Storm‐enhanced plasma density and polar tongue of ionization development during the 15 May 2005 superstorm

We investigate the ionosphere's global response to the 15 May 2005 superstorm in terms of storm evolution and ionospheric electrodynamics. Our aim is to study the global distribution of plasma and the resultant large‐scale ionospheric features including the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA), storm‐enhanced density (SED), and polar tongue of ionization (TOI). We have combined multi‐instrument ionospheric data, solar and terrestrial magnetic data, and polar convection maps. Results reveal the prompt penetration of the interplanetary electric field to the polar region and then to the equator with a dusk‐to‐dawn polarity during the initial phase and with a dawn‐to‐dusk polarity during the main phase. This drove during the initial phase a weak eastward equatorial electrojet (EEJ) in the American sector at nighttime and a weak westward EEJ in the Indian‐Australian sector at daytime. During the main phase, these EEJs intensified and changed polarities. SED and polar TOI development was observed prior to and during the initial phase at evening‐premidnight hours over North America and during the main phase in the south at afternoon‐evening hours in the Australian sector. During the main phase and early in the recovery phase, the EIA‐SED structure was well formed in the Asian longitude sector. Then, polar TOI development was absent in the north because of the long distance from the magnetic pole but was supported in the south because of the closeness of daytime cusp and magnetic pole. Thus, the EIA‐SED‐TOI structure developed twice but each time in a different longitude sector and with different characteristics.

[1]  P. Erickson,et al.  Ionospheric superstorms: Polarization terminator effects in the Atlantic sector , 2013 .

[2]  Y. Otsuka,et al.  Physical mechanisms of the ionospheric storms at equatorial and higher latitudes during the recovery phase of geomagnetic storms , 2013 .

[3]  J. Foster.  Ionospheric‐Magnetospheric‐Heliospheric Coupling: Storm‐Time Thermal Plasma Redistribution , 2013 .

[4]  M. Hairston,et al.  Generation and characteristics of equatorial plasma bubbles detected by the C/NOFS satellite near the sunset terminator , 2012 .

[5]  R. Schunk,et al.  A modeling study of the longitudinal dependence of storm time midlatitude dayside total electron content enhancements , 2012 .

[6]  Keith M. Groves,et al.  Specification of the occurrence of equatorial ionospheric scintillations during the main phase of large magnetic storms within solar cycle 23 , 2010 .

[7]  C. J. Owen,et al.  From the Sun to the Earth: The 13 May 2005 Coronal Mass Ejection , 2010 .

[8]  S. Kawamura,et al.  A physical mechanism of positive ionospheric storms at low latitudes and midlatitudes , 2010 .

[9]  S. Alex,et al.  Large enhancements in low latitude total electron content during 15 May 2005 geomagnetic storm in Indian zone , 2009 .

[10]  R. Heelis,et al.  Storm time signatures of the ionospheric zonal ion drift at middle latitudes , 2009 .

[11]  H. Carlson,et al.  On the diurnal variability in F2-region plasma density above the EISCAT Svalbard radar , 2008 .

[12]  J. Sanny,et al.  The occurrence of ionospheric signatures of plasmaspheric plumes over different longitudinal sectors , 2008 .

[13]  W. Rideout,et al.  Longitude sector comparisons of storm enhanced density , 2007 .

[14]  S. Basu,et al.  Response of the equatorial ionosphere at dusk to penetration electric fields during intense magnetic storms , 2007 .

[15]  N. Kleimenova,et al.  Geomagnetic pulsations and magnetic disturbances during the initial phase of a strong magnetic storm of May 15, 2005 , 2007 .

[16]  A. Coster,et al.  Conjugate localized enhancement of total electron content at low latitudes in the American sector , 2007 .

[17]  I. Horvath.  Impact of 10 January 1997 geomagnetic storm on the nighttime Weddell Sea Anomaly: A study utilizing data provided by the TOPEX/Poseidon mission and the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, and simulations generated by the Coupled Thermosphere/Ionosphere Plasmasphere model , 2007 .

[18]  I. Horvath.  A total electron content space weather study of the nighttime weddell sea Anomaly of 1996/1997 southern summer with TOPEX/Poseidon radar altimetry , 2006 .

