation on the Thermospheric Neutral Mass Density During Geomagnetic Storms: GITM Simulations

In this study, the impact of improving soft (0.1–1 keV) electron precipitation on the F-region neutral mass density has been evaluated using the Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (GITM). Two types of electron energy spectra having the same total energy flux and average energy but different spectral shapes have been used to specify the electron precipitation in GITM. One is the Maxwellian spectrum and the other is from an empirical model, Auroral Spectrum and High-Latitude Electric field variabilitY (ASHLEY), which provides stronger (up to 2–3 orders of magnitude) soft electron precipitations than the Maxwellian spectrum. Data-model comparisons indicate that the storm-time orbital averaged neutral density can be increased by 10\%–40\% and is more consistent with the observation if the non-Maxwellian ASHLEY spectrum is used. This study reveals the importance of accurate soft electron precipitation specifications in the whole auroral zone to improving the F-region neutral mass density estimations.

Zhu, Qingyu; Deng, Yue; Sheng, Cheng; Anderson, Philip; Bukowski, Aaron;

Published by: Geophysical Research Letters      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021GL097260

ASHLEY; GITM; neutral mass density; soft electron precipitation

Coordinated Observations of Rocket Exhaust Depletion: GOLD, Madrigal TEC, and Multiple Low-Earth-Orbit Satellites

A plasma density hole was created in the ionosphere by a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida near local sunset on 30 August 2020, which is called rocket exhaust depletion (RED). The hole persisted for several hours into the night and was observed in total electron content (TEC) maps, the Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) imager, and multiple low-earth-orbit satellites. The RED created a nightglow pit in the GOLD 135.6 nm image. Swarm satellites found that the RED exhibited insignificant changes in electron/ion temperature and field-aligned currents. On the other hand, magnetic field strength was enhanced inside the RED by a few tenths of a nanotesla. Assimilation data products of the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate 2 (COSMIC-2) mission reveal that ionospheric slab thickness increased at the center of the RED, which is supported by combined analyses of the GOLD and TEC data. The RED did not host conspicuous substructures that are stronger and longer-lasting than the ambient plasma did.

Park, Jaeheung; Rajesh, P.; Ivarsen, Magnus; Lin, Charles; Eastes, Richard; Chao, Chi; Coster, Anthea; Clausen, Lasse; Burchill, Johnathan;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029909

GOLD; Madrigal TEC; COSMIC-2; Norsat-1; rocket exhaust depletion; swarm

Large-Scale Traveling Atmospheric and Ionospheric Disturbances Observed in GUVI With Multi-Instrument Validations

This study presents multi-instrument observations of persistent large-scale traveling ionosphere/atmospheric disturbances (LSTIDs/LSTADs) observed during moderately increased auroral electrojet activity and a sudden stratospheric warming in the polar winter hemisphere. The Global Ultraviolet Imager (GUVI), Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer, Scanning Doppler Imaging Fabry–Perot Interferometers, and the Poker Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar are used to demonstrate the presence of LSTIDs/LSTADs between 19 UT and 5 UT on 18–19 January 2013 over the Alaska region down to lower midlatitudes. This study showcases the first use of GUVI for the study of LSTADs. These novel GUVI observations demonstrate the potential for the GUVI far ultraviolet emissions to be used for global-scale studies of waves and atmospheric disturbances in the thermosphere, a region lacking in long-term global measurements. These observations typify changes in the radiance from around 140 to 180 km, opening a new window into the behavior of the thermosphere.

Bossert, Katrina; Paxton, Larry; Matsuo, Tomoko; Goncharenko, Larisa; Kumari, Komal; Conde, Mark;

Published by: Geophysical Research Letters      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2022GL099901

Model Estimate of the Height of the Lower Limit of Integration when Obtaining the Ratio of the Concentrations of Atomic Oxygen and Molecular Nitrogen, n (O)/n (N2), According to the Timed Guvi Observation Technique

The results of the model estimate of the height of the lower limit of integration of the ratio of the concentrations of atomic oxygen and molecular nitrogen (n(O)/n(N2)) in the thermosphere according to observations using the Thermosphere, Ionosphere, and Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics Global UltraViolet Imager (TIMED GUVI) method are presented.

