Ionospheric and Solar Wind Variation during Magnetic Storm Onset and Main Phase at Low- and Mid-latitudes

Abstract

The relationship between the F2-layer critical frequency and solar wind parameters during magnetic storm sudden commencement (SSC) and main phase periods for intense (IS) and very intense (VIS) class of storms is investigated. The analysis covers low- and mid-latitude stations. The effects of ionospheric storm during SSC period is insignificant compared to the main phase, but can trigger the latter. The main phase is characterized by severe negative storm effect at both latitudes during VIS periods while it is latitudinal symmetric for IS observations. The IS reveal positive/negative storm phase in the low-/mid-latitudes, respectively. Ionization density effect is more prominent during VIS events, and is attributed to large energetic particle and solar activity input into the earth magnetosphere. However, ionospheric effect is more significant at the low-latitude than at the mid-latitude. Lastly, ionospheric storm effect during a geomagnetic storm may be related to the combinational effect of interplanetary and geomagnetic parameters and internal ionospheric effect, not necessarily the solar wind alone.