Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model Research Articles

Variability of the equatorial ionization anomaly over the South American sector: Effects of electric field and effective meridional wind

Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) Maps over the South American Continent were utilized to investigate the temporal and longitudinal climatology of Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) using more than 350 Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers. At a temporal resolution of 10 min, the EIA motions, morphologies, and evolutions were mapped using VTEC keogram along magnetic meridians lines. Between 2014 and 2019, characteristics of the EIA were studied at two different South American magnetic meridians (i.e., 3.36° E and 7.58° E) separated by ∼555 km at an altitude of 300 km. The aim of this study is to examine the EIA’s variability, monthly variations and occurrences at evenly spaced longitudinal sectors. The effects of effective meridional winds component and E × B drift velocity on the daytime asymmetry of EIA anomalies were studied using a physics-based numerical model, Sheffield University Plasmasphere-Ionosphere model at Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (SUPIM-INPE). We found that the EIA parameters such as strength, shape, intensity, and latitudinal positions are affected by the eastward electric field and effective meridional wind. The monthly variations in the EIA over two magnetic meridian sectors demonstrate a semiannual variation. The EIA crests were more symmetric in equinox than in solstice seasons. The asymmetries of the EIA observed during the December solstice are more intense than during the June solstice, whereas September equinox is less symmetric than March equinox seasons. Moreover, this study indicates that the vertical drift and the meridional neutral wind plays a very significant role in the development of the EIA asymmetry by transporting the plasma up the field lines. There was a notable contraction of the EIA southern hemispheric (SH) crests from the December solstice to the June solstice. Meanwhile, the EIA crest positions in the northern hemisphere (NH) expand from the December solstice to the June solstice. According to our observations, the March equinox season had the most EIA occurrences, which were then followed by the September equinox, the December and June solstices. The intensities of the EIA crests also considerably decreased with solar descending phases. Through modeling, this work provides the scientific community with new insights into the evolution/development of EIA and their latitudinal asymmetry, as well as the role of E × B drift and thermospheric neutral wind in assessing the statistical analysis of EIA variability using the largest VTEC database over the South American sector.

First Report of an Eclipse From Chilean Ionosonde Observations: Comparison With Total Electron Content Estimations and the Modeled Maximum Electron Concentration and Its Height

AbstractThe ionospheric responses to the total solar eclipse on 2 July 2019 over low latitudes in southern South America are presented. Ionosonde observations were used within the totality path at La Serena (LS: 29.9°S, 71.3°W) and at Tucumán (TU: 26.9°S, 65.4°W) and Jicamarca (JI: 12.0°S, 76.8°W), with 85% and 52% obscuration, respectively. Total electron content (TEC) estimations over the South American continent were analyzed. The ionospheric impact of the eclipse was simulated using the Sheffield University Plasmasphere‐Ionosphere Model (SUPIM) at the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). The significant variability of the diurnal variations of the various ionospheric characteristics over equatorial and low latitudes on geomagnetically quiet days makes it difficult to unambiguously determine the ionospheric responses to the eclipse. Nonetheless, some specific issues can be derived, mainly using simulation results. The E and F1 layer critical frequencies and densities below 200 km are found to consistently depend on decreasing solar radiation. However, the F1 layer stratification observed at both TU and LS cannot be related to the eclipse or other processes. The F2 layer does not follow the changes in direct solar radiation during the eclipse. The SUPIM‐INPE‐modeled F region critical frequency and TEC are overestimated before the eclipse at LS and particularly at TU. However, these overestimations are within the observed large day‐to‐day variability. When an artificial prereversal enhancement is added, the simulations during the eclipse better reproduce the observations at JI, are qualitatively better for LS, and are out of phase for TU. The simulations are consistent with conjugate location effects.

