Disturbances in the ionospheric F-region peak heights in the American longitudinal sector during geomagnetic storms of September 2005

In this paper, we use the modified GSM TIP model to explore how the thermosphere–ionosphere system in the American longitudinal sector responded to the series of geomagnetic storms on September 9–14, 2005. Comparison of modeling results with experimental data at Millstone Hill, USA (42.6°N, 71.5°W), Ramey, Puerto Rico (18.3°N, 66.8°W) and Jicamarca, Peru (11.9°S, 76.9°W) has shown a good agreement of ionospheric disturbances in the F-region maximum height. We examine in detail the formation mechanisms of these disturbances at different latitudes and describe some of the important physical processes affecting the behavior of the F-region. In addition, we consider the propagation of thermospheric wind surge and the formation of additional layers in the low-latitude ionosphere during geomagnetic storms.     

The solar wind control of the equatorial ionosphere dynamics during geomagnetic storms

The interplanetary magnetic field, geomagnetic variations, virtual ionosphere height h′F, and the critical frequency foF2 data during the geomagnetic storms are studied to demonstrate relationships between these phenomena. We study 5-min ionospheric variations using the first Western Pacific Ionosphere Campaign (1998–1999) observations, 5-min interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and 5-min auroral electrojets data during a moderate geomagnetic storm. These data allowed us to demonstrate that the auroral and the equatorial ionospheric phenomena are developed practically simultaneously. Hourly average of the ionospheric foF2 and h′F variations at near equatorial stations during a similar storm show the same behavior. We suppose this is due to interaction between electric fields of the auroral and the equatorial ionosphere during geomagnetic storms. It is shown that the low-latitude ionosphere dynamics during these moderate storms was defined by the southward direction of the B_z-component of the interplanetary magnetic field. A southward IMF produces the Region I and Region II field-aligned currents (FAC) and polar electrojet current systems. We assume that the short-term ionospheric variations during geomagnetic storms can be explained mainly by the electric field of the FAC. The electric fields of the field-aligned currents can penetrate throughout the mid-latitude ionosphere to the equator and may serve as a coupling agent between the auroral and the equatorial ionosphere.     

Response of the ionosphere to super geomagnetic storms: Observations and modeling

The relative importance of the main drivers of positive ionospheric storms at low-mid latitudes is studied using observations and modeling for the first time. In response to a rare super double geomagnetic storm during 07–11 November 2004, the low-mid latitude (17°–48°N geomag. lat.) ionosphere produced positive ionospheric storms in peak electron density (NmF2) in Japan longitudes (≈125°–145°E) on the day of main phase (MP1) onset (06:30 LT) and negative ionospheric storms in American longitudes (≈65°–120°W) on the following day of MP1 onset (13:00–16:00 LT). The relative effects of the main drivers of the positive ionospheric storms (penetrating daytime eastward electric field, and direct and indirect effects of equatorward neutral wind) are studied using the Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model (SUPIM). The model results show that the penetrating daytime (morning–noon) eastward electric field shifts the equatorial ionisation anomaly crests in NmF2 and TEC (total electron content) to higher than normal latitudes and reduces their values at latitudes at and within the anomaly crests while the direct effects of the equatorward wind (that reduce poleward plasma flow and raise the ionosphere to high altitudes of reduced chemical loss) combined with daytime production of ionisation increase NmF2 and TEC at latitudes poleward of the equatorial region; the later effects can be major causes of positive ionospheric storms at mid latitudes. The downwelling (indirect) effect of the wind increases NmF2 and TEC at low latitudes while its upwelling (indirect) effect reduces NmF2 and TEC at mid latitudes. The net effect of all main drivers is positive ionospheric storms at low-mid latitudes in Japan longitude, which qualitatively agrees with the observations.     

