Morphologies of the topside ionosphere observed by COSMIC at high-latitudes during the 17 March 2013 magnetic storm

Abstract

The present study considers effects on the topside ionosphere at high-latitude (|MLat| ≥ 60°) during the magnetic storm on 17 March 2013. We divide the day into two segments, with magnetic conditions quiet during the first 6 h and disturbed thereafter, thus allowing comparisons of differences between these two states. The COSMIC data source consisted of 272 electron density profiles (EDPs) measured by COSMIC satellites using Abel inversions that assume the absence of horizontal plasma density gradients. We compared resultant EDPs with predictions of the International; Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model for the same altitudes along individual tangent-point lines. As conditions allowed, we also compared EDPs with densities measured by nearby DMSP satellites. During the pre-storm quiet period, 65 of the sampled 68 EDPs were highly correlated with IRI predictions. The remaining 3 EDPs showed significant irregularities along parts of the 800–200 km altitude range. We divided stormtime 204 COSMIC EDPs into three morphological categories. In the first group, 130 EDPs exhibit shapes similar to IRI-predictions. Of these, 72 (9) had larger (smaller) than predicted magnitudes. The second group consisted of 37 EDPs that showed little variation in magnitude over the designated altitude range. The remaining group had another 37 EDPs marked by significant irregularities. We found that the deepest EDP irregularity resulted from GPS signals passing through a deep plasma density trough observed by DMSP. The trough extended along the equatorward boundary of the evening-side, auroral oval. We suggest that EDP irregularities reflect density gradients along or near EDP tangent point lines.