Evaluation of ionospheric models for Central and South Americas

This work shows a 20-month statistical evaluation of different Total Electron Content (TEC) estimators for the Central and South America regions. The TEC provided by the International GNSS Service (IGS) in the area covered around the monitoring GNSS stations are used as reference values, and they are compared to TEC estimates from the physics-based (Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model—PIM) and the empirical (Neustrelitz TEC Model-Global—NTCM-GL) models. The mean TEC values show strong dependence on both solar activity and seasonal variation. A clear response was noticed for a period close to 27 days due to the mean solar rotation, as seen in the solar flux measurements. Consistently, the mean TEC values present an annual variation with maxima during December solstices for southern stations with geographic latitudes greater than 25° S. Semi-annual dependence has been observed in TEC for the sector between ±25° of geographical latitude but with modulations caused by fluctuation in the solar radiation. We observed a high correlation between solar radio flux F10.7 and NTCM-GL outputs. The fast increases in F10.7 index have caused significant differences between IGS data and NTCM-GL results mainly for equatorial and low latitudes. For the initial months of the evaluated period (January–April, 2016), the errors of the physics-based model were considerably larger, mainly near the equatorial ionization anomaly. The discrepancies observed in SUPIM results are mainly due to inputs of solar EUV flux. The EUVAC model has underestimated EUV flux between January and April, 2016, when the solar activity was moderated and Solar2000 model has overestimated such flux during low solar cycle period between May and August, 2017. In relation to IGS data, the two assessed models presented smaller differences during the June solstice season of 2016.

Latitude-dependent delay in the responses of the equatorial electrojet and <i>S</i><sub><i>q</i></sub> currents to X-class solar flares

Abstract. We have analyzed low-latitude ionospheric current responses to two intense (X-class) solar flares that occurred on 13 May 2013 and 11 March 2015. Sudden intensifications, in response to solar flare radiation impulses, in the Sq and equatorial electrojet (EEJ) currents, as detected by magnetometers over equatorial and low-latitude sites in South America, are studied. In particular we show for the first time that a 5 to 8 min time delay is present in the peak effect in the EEJ, with respect that of Sq current outside the magnetic equator, in response to the flare radiation enhancement. The Sq current intensification peaks close to the flare X-ray peak, while the EEJ peak occurs 5 to 8 min later. We have used the Sheffield University Plasmasphere-Ionosphere Model at National Institute for Space Research (SUPIM-INPE) to simulate the E-region conductivity enhancement as caused by the flare enhanced solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and soft X-rays flux. We propose that the flare-induced enhancement in neutral wind occurring with a time delay (with respect to the flare radiation) could be responsible for a delayed zonal electric field disturbance driving the EEJ, in which the Cowling conductivity offers enhanced sensitivity to the driving zonal electric field. Keywords. Ionosphere (equatorial ionosphere)

Equatorial Ionospheric Response to Different Estimated Disturbed Electric Fields as Investigated Using Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model at INPE

AbstractGood ionospheric modeling is important to understand anomalous effects, mainly during geomagnetic storm events. Ionospheric electric fields, thermospheric winds, and neutral composition are affected at different degrees, depending on the intensity of the magnetic disturbance which, in turns, affects the electron density distribution at all latitudes. The most important disturbed parameter for the equatorial ionosphere is the electric field, which is responsible for the equatorial ionization anomaly. Here various electric field measurements and models are analyzed: (1) measured by the Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar (ISR), (2) from Jicamarca Unattended Long‐Term studies of the Ionosphere and Atmosphere (JULIA) radar, (3) deduced from magnetometers, (4) calculated from the time variations of the F layer height (dh′F/dt), and (5) deduced from interplanetary electric field determinations. The response of ionospheric parameters foF2 and hmF2 to the electric fields simulated using the Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model version available at Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais is compared with observations for two locations, during the geomagnetic storm events of 17–18 April 2002 and 7–10 November 2004. Results are found to be consistent with the observations in such a way that a hierarchy among the different types of drifts used can be established. When no ISR measurements are available, the drifts deduced from magnetometers or measured by the JULIA are best when including the contribution derived from dh′F/dt for the 18–24 LT time interval. However, when none of these drifts are available, drifts inferred from the interplanetary electric field seem to be a good alternative for some purposes.