Investigation of ionospheric response to two moderate geomagnetic storms using GPS–TEC measurements in the South American and African sectors during the ascending phase of solar cycle 24

The responses of the ionospheric F region using GPS–TEC measurements during two moderate geomagnetic storms at equatorial, low-, and mid-latitude regions over the South American and African sectors in May 2010, during the ascending phase of solar cycle 24, are investigated. The first moderate geomagnetic storm studied reached a minimum Dst value of −64 nT at 1500 UT on 02 May 2010 and the second moderate geomagnetic storm reached a minimum Dst value of −85 nT at 1400 UT on 29 May 2010. In this paper, we present vertical total electron content (VTEC) and phase fluctuations (in TECU/min) from Global Positioning System (GPS) observations from the equatorial to mid-latitude regions in the South American and African sectors. Our results obtained during these two moderate geomagnetic storms from both sectors show significant positive ionospheric storms during daytime hours at the equatorial, low-, and mid-latitude regions during the main and recovery phases of the storms. The thermospheric wind circulation change towards the equator is a strong indicator that suggests an important mechanism is responsible for these positive phases at these regions. A pre-storm event that was observed in the African sector from low- to the mid-latitude regions on 01 May 2010 was absent in the South American sector. This study also showed that there was no generation or suppression of ionospheric irregularities by storm events. Therefore, knowledge about the suppression and generation of ionospheric irregularities during moderate geomagnetic storms is still unclear.     

Vertical plasma transport in the ionosphere over Irkutsk during St. Patrick’s Day geomagnetic storm: Observations and modeling

The St. Patrick’s Day storm being the strongest geomagnetic storm of Solar Cycle 24 caused strong changes in ionospheric and thermospheric dynamics. The paper presents a study of vertical plasma transport in the ionosphere during the St. Patrick’s Day storm with using both observations and modeling. The observations give the ionospheric peak height obtained with the chirp vertical sounding ionosonde and the neutral wind velocities obtained with the Fabry-Perot interferometer. The ionospheric peak height is an indicator of the total vertical plasma transport, while meridional wind and electromagnetic drift are the two main drivers of the vertical plasma transport. The Global Self-consistent Model of the Thermosphere, Ionosphere, and Protonosphere used in this study gives the total set of ionospheric and thermospheric parameters including F2-layer peak height, neutral wind velocities, electric field, and neutral composition. The model/data comparison allows us to obtain two main results. The first one is an estimation of the model prediction possibilities under storm conditions. The second result is an indirect assessment of the neutral wind and electric field contribution into the changes in the ionospheric peak height in the case of the St. Patrick’s Day geomagnetic storm.     

用经验模式参数研究电离层发电机效应

本文利用MSIS-86和IRI-86模式的基本参数,求得热层风系和电导率的三维分布;继而从发电机理论得到了电离层电位及层电流密度在北半球的分布和变化。本研究将大量数据统计平均的大气模式参数与热层、电离层理论研究联系了起来。     

Deformation of the ionosphere structure during the space weather events on October–November 2003

We present the spatial maps of the ionosphere–plasmasphere slab thickness τ (ratio of the vertical total electron content, TEC, to the F-region peak electron density, NmF2) during the intense ionospheric storms of October–November 2003. The model-assisted technology for estimate of the upper boundary of the ionosphere, hup, from the slab thickness components in the bottomside and topside ionosphere – eliminating the plasmasphere contribution of τ – is applied at latitudes 35° to 70°N and longitudes −10° to 40°E, from the data of 20 observatories of GPS-TEC and ionosonde networks, for selected days and hours of October and November 2003. The daily–hourly values of NmF2, hmF2 and TECgps are used as the constrained parameters for the International Reference Ionosphere extended to the plasmasphere, IRI-Plas, during the ionospheric quiet days, positive and negative storm phases for estimate of τ and hup. Good correlation has been found between the slab thickness and the upper boundary of the ionosphere for the intense ionospheric storms at October–November 2003. During the negative phase of the ionospheric storm, when the ionospheric plasma density is exhausted, the nighttime upper boundary of the ionosphere is greatly uplifted towards the magnetosphere tail, while the daytime upper boundary of the ionosphere is reduced below 500 km over the Earth.     