[19]  T. Maruyama.  Extreme enhancement in total electron content after sunset on 8 November 2004 and its connection with storm enhanced density , 2006 .

[20]  G. W. Prölss.  Subauroral electron temperature enhancement in the nighttime ionosphere , 2006 .

[21]  E. Yizengaw,et al.  Ionospheric signatures of a plasmaspheric plume over Europe , 2006 .

[22]  Jaume Sanz,et al.  Improvement of global ionospheric VTEC maps by using kriging interpolation technique , 2005 .

[23]  W. Rideout,et al.  Multiradar observations of the polar tongue of ionization , 2005 .

[24]  A. Komjathy,et al.  Dayside global ionospheric response to the major interplanetary events of October 29–30, 2003 “Halloween Storms” , 2005 .

[25]  Larry J. Paxton,et al.  Two components of ionospheric plasma structuring at midlatitudes observed during the large magnetic storm of October 30, 2003 , 2005 .

[26]  H. Koskinen,et al.  Role of solar wind dynamic pressure in driving ionospheric Joule heating , 2004 .

[27]  Toshitaka Tsuda,et al.  Global dayside ionospheric uplift and enhancement associated with interplanetary electric fields , 2004 .

[28]  J. Foster,et al.  Average characteristics and activity dependence of the subauroral polarization stream , 2002 .

[29]  William J. Burke,et al.  SAPS: A new categorization for sub‐auroral electric fields , 2002 .

[30]  Philip J. Erickson,et al.  Ionospheric signatures of plasmaspheric tails , 2002 .

[31]  E. Kudeki,et al.  Estimating daytime vertical ExB drift velocities in the equatorial F‐region using ground‐based magnetometer observations , 2002 .

[32]  S. Basu,et al.  Ionospheric effects of major magnetic storms during the International Space Weather Period of September and October 1999: GPS observations, VHF/UHF scintillations, and in situ density structures at middle and equatorial latitudes , 2001 .

[33]  Bruce T. Tsurutani,et al.  Interplanetary origin of geomagnetic storms , 1999 .

[34]  J. Foster,et al.  Prompt midlatitude electric field effects during severe geomagnetic storms , 1998 .

[35]  Anthony J. Mannucci,et al.  A global mapping technique for GPS‐derived ionospheric total electron content measurements , 1998 .

[36]  H. Hayakawa,et al.  Cross polar cap diameter and voltage as a function of PC index and interplanetary quantities , 1996 .

[37]  C. Russell,et al.  Sudden impulses at subauroral latitudes: Response for northward interplanetary magnetic field , 1995 .

[38]  G. J. Bailey,et al.  Equatorial plasma fountain and its effects-possibility of an additional layer , 1995 .

[39]  J. Foster.  Storm time plasma transport at middle and high latitudes , 1993 .

[40]  K. Davies,et al.  Ionospheric slab thickness in middle and low latitudes , 1991 .

[41]  J. Klobuchar,et al.  Ionospheric storm effects at subauroral latitudes: A case study , 1991 .

[42]  N. Maynard,et al.  Empirical high‐latitude electric field models , 1987 .

[43]  Byung-Ho Ahn,et al.  The Joule heat production rate and the particle energy injection rate as a function of the geomagnetic indices AE and AL , 1983 .

[44]  Robert D. Hunsucker,et al.  Atmospheric gravity waves generated in the high‐latitude ionosphere: A review , 1982 .

[45]  Arthur D. Richmond,et al.  The ionospheric disturbance dynamo , 1980 .

[46]  B. Fejer,et al.  An explanation for anomalous equatorial ionospheric electric fields associated with a northward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field , 1979 .

[47]  E. Ott.  Theory of Rayleigh-Taylor bubbles in the equatorial ionosphere , 1978 .

[48]  G. J. Bailey,et al.  A Physical Mechanism of Positive Ionospheric Storms , 2011 .

[49]  B. Lovell,et al.  Distinctive plasma density features of the topside ionosphere and their electrodynamics investigated during southern winter , 2009 .

[50]  V. Vasyliūnas,et al.  The Interrelationship of Magnetospheric Processes , 1972 .

[51]  Walter S. Monroe,et al.  The physical mechanism. , 1930 .