Effect of solar cycle 23 in foF2 trend estimation

The effect of including solar cycle 23 in foF2 trend estimation is assessed using experimental values for Slough (51.5°N, 359.4°E) and Kokobunji (35.7°N, 139.5°E), and values obtained from two models: (1) the Sheffield University Plasmasphere-Ionosphere model, SUPIM, and (2) the International Reference Ionosphere, IRI. The dominant influence on the F2 layer is solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation, evinced by the almost 90% variance of its parameters explained by solar EUV proxies such as the solar activity indices Rz and F10.7. This makes necessary to filter out solar activity effects prior to long-term trend estimation. Solar cycle 23 seems to have had an EUV emission different from that deduced from traditional solar EUV proxies. During maximum and descending phase of the cycle, Rz and F10.7 seem to underestimate EUV solar radiation, while during minimum, they overestimate EUV levels. Including this solar cycle in trend estimations then, and using traditional filtering techniques, may induce some spurious results. In the present work, filtering is done in the usual way considering the residuals of the linear regression between foF2 and F10.7, for both experimental and modeled values. foF2 trends become less negative as we include years after 2000, since foF2 systematically exceeds the values predicted by a linear fit between foF2 and F10.7. Trends become more negative again when solar cycle 23 minimum is included, since for this period, foF2 is systematically lower than values predicted by the linear fit. foF2 trends assessed with modeled foF2 values are less strong than those obtained with experimental foF2 values and more stable as solar cycle 23 is included in the trend estimation. Modeled trends may be thought of as a ‘zero level’ trend due to the assumptions made in the process of trend estimation considering also that we are not dealing with ideal conditions or infinite time series.

Towards better description of solar activity variation in the International Reference Ionosphere topside ion composition model

We present a revision of the ion composition model that is included in the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) as the TTS-03 option. We employed a better description of the solar activity variation based on the assumption that the dependence of the logarithm of absolute densities of the individual ion species (H+, O+, He+ and N+) on the F10.7 index is linear. Unlike the TTS-03 model using the relative ion densities, the revised model employs absolute ion densities measured by the Atmosphere Explorer C&E and Intercosmos-24 satellites. Results of the revised ion composition model are presented, with special emphasis on the upper transition height (HT) during low solar activity. Equatorial HT produced by the model for a very low solar activity is ∼800km at daytime (14hLT) and ∼520km at nighttime (2hLT). These values are closer to HT observed by the Coupled Ion-Neutral Dynamics Investigations (CINDI) on the Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite in the years 2008 and 2009 (minimum solar activity of the 23rd solar cycle) than the IRI-2007 and IRI-2012 options for the ion composition. A comparison of the options for the ion composition with the Sheffield University Plasmasphere-Ionosphere Model (SUPIM) is also shown.

First results of operational ionospheric dynamics prediction for the Brazilian Space Weather program

It is shown the development and preliminary results of operational ionosphere dynamics prediction system for the Brazilian Space Weather program. The system is based on the Sheffield University Plasmasphere–Ionosphere Model (SUPIM), a physics-based model computer code describing the distribution of ionization within the Earth mid to equatorial latitude ionosphere and plasmasphere, during geomagnetically quiet periods. The model outputs are given in a 2-dimensional plane aligned with Earth magnetic field lines, with fixed magnetic longitude coordinate. The code was adapted to provide the output in geographical coordinates. It was made referring to the Earth’s magnetic field as an eccentric dipole, using the approximation based on International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF-11). During the system operation, several simulation runs are performed at different longitudes. The original code would not be able to run all simulations serially in reasonable time. So, a parallel version for the code was developed for enhancing the performance. After preliminary tests, it was frequently observed code instability, when negative ion temperatures or concentrations prevented the code from continuing its processing. After a detailed analysis, it was verified that most of these problems occurred due to concentration estimation of simulation points located at high altitudes, typically over 4000km of altitude. In order to force convergence, an artificial exponential decay for ion–neutral collisional frequency was used above mentioned altitudes. This approach shown no significant difference from original code output, but improved substantially the code stability. In order to make operational system even more stable, the initial altitude and initial ion concentration values used on exponential decay equation are changed when convergence is not achieved, within pre-defined values. When all code runs end, the longitude of every point is then compared with its original reference station longitude, and differences are compensated by changing the simulation point time slot, in a temporal adjustment optimization. Then, an approximate neighbor searching technique was developed to obtain the ion concentration values in a regularly spaced grid, using inverse distance weighting (IDW) interpolation. A 3D grid containing ion and electron concentrations is generated for every hour of simulated day. Its spatial resolution is 1° of latitude per 1° of longitude per 10km of altitude. The vertical total electron content (VTEC) is calculated from the grid, and plotted in a geographic map. An important feature that was implemented in the system is the capacity of combining observational data and simulation outputs to obtain more appropriate initial conditions to the ionosphere prediction. Newtonian relaxation method was used for this data assimilation process, where ionosonde data from four different locations in South America was used to improve the system accuracy. The whole process runs every day and predicts the VTEC values for South America region with almost 24h ahead.