Klimenko, MV; Klimenko, VV; Yasyukevich, AS; Ratovsky, KG;

Published by: Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry B      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1134/S1990793122030071

Revisiting the November 2004 Superstorm: Lessons from the TIMED/GUVI Limb Observation

We revisited the November 2004 superstorm by analyzing data from TIMED/GUVI, a FUV spectrograph imager. The GUVI 135.6 nm limb radiances at 520-km tangent altitude are mainly due to the O+ and electron radiative recombination and represent the daytime ionosphere density at the altitude. The 135.6 nm radiances clearly showed a signature of ionospheric equatorial arcs and their variations during the November 2004 magnetic superstorm. When an intense eastward Interplanetary Electric Field (IEF) occurred, the dayside equatorial arcs were enhanced and their latitude separation increased. The enhanced equatorial arcs were hemispherically symmetric or asymmetric in the region with non-depleted O/N2 or hemispherically asymmetric O/N2 depletion, respectively. When the O/N2 depletion reached the magnetic equator, there was no observable enhancement in the equatorial arcs regardless of the IEF conditions, indicating O/N2 conditions significantly modulated the variations in storm-time equatorial arcs.

Zhang, Yongliang; Wang, Wenbin; Paxton, Larry; Schaefer, Robert; Huang, Chaosong;

Published by: 44th COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 16-24 July      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI:

Geomagnetic and Solar Dependencies of Midlatitude E-Region Irregularity Occurrence Rate: A Climatology Based on Wuhan VHF Radar Observations

By using Wuhan VHF radar, we show the morphological features of E-region field-aligned irregularity (FAI) occurrence at Wuhan during 2015–2020. Statistical results present that E-region FAI occurrence reaches a maximum after sunset in summer season. According to Doppler spectrum features, type-2 irregularity is predominantly observed at Wuhan. In addition, we observed a remarkable correlation between E-region FAI occurrence and geomagnetic activity, which includes periods of positive correlation and negative correlation depending on different geomagnetic conditions. The strong negative correlation also exists between E-region FAI occurrence and solar activity. In our observed results, we find that E-region FAI occurrence shows a strong linkage with local sporadic E (ES) layer. A quantitative analysis of linear theory of plasma instability in the E-region at midlatitudes is also presented in our study. The calculated results of linear growth rate indicate the importance of plasma density gradient of local ES layer and field-line-integrated Pedersen conductivity on the generation of E-region FAI. The geomagnetic and solar variations of E-region FAI occurrence are also discussed in this study, which show a dependence on the geomagnetic and solar variations of both meteor rate and medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbance occurrence.

Liu, Yi; Zhou, Chen; Xu, Tong; Deng, Zhongxin; Du, Zhitao; Lan, Ting; Tang, Qiong; Zhu, Yunzhou; Wang, Zhuangkai; Zhao, Zhengyu;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029597

Thermospheric conditions associated with the loss of 40 Starlink satellites

We analyzed far ultraviolet data from Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)/Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager (SSUSI) and Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED)/Global Ultraviolet Imager (GUVI) and found significant changes in the thermospheric density and composition during the 3–5 February 2022 storm when 40 Starlink satellites started to re-enter the atmosphere associated with increased neutral drag at an altitude around 210 km. The standard NRLMSISE-00 model predicts only ∼5\% increase in neutral density at 210 km. TIMED/GUVI observations showed a clear increase in the thermospheric N2/O column density ratio and an increase in the nitric oxide (NO) column density, indicating high thermospheric density, and temperature

Zhang, Yongliang; Paxton, Larry; Schaefer, Robert; Swartz, William;

Published by: Space Weather      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2022SW003168

Ionospheric effects of a solar wind high-speed stream driven geomagnetic storm

Solar wind high-speed streams (HSSs) and associated stream interaction regions (SIRs) typically produce long-lasting, but only moderate or weak geomagnetic storms. In this presentation, we will focus on electron density (Ne) and total electron content (TEC) changes at high to middle latitudes and associated physical processes during a specific HSS/SIR driven storm. The very long-lasting storm was produced by two interacting high-speed streams. Both enhancements, but in specific long-lasting (days) decreases of Ne and TEC are observed by the EISCAT radars and GNSS observations, respectively. Observational data sets also include AMPERE field-aligned current data, SuperDARN convection maps, and TIMED/GUVI observations of the O/N2 ratio.e