中低纬电离层不同季节地磁暴响应的事例分析

利用中国中低纬台站漠河（53.5°N,122.3°E）、北京（40.3°N,116.2°E）、武汉（30.5°N,114.2°E）和三亚（18.3°N,109.6°E）的电离层观测数据,对比分析了4个台站电离层参数在2015年不同季节4个地磁扰动事件期间的变化特征.结果表明,4个磁暴事件期间电离层的响应特征并不完全一致,有着明显的季节特征,春季、夏季和秋季电离层以负相扰动为主,冬季以正相扰动为主.分析发现,中性成分O/N₂的降低与电离层负相扰动有关,但三亚地区的负相扰动还与扰动发电机电场相关.正相扰动的机制在不同事件中并不相同,穿透电场可能是引起春季磁暴事件期间电离层短时正暴效应的原因,而冬季长时间的正暴效应则是扰动电场和中性风共同作用的结果.      

Modelling of Geomagnetic Storm Effects in the Ionosphere of East Asia

This paper presents simulated results of the ionospheric behavior during few geomagnetic storms,which were occurred in the different seasons. The numerical model for ionosphere-plasmasphere coupling was used to interpret the observed variation of ionosphere structure. Reasons why the positive storms are dominant in the winter whereas the negative ones are dominant in the summer season present the special interest for the mid-latitude ionosphere. A theoretical analysis of the processes controlling the ionospheric response to the geomagnetic storms has showed a good agreement between the simulated results and measurements, as well as the crucial role of the neutral composition variations to fit the calculated and the observed ionospheric parameters.      

A Review on the Ionospheric Research:Chinese Works During 2006—2008

This paper reviews various progresses on the ionospheric studies by the scientists in China during the last two years.The main contents concern the 4 aspects of the ionospheric re-search:(1) ionospheric weather and coupling with magnetosphere(polar and auroral ionosphere,ionospheric response to substorms,ionospheric storms);(2) mid-and low-latitude ionospheric clima-tology(ionospheric properties,yearly variations and solar activity dependence,long term variation);(3) ionospheric coupling with neutral atmosphere(gravity waves,tides,planetary waves,background upper atmosphere,and ionospheric response);and(4) ionospheric diagnostics(observation,modeling,and prediction).     

A Review on the Ionospheric Research： Chinese Works During 2006-2008

This paper reviews various progresses on the ionospheric studies by the scientists in China during the last two years.The main contents concern the 4 aspects of the ionospheric research:(1)ionospheric weather and coupling with magnetosphere(polar and auroral ionosphere,ionospheric response to substorms,ionospheric storms);(2)mid-and low-latitude ionospheric climatology(ionospheric properties,yearly variations and solar activity dependence,long term variation);(3)ionospheric coupling with neutral atmosphere(gravity waves,tides,planetary waves,background upper atmosphere,and ionospheric response);and(4)ionospheric diagnostics(observation,modeling,and prediction).     

Multi-station observation of ionospheric irregularities over South Africa during strong geomagnetic storms

This paper presents results pertaining to the response of the mid-latitude ionosphere to strong geomagnetic storms that occurred from 31 March to 02 April 2001 and 07–09 September 2002. The results are based on (i) Global Positioning Systems (GPSs) derived total electron content (TEC) variations accompanying the storm, (ii) ionosonde measurements of the ionospheric electrodynamic response towards the storms and (iii) effect of storm induced travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) on GPS derived TEC. Ionospheric data comprising of ionospheric TEC obtained from GPS measurements, ionograms, solar wind data obtained from Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) and magnetic data from ground based magnetometers were used in this study. Storm induced features in vertical TEC (VTEC) have been obtained and compared with the mean VTEC of quiet days. The response of the mid-latitude ionosphere during the two storm periods examined may be characterised in terms of increased or decreased level of VTEC, wave-like structures in VTEC perturbation and sudden enhancement in hmF2 and h′F. The study reveals both positive and negative ionospheric storm effects on the ionosphere over South Africa during the two strong storm conditions. These ionospheric features have been mainly attributed to the travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) as the driving mechanism for the irregularities causing the perturbations observed. TEC perturbations due to the irregularities encountered by the satellites were observed on satellites with pseudo random numbers (PRNs) 15, 17, 18 and 23 between 17:00 and 23:00 UT on 07 September 2002.     