Longitudinal variation in Global Navigation Satellite Systems TEC and topside ion density over South American sector associated with the four‐peaked wave structures

AbstractRecent observations of the low‐latitude ionospheric electron density revealed a four‐peaked longitudinal structure in the equatorial ionization anomaly when plotted at a constant‐local‐time frame. It was proposed that neutral wind‐driven E region dynamo electric fields due to nonmigrating tidal modes are responsible for this pattern. We examine the four‐peaked structure in the observed topside ion density and its manifestation as longitudinal structures in total electron content (TEC) over South America. The strong longitudinal variation in TEC characterized by larger value over Brazilian eastern longitude sector as compared to that over the Peruvian western longitude is modeled using the Sheffield University plasmasphere‐ionosphere model (SUPIM) aiming to identify the control factors responsible for the longitude variation. We found that the SUPIM runs using as input the existing standard models of vertical drift, and thermospheric winds do not explain the TEC longitudinal structure. Realistic values of these control parameters were generated based on the strong vertical drift longitudinal variation as determined from magnetometer and Digisonde data and appropriately adjusted winds (horizontal wind model). These realistic vertical drifts together with the modified thermospheric wind, when used as input to the SUPIM, are found to satisfactorily explain the longitudinal differences in the TEC and topside ion density (Ni) over South America. The study shows that the TEC in the whole latitude distribution is larger over the east coast than over the west coast of South America and that the vertical drift and thermospheirc winds control the longitudinal four wave structure in the TEC and Ni.

Equatorial ionization anomaly development as studied by GPS TEC and foF2 over Brazil: A comparison of observations with model results from SUPIM and IRI-2012

The equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) development is studied using the total electron content (TEC) observed by the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, the F2-layer critical frequency (foF2) as measured by digisondes operated in the Brazilian sector, and by model simulation using the SUPIM (Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model). We have used two indices based on foF2 and TEC to represent the strength of the EIA Southern Anomaly Crest (SAC), which are denoted, respectively, by SAC(foF2) and SAC(TEC). Significant differences in the local time variations of the EIA intensity, as represented by these two indices, are investigated. The observed SAC indices are compared with their values modeled by the SUPIM and also by the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI)—2012. The SUPIM simulations that use the standard E×B plasma drift and neutral air wind models are found to provide acceptable representations of the observed foF2 and TEC, and hence the indices SAC(foF2) and SAC(TEC) during daytime, whereas the IRI-2012 model is not, except during the post-midnight/sunrise hours. It is found that the differences in the local time variations between the SAC(foF2) and SAC(TEC) can be reduced by limiting the TEC integrations in height up to an altitude of 630km in the SUPIM calculations. It is also found that when the EIA intensity is calculated for an intermediate dip latitude (12°S) the difference between the local time variation patterns of the two corresponding indices in the experimental data and in the SUPIM results is reduced. For the IRI-2012 values, the subequatorial station modification does not appear to have any effect.

