Ground and Space-based response of the ionosphere during the geomagnetic storm of 02–06 November 2021 over the low-latitudes across different longitudes

Abstract

The strong geomagnetic storm of class G3 that occurred on 03 November 2021 (Dst min = −118 nT, Kp = 8) was the first of this class recorded during the ascending phase of solar cycle 25. In this study, we examined the response of the ionosphere during the geomagnetic storm period from 02–06 November 2021 using the Total Electron Content (TEC) observations from a chain of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver stations in five longitudinal sectors i.e, Asian, East-African, West-African, South-American, and Pacific-west sectors, in the low-latitudes and space-based Swarm satellite electron density, Ne and TEC measurements. The Rate of Change of TEC Index (ROTI) was derived from the ground and space based TEC measurements to examine the occurrence of ionospheric irregularities. The Rate of change of electron density index (RODI) was also derived from Swarm Ne measurements to identify the occurrence of ionospheric irregularities at Swarm altitudes. A positive ionospheric storm effect was observed in all the longitudinal sectors considered in this study. A clear hemispherical asymmetry, with higher VTEC in the northern hemisphere was observed. The determining factors for ionospheric responses to this storm are; local time of the storm’s onset, local time of storm’s minimum SYM-H, and changes in thermospheric O/N2 ratio. These geomagnetic storm effects were discussed in terms of the Prompt Penetration Electric Field (PPEF) storm induced wind lifting effect and Disturbance Dynamo Electric Field (DDEF). The geomagnetic storm inhibited the occurrence of ionospheric irregularities in all the sectors, during the main phase, except for three IGS receiver stations in South American sector. Overall, a longitudinal dependence of the enhancement/inhibition of ionospheric irregularities was observed. The generation of post-sunset irregularities was attributed to the local time occurrence of maximum ring current, PPEF and DDEF.