Weak Magnetic Storms Can Modulate Ionosphere‐Plasmasphere Interaction Significantly: Mechanisms and Manifestations at Mid‐Latitudes. Issue 11 (26th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kotov, D.V.; Richards, P.G.; Truhlík, V.; Maruyama, N.; Fedrizzi, M.; Shulha, M.O.; Bogomaz, O.V.; Lichtenberger, J.; Hernández‐Pajares, M.; Chernogor, L.F.; Emelyanov, L.Ya.; Zhivolup, T.G.; Chepurnyy, Ya.M.; Domnin, I.F.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 124:Issue 11(2019)
• Page Start: 9665
• Page End: 9675
• Publication Date: 2019-11-26
• Subjects: Weak magnetic storms -- ionosphere‐plasmasphere interaction -- modulation of H+ ion flux -- topside ion composition -- thermosphere hydrogen density -- mid‐latitude ionosphere; Magnetospheric physics -- Periodicals; Space environment -- Periodicals; Cosmic physics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Atmospheres -- Periodicals; Heliosphere (Astrophysics) -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 523.01
• DOI: 10.1029/2019JA027076
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9380

Abstract

Abstract: A comprehensive study of the response of the ionosphere‐plasmasphere system at mid‐latitudes to weak (Dstmin > −50 nT) magnetic storms is presented. For the first time, it is shown that weak magnetic disturbances can lead to significant modulation of ionosphere‐plasmasphere H + ion fluxes. It is found that this modulation is caused by the enhancements/reductions of the topside O + ion density, which is induced by F2‐layer peak height rise and fall during the storms. The F2‐layer motion is caused by thermospheric wind changes and by a penetration electric field. Both drivers are closely related to the changes in the Bz component of interplanetary magnetic field. The most prominent manifestation of the H + ion flux modulation is strong changes in H + ion fraction in the topside ionosphere. This study also indicates that the NRLMSISE‐00 model provides the correct relative changes of neutral H density during weak magnetic storms and also that there is a compelling need to include geomagnetic activity indices, in addition to solar activity (F10.7 ), as input parameters to empirical topside ionosphere models. Key Points: Weak magnetic storms cause notable modulation of the ionosphere‐plasmasphere H + ion fluxes and prominent effects in the topside ionosphere The modulation is caused by the topside O + ion density changes induced by F2‐layer peak up/down lifting F2‐layer peak vertical motion is related to the changes in the Bz component of interplanetary magnetic field