First simultaneous observations of F3 layer and E×B drift in Indian sector and modeling

Although the basic mechanism of an additional stratification of the daytime equatorial F region, called the F3 layer, has been explained, two observational aspects that remain not so clear are its summer‐winter differences and simultaneous occurrences on either side of the geomagnetic equator. In this paper, we address these two aspects using simultaneous observations of the F3 layer and vertical E×B drift velocity made for the first time in an Indian station Gadanki (6.5°N mag. lat) during the low solar activity period 2008–2009, and making model computations using the Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model. The observations confirm the frequent occurrence of the F3 layer in summer months compared to winter months; the observations also reveal the occasional occurrence of clear and distinct F3 layer in winter although such a layer is frequent in summer. In addition, a threshold vertical plasma velocity (involving the E×B drift and neutral wind) and its time integrated value are found to be important for the formation of the F3 layer. The model results qualitatively reproduce the observations; and show that irrespective of season the formation of the F3 layer is centered on that side of the equator where the equatorward neutral wind reduces the downward field‐aligned flow of plasma, and the latitude band of the layer can extend to the opposite hemisphere, especially when the vertical plasma velocity is large.

Physical mechanisms of the ionospheric storms at equatorial and higher latitudes during the recovery phase of geomagnetic storms

AbstractThe paper studies the physical mechanisms of the ionospheric storms at equatorial and higher latitudes, which are generally opposite both during the main phase (MP) and recovery phase (RP) of geomagnetic storms. The mechanisms are based on the natural tendency of physical systems to occupy minimum energy state which is most stable. The paper first illustrates the recent developments in the understanding of the mechanisms during daytime MPs when generally negative ionospheric storms (in Nmax and TEC) develop at equatorial latitudes and positive storms occur at higher latitudes, including why the storms are severe only in some cases. The paper then investigates the relative importance of the physical mechanisms of the positive ionospheric storms observed at equatorial latitudes (within ±15°) during daytime RPs when negative storms occur at higher latitudes using CHAMP Ne and GPS‐TEC data and Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model. The results indicate that the mechanical effect of the storm‐time equatorward neutral winds that causes plasma convergence at equatorial F region could be a major source for the positive storms, with the downwelling effect of the winds and zero or westward electric field, if present, acting as minor sources.

Mid-latitude Summer Nighttime Anomaly (MSNA) – observations and model simulations

Abstract. In this paper, we present model simulations of the Mid-latitude Summer Nighttime Anomaly (MSNA) in the Northern Hemisphere, which is characterized by noon-time dip and evening maximum in the diurnal variation of the ionospheric density. The simulations are carried out using SUPIM (Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model) for solar minimum at 135° E longitude where MSNA is most pronounced in the Northern Hemisphere. The simulations are used to understand the relative importance of electric fields, and zonal and meridional winds in the formation of MSNA. The wind velocities measured by the Middle and Upper atmosphere radar (MU radar) and those obtained from the horizontal wind model (HWM93) are used. The results show that the formation of MSNA is closely related to the diurnal variation of the neutral winds with little contribution from the changes in the electric fields. The observed features of MSNA are better reproduced when MU radar winds are used as model input rather than HWM winds.

Parameterized Regional Ionospheric Model and a comparison of its results with experimental data and IRI representations

We describe a Parameterized Regional Ionospheric Model (PARIM) to calculate the spatial and temporal variations of the ionospheric electron density/plasma frequency over the Brazilian sector. The ionospheric plasma frequency values as calculated from an enhanced Sheffield University Plasmasphere–Ionosphere Model (SUPIM) were used to construct the model. PARIM is a time-independent 3D regional model (altitude, longitude/local time, latitude) used to reproduce SUPIM plasma frequencies for geomagnetic quiet condition, for any day of the year and for low to moderately high solar activity. The procedure to obtain the modeled representation uses finite Fourier series so that all plasma frequency dependencies can be represented by Fourier coefficients. PARIM presents very good results, except for the F region peak height (hmF2) near the geomagnetic equator during times of occurrence of the F 3 layer. The plasma frequency calculated by IRI from E region to bottomside of the F region present latitudinal discontinuities during morning and evening times for both solar minimum and solar maximum conditions. Both the results of PARIM and the IRI for the E region peak density show excellent agreement with the observational values obtained during the conjugate point equatorial experiment (COPEX) campaign. The IRI representations significantly underestimate the foF2 and hmF2 compared to the observational results over the COPEX sites, mainly during the evening–nighttime period.

