Impact of geomagnetic variation over sub-auroral ionospheric region during high solar activity year 2014. Issue 10 (15th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Singh, Arun Kumar; Saini, Shailendra; Das, Rupesh M.
• Is Part Of: Advances in space research. Volume 63:Issue 10(2019)
• Page Start: 3189
• Page End: 3199
• Publication Date: 2019-05-15
• Subjects: Sub-auroral ionosphere -- Space weather -- Geomagnetic storms -- Sub-storm; Space sciences -- Periodicals; Astronautics -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 500.505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2019.01.050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0273-1177

Abstract

Highlights: The article provides the observational evidence of seasonal behavior of the sub-auroral ionosphere to the adverse space weather conditions. The present work is also an attempt to show the association of H-M boundary with the nature of sub-auroral ionospheric behavior. The investigation reveals that O/N2 ratio plays important role over the sub-auroral ionospheric region to decide the nature of effect i.e. negative or positive impact. Abstract: The present work is an attempt to evaluate the impact of changing space weather condition over sub-auroral ionosphere during high solar activity year 2014. In view of this, the GPS based TEC along with Ionosonde data over Indian permanent scientific base "Maitri", Antarctica (70°46′00″S, 11°43′56″E) has been utilized. The results suggested that the nature of ionospheric responses to the geomagnetic disturbances not only depended upon the status of high latitudinal electro-dynamic processes but also influenced by the seasonal variations. The results revel both negative and positive type of ionospheric response in a single year but during different seasons. The study suggested that the combination of equator-ward plasma transportation along with ionospheric compositional changes causes a negative ionospheric impact especially during summer and equinox seasons. However, the combination of pole-ward contraction of the oval region along with particle precipitation may lead to exhibit positive ionospheric response during the winter season. The plasma transportation direction has been validated with the help of convection boundary (HM boundary) deduced with the help of SuperDARN observations. The ground based ionosonde observations clearly provided the evidence of deep penetration of high energetic particles up to the E-layer heights which results a sudden and strong appearance of E-layer. The strengthening of E-layer is responsible for modification of auroral electrojet and field-aligned current system. Also, the sudden appearance of E-layer along with a decrease in F-layer electron density suggested the dominance of NO + over O + in a considered region under geomagnetic disturbed condition.