Aikio, Anita;

Published by: 44th COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 16-24 July      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI:

Aspects related to variability of radiative cooling by NO in lower thermosphere, TEC and O/N2 correlation, and diffusion of NO into mesosphere during the Halloween storms

Nitric Oxide is a very important trace species which plays a significant role acting as a natural thermostat in Earth’s thermosphere during strong geomagnetic activity. In this paper, we present various aspects related to the variation in the NO Infrared radiative flux (IRF) exiting the thermosphere by utilizing the TIMED/SABER (Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics/ Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry) observational data during the Halloween storm which occurred in late October 2003. The Halloween storm comprised of three intense-geomagnetic storms. The variability of NO infrared flux during these storm events and its connection to the strength of the geomagnetic storms were found to be different in contrast to similar super storms.

Ranjan, Alok; Krishna, MV; Kumar, Akash; Sarkhel, Sumanta; Bharti, Gaurav; Bender, Stefan; Sinnhuber, Miriam;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2022.07.035

The Global Response of Terrestrial Ionosphere to the December 2015 Space Weather Event

This paper investigates the ionospheric storm of December 19–21, 2015, which was initiated by two successive CME eruptions that caused a G3 space weather event. We used the in situ electron density (Ne) and electron temperature (Te) and the Total Electron Content (TEC) measurements from SWARM-A satellite, as well as the O/N2 observations from TIMED/GUVI to study the ionospheric impact. The observations reveal the longitudinal and hemispherical differences in the ionospheric response to the storm event. A positive ionospheric storm was observed over the American, African and Asian regions on 20 December, and the next day showed a negative storm. Both these exhibited hemispheric differences. A positive storm was observed over the East Pacific region on 21 December.

Thampi, Smitha; Mukundan, Vrinda;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2022.10.037

Climatology of O/N2 Variations at Low-and Mid-Latitudes during Solar Cycles 23 and 24

We present a study concerning the thermospheric O/N2 variations for the period 2002 to 2020, using the measurements of global ultraviolet imager (GUVI) onboard TIMED satellite. In this regard, monthly averaged O/N2 was computed—using the five quietest days of the month—at low- and mid-latitudes. To find the longitudinal dependence of thermospheric variations, the analysis is further extended to different longitudinal sectors, namely Asia, Africa, and America. We found that the latitudinal and longitudinal O/N2 variations follow the solar activity. These variations, during a high solar activity in northern winter, are found to be always much greater than southern winter and northern summer. The latitudinal and longitudinal variations of O/N2 at low- and mid-latitudes in December solstice are observed to be higher than June solstice counterparts in the northern hemisphere. We also computed the amplitudes of annual and semiannual variations using the bandpass filters. The former variations of O/N2 for low-latitudes do not follow the solar activity in the southern hemisphere. Moreover, these variations are stronger for mid-latitudes as compared with low-latitude regions. Similarly, the annual variations in Asian and African sectors of southern hemisphere do not follow the solar cycle (SC) trends.

Khan, Jahanzeb; Younas, Waqar; Khan, Majid; Amory-Mazaudier, Christine;

Published by: Atmosphere      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.3390/atmos13101645

Solar cycle, seasonal, and dawn-to-dusk variations of the hydrogen in the upper thermosphere

Atomic hydrogen is one of the least-understood atmospheric constituents whose distribution is important for the studies of aeronomy and magnetospheric physics. Using 6 years of space-based daytime Lyman-α observations from 2002 to 2007, we quantify the solar cycle, seasonal, and dawn-to-dusk variations of the H density in the upper thermosphere. Our results show evident dawn-dusk asymmetry of the exobase H density that decreases nearly linearly from dawn to dusk. The observed asymmetry in terms of the dawn-dusk density ratio decreases with declining solar activity and is larger in summer than in other seasons. Such variations are not predicted by the NRLMSISE-00 model and the NRLMSIS 2.0 model. Those models predict the opposite solar cycle trend and little seasonal variation of the degree of asymmetry.

Wan, Changan; Qin, Jianqi; Paxton, Larry;

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

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2022JA030504

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



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