Strong longitudinal difference in ionospheric responses over Fortaleza (Brazil) and Jicamarca (Peru) during the January 2005 magnetic storm, dominated by northward IMF

Abstract

In this study we investigate the response of the equatorial F layer to disturbance zonal electric field associated with IMF (interplanetary magnetic field) variations dominated by a strong northward Bz episode during the magnetic storm that occurred on 21 January, 2005. We compared the results obtained from Digisondes operated at Fortaleza, Brazil (Geogr. 3.9°S, 38.45°W; dip angle: −11.7°) and Jicamarca, Peru (Geogr. 12.0°S, 76.8°W; dip angle: 0.64°). A large auroral activity (AE) intensification that occurred at ∼1715 UT produced a large F‐layer peak height increase (from 300 km to 600 km) over Jicamarca with no noticeable simultaneous effect over Fortaleza. Then the Bz turning northward at ∼1940 UT with a rapid change in AE that was accompanied by a large decrease of F layer height and total suppression of the PRE over Fortaleza with no simultaneous effect over Jicamarca. Strong increase in the AE index (from ∼400 to 1000 nT) with superimposed oscillations, under Bz North, that soon followed was associated with increases in both the F layer height and the vertical drift velocity over Fortaleza (at 2130 UT), with no corresponding signatures over Jicamarca. These remarkable contrasting responses to prompt penetration electric field (PPEF) as well as to disturbance wind dynamo electric field (DDEF) and other effects observed at the two locations separated only by 2 h in LT in the South American sector are presented and discussed in this paper. Effects onspread‐F development and foF2 behavior during this storm event are also addressed in this work.