Dayside ionospheric uplift during strong geomagnetic storms as detected by the CHAMP,SAC-C,TOPEX and Jason-1 satellites

Ionosphere response to severe geomagnetic storms that occurred in 2001–2003 was analyzed using data of global ionosphere maps (GIM), altimeter data from the Jason-1 and TOPEX satellites, and data of GPS receivers on-board CHAMP and SAC-C satellites. This allowed us to study in detail ionosphere redistribution due to geomagnetic storms, dayside ionospheric uplift and overall dayside TEC increase. It is shown that after the interplanetary magnetic field turns southward and intensifies, the crests of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) travel poleward and the TEC value within the EIA area increases significantly (up to ∼50%). GPS data from the SAC-C satellite show that during the main phase of geomagnetic storms TEC values above the altitude of 715 km are 2–3 times higher than during undisturbed conditions. These effects of dayside ionospheric uplift occur owing to the “super-fountain effect” and last few hours while the enhanced interplanetary electric field impinged on the magnetopause.     

Magnetospheric application of high-altitude long-duration balloon technology: Daylight auroral observations

Daylight auroral imaging is a proposed application of the NASA high-altitude long-duration balloon technology. This paper discusses the theoretical background of this application and test observations, for proof of the feasibility. It is demonstrated that nitrogen auroral emissions in the near-infrared band are detectable at altitudes of 35–40 km and above using a near-infrared InGaAs camera. The purpose of such observations is to identify auroral small-scale structures that are manifestations of auroral particle accelerations and the solar wind – magnetosphere – ionosphere interaction. Use of this new approach will enable studies of the dayside aurora, low-latitude aurora, and storm-time and substorm-time auroral conjugacy.     

中纬电离层暴负相的开始时间与磁暴主相开始时间的对应关系及其理论模式

本文分析了满洲里、Freiburg、Billerica三个站的电离层暴负相开始时间与磁暴主相开始时间的相关关系,并且提出了一个电离层暴负相开始时间的计算模式。假定在磁暴主相开始时,在极光椭圆上空出现了含有较多分子的气体。气体被热层风携带,同时向外膨胀。当富含分子的气体到达台站上空时,负相电离层暴就开始了。计算结果与满洲里。Freiburg和Billerica三个站的统计结果相符合。      

Planetary wave coupling of the atmosphere–ionosphere system during the Northern winter of 2008/2009

This paper presents the global spatial (latitude and altitude) structure and temporal variability of the ∼23-day ionospheric zonally symmetric (s = 0) planetary wave (PW) seen in the Northern winter of 2008/2009 (October 2008–March 2009). It is shown that these ∼23-day ionospheric oscillations are forced from PWs propagating from below. The COSMIC ionospheric parameters f_oF2 and h_mF2 and electron density at fixed altitudes and the SABER temperatures were utilized in order to define the waves which are present simultaneously in the atmosphere and ionosphere. The long-period PWs from the two data sets have been extracted through the same data analysis method. The similarity between the lower thermospheric ∼23-day (s = 0) temperature PW and its ionospheric electron density response provides valuable and strong experimental evidence for confirming the paradigm of atmosphere–ionosphere coupling.     