Neutral wind effect in producing a storm time ionospheric additional layer in the equatorial ionization anomaly region

A new type of the additional layer is predicted to occur in the low‐latitude F region ionosphere during evening hours of a major magnetic storm. By using the coupled NCAR Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamic General Circulation Model (TIEGCM) and Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model (SUPIM) runs during the major magnetic storm of 29–30 October 2003, we present a new type of additional layer which occurs at the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) by a new physical mechanism. This mechanism requires that storm time meridional neutral wind surges travel from high to low latitudes and cross into the opposite hemisphere. The wind surges modify the field‐aligned plasma velocities in the EIA regions significantly after uplift of the ionospheric layer by a penetration electric field and interact with the downward field‐aligned plasma velocities of the enhanced equatorial fountain. The combined storm effects of the enhanced plasma fountain and the neutral wind surges result in plasma convergence in altitude and form the additional layers underneath the EIA crests.

Conjugate Point Equatorial Experiment (COPEX) campaign in Brazil: Electrodynamics highlights on spread F development conditions and day‐to‐day variability

A Conjugate Point Equatorial Experiment (COPEX) campaign was conducted during the October–December 2002 period in Brazil, with the objective to investigate the equatorial spread F/plasma bubble irregularity (ESF) development conditions in terms of the electrodynamical state of the ionosphere along the magnetic flux tubes in which they occur. A network of instruments, including Digisondes, optical imagers, and GPS receivers, was deployed at magnetic conjugate and dip equatorial locations in a geometry that permitted field line mapping of the conjugate E layers to dip equatorial F layer bottomside. We analyze in this paper the extensive Digisonde data from the COPEX stations, complemented by limited all‐sky imager conjugate point observations. The Sheffield University Plasmasphere‐Ionosphere Model (SUPIM) is used to assess the transequatorial winds (TEW) as inferred from the observed difference of hmF2 at the conjugate sites. New results and evidence on the ESF development conditions and the related ambient electrodynamic processes from this study can be highlighted as follows: (1) large‐scale bottomside wave structures/satellite traces at the equator followed by their simultaneous appearance at conjugate sites are shown to be indicative of the ESF instability initiation; (2) the evening prereversal electric field enhancement (PRE)/vertical drift presents systematic control on the time delay in SF onset at off‐equatorial sites indicative of the vertical bubble growth, under weak transequatorial wind; (3) the PRE presents a large latitude/height gradient in the Brazilian sector; (4) conjugate point symmetry/asymmetry of large‐scale plasma depletions versus smaller‐scale structures is revealed; and (5) while transequatorial winds seem to suppress ESF development in a case study, the medium‐term trend in the ESF seems to be controlled more by the variation in the PRE than in the TEW during the COPEX period. Competing influences of the evening vertical plasma drift in favoring the ESF development and that of the TEW in suppressing its growth are discussed, presenting a perspective on the ESF day‐to‐day and medium‐term variabilities.

Super plasma fountain and equatorial ionization anomaly during penetration electric field

Relative importance of diffusion, electric field, and neutral wind on equatorial plasma fountain and equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) during a strong daytime eastward prompt penetration electric field (PPEF) event are evaluated using the Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model and the recorded PPEF during the super geomagnetic storm of 9 November 2004. The fountain rapidly develops into a super fountain during the PPEF event. The super fountain becomes strong with less poleward turning of the velocity vectors in the presence of an equatorward wind that reduces (or stops) the downward velocity component due to diffusion and raises the ionosphere to high altitudes of reduced chemical loss. The EIA crests in peak electron density and total electron content shift rapidly to higher than normal latitudes during the PPEF event. However, the crests become stronger than normal only in the presence of an equatorward wind. The results suggest that the presence of an equatorward neutral wind is required to produce a strong positive ionospheric storm during a daytime eastward PPEF event. The equatorward neutral wind need not be a storm time wind though stronger wind can lead to stronger ionospheric storms.

