Abstract
Experiments on board low-Earth orbit satellites show that energetic particles (tens of keV) of the Earth’s radiation belt can penetrate to the equatorial ionosphere. Impact of the energetic particles on the upper atmosphere and ionosphere was studied for the case of the geomagnetic storm on 22 July 2009. We present changes of local ion concentration in the low-latitude ionosphere at night measured by the C/NOFS satellite at heights 400-800 km during the magnetic storm and quiet days. The ionospheric density during the storm was compared with a simultaneous observation of enhancements of 30-80 keV proton fluxes measured by the NOAA/POES satellites near the equator at height ~850 km. We suggest that ionospheric irregularities at night can be caused by effect of energetic protons.
Highlights
Long-term experiments on board the low-Earth orbit NOAA/POES satellites make it possible to monitor continuously the fluxes of energetic electrons and protons at altitudes (~850 km) below the radiation belt (RB)
We compare the data on the ionospheric plasma density and energetic protons observed during the main phase of the storm with the data during the magnetic quiet condition
According to the recent researches of the influence of the magnetosphere to the ionosphere, intense fluxes of energetic particles can penetrate to the ionosphere at low latitudes and play an important role in the processes associated with additional ionization and plasma inhomogeneity in the F region
Summary
Long-term experiments on board the low-Earth orbit NOAA/POES satellites make it possible to monitor continuously the fluxes of energetic electrons and protons at altitudes (~850 km) below the radiation belt (RB). At longitudes outside the SAA region, flux intensity of energetic protons or electrons suddenly and strongly increases in the low-latitude ionosphere. These particle enhancements in the ionosphere occur due to penetration of the energetic particles from the magnetosphere. Energetic protons penetrate into the ionosphere at low and middle latitudes through a mechanism of charge exchange of the ring current protons on hydrogen atoms of exosphere [1]
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