Variations in the thermosphere and ionosphere response to the 17–20 April 2002 geomagnetic storms

The responses of the thermospheric density and ionospheric foF2 to the intense magnetic storms event on 17–20 April were analyzed by using data from CHAMP/STAR and ionosonde stations respectively, and NRLMSISE-00 and IRI-2007 models were used to simulate. The models can capture the tendency of changes, especially under quiet or moderate geomagnetic conditions, but are less accurate under geomagnetic storms. The thermospheric density is sensitive to the EUV emission and geomagnetic activity, and double-peak structure appeared in the dayside. On 19 April dayside, TADs traveled toward the equator with phase speeds of the order of 300–750 m/s, interfered near the equator to produce a total density perturbation of 25%, and then passed through each other and into the opposite hemisphere. For ionospheric foF2, there are non-symmetric hemispheres’ features during the intense geomagnetic activities. In details, middle latitudes in the north and high latitudes in both hemispheres are negative ionospheric storms, and the maximum amplitudes of δfoF2$\delta \mathit{foF}2$ is about 60%, but the amplitudes decrease from the higher to lower latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. Meanwhile, the equatorial station shows positive phase, and the maximum value is about 100%. Finally, the mechanisms for these features will be discussed in this study.     

磁暴期间中纬度电离层剖面结构变化的数值模拟

利用电离层理论模型模拟了磁暴期间热层大气温度、成分、中性风和电场扰动对电离层电子密度剖面结构，特别是峰值密度和峰值高度变化的影响，结果表明，热层大气温度变化所引起光化反应系数的改变对电离层剖面结构影响不大；热层大气成分特别是Ｎ２／Ｏ的变化能有效地引起密度剖面变化，Ｎ２增加足以使峰值密度产生所观测到的负相暴；由中性风和电场引起等离子体漂移是峰值高度ｈｍＦ２变化的主要原因，但对电子密度的影响不足以抵消     

Initial phase of mid-latitude aurora during strong geomagnetic storms

Analysing the initial mid-latitude aurora phase during strong geomagnetic storms we found that the initial phase of the mid-latitude aurorae observed at 630 nm emission during the strong geomagnetic storms on March 24, 1991, April 6, 2000, October 30 and November 20, 2003 is characterized by a short (∼1 h) wave-like disturbance. This disturbance corresponds to the beginning of main phase of the magnetic storms. The marked effect of the mid-latitude aurorae is analyzed using data on magnetosphere and ionosphere conditions in observation periods. The features of the dynamics of the 630 nm emission intensity and its connection with the dynamics of magnetospheric–ionospheric structures are considered. Possible excitation mechanisms of the atomic oxygen emission (630 nm) during these disturbances are discussed.     

Study of TEC changes during geomagnetic storms occurred near the crest of the equatorial ionospheric ionization anomaly in the Indian sector

GPS satellites data obtained at Bhopal (23.16° N, 77.36° E, geomagnetic latitude 14.23° N) India were analyzed to study the TEC changes during several geomagnetic storms (−300 nT < Dst < −50 nT) occurred in 2005–2007. We had segregated the storms according to the Dst value, i.e. moderate storms (−100 nT < Dst ? −50 nT), strong storms (−150 nT < Dst < −100 nT), and severe storms (Dst less than −150 nT). Total of 21 geomagnetic storms (10 moderate, 9 strong, 2 severe) are considered for the present study. Deviation in vertical total electron content (VTEC) during the main phase of the storm was found to be associated with the prompt penetration of electric field originated due to the under-shielding and over-shielding conditions for almost all geomagnetic storms discussed in this paper. For most of the storms VTEC shows the positive percentage deviation during the main phase while it shows positive as well as the negative deviation during the recovery phase of the storms. The −80% deviation in VTEC was found for geomagnetic storm occurred on July 17, 2005 and the negative trend continued for recovery phase of the storm. This was mainly due to the thermospheric composition changes by Joule heating effect at auroral latitudes that generate electric field disturbance at low latitudes. Traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) were responsible for the formation of wave like nature in VTEC for the storms occurred on May 15, 2005, whereas it was not observed for storm occurred on August 24, 2005.