Global view of refilling of the plasmasphere

We use observations by the IMAGE Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUV) to characterize the outflow of He+ from the ionosphere to the plasmasphere under quiet conditions. The view afforded by the IMAGE orbit encompasses the entire plasmasphere in a single exposure, enabling us to examine for the first time the globally‐averaged properties of plasmasphere refilling. We focus on a study period that begins with a moderate erosion event, and follow refilling during multiple orbits for a period of 69 hours. The inferred volume refilling rate, averaged over azimuth and time, ranges from ∼1 He+ cm−3 h−1 at L = 3.3 to ∼7 × 10−2 He+ cm−3 h−1 at L = 6.3 and is generally consistent with earlier, more local measurements. We show that the measured radial abundance profiles match those predicted by the Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model (SUPIM) for 2 ≤ L ≤ 4.

Response of the ionosphere to super geomagnetic storms: Observations and modeling

The relative importance of the main drivers of positive ionospheric storms at low-mid latitudes is studied using observations and modeling for the first time. In response to a rare super double geomagnetic storm during 07–11 November 2004, the low-mid latitude (17°–48°N geomag. lat.) ionosphere produced positive ionospheric storms in peak electron density (NmF2) in Japan longitudes (≈125°–145°E) on the day of main phase (MP1) onset (06:30 LT) and negative ionospheric storms in American longitudes (≈65°–120°W) on the following day of MP1 onset (13:00–16:00 LT). The relative effects of the main drivers of the positive ionospheric storms (penetrating daytime eastward electric field, and direct and indirect effects of equatorward neutral wind) are studied using the Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model (SUPIM). The model results show that the penetrating daytime (morning–noon) eastward electric field shifts the equatorial ionisation anomaly crests in NmF2 and TEC (total electron content) to higher than normal latitudes and reduces their values at latitudes at and within the anomaly crests while the direct effects of the equatorward wind (that reduce poleward plasma flow and raise the ionosphere to high altitudes of reduced chemical loss) combined with daytime production of ionisation increase NmF2 and TEC at latitudes poleward of the equatorial region; the later effects can be major causes of positive ionospheric storms at mid latitudes. The downwelling (indirect) effect of the wind increases NmF2 and TEC at low latitudes while its upwelling (indirect) effect reduces NmF2 and TEC at mid latitudes. The net effect of all main drivers is positive ionospheric storms at low-mid latitudes in Japan longitude, which qualitatively agrees with the observations.

An additional layer in the low-latitude ionosphere in Indian longitudes: Total electron content observations and modeling

The paper presents the observations and modeling of an additional layer in the low‐latitude ionosphere in Indian longitudes. The signatures of the additional layer are observed as ledges or humps between the equatorial ionization anomaly trough and crest (EIA) in the latitudinal profiles of total electron content (TEC), measured using a single ground‐based beacon receiver located at Trivandrum (8.5°N, 77°E, dip 0.5°N) in India. The ground‐based ionograms also show the presence of the so‐called F3 layer for a short duration corresponding to these signatures, and the layer is found to drift upward to the topside ionosphere. The study provides first observational evidence that the so‐called “humps” in the latitudinal variation of TEC are nothing but the upward propagating F3 layer. This conclusion is supported by theoretical modeling using the Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model. It is shown that upward ExB drift and strong equatorward neutral wind (perturbed by atmospheric waves) can produce the humps in the latitudinal variation of TEC through the reduction in the downward diffusion of ionization along geomagnetic field lines. The model results also show that the F3 layer drifts to the topside and forms topside ledges.