Comparison of modeled electron densities and electron and ion temperatures with Arecibo observations during undisturbed and geomagnetic storm periods of 7-11 September 2005

Abstract

[1] The electron density and the electron and ion temperatures measured by the Arecibo radar at 496 km altitude and NmF2 observed by the Puerto Rico ionosonde are compared with those produced by the model of the ionosphere and plasmasphere to study the time-dependent response of the ionosphere to geomagnetic forcing during the undisturbed and geomagnetic storm periods of 7–11 September 2005. The reasonable agreement between the model results and data requires the modified HWM90 wind and the modified NRLMSISE-00 neutral temperature. The pronounced positive daytime storm changes in NmF2 are created by increases in the upward wind-induced plasma drift due to the neutral wind, while the geomagnetic storm decreases in [N2] and [O2] and the enhanced disturbed upward wind-induced plasma drift cause the pronounced positive nighttime disturbances in NmF2. The storm neutral wind-induced plasma drift and neutral composition changes are responsible for the pronounced negative daytime NmF2 disturbances. The F2 layer transport from lower to higher altitudes by the upward wind-induced plasma drift decreases the distance between the hmF2 and our chosen altitude for study of the topside ionosphere. This results in the increase of the electron density at this chosen altitude due to a more weakly reduction in the electron density with altitude. The pronounced postmidnight peaks observed in the topside electron density over Arecibo are provided by these increases in the electron density.