In this study, the Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model is utilized to investigate the inter‐hemispheric asymmetry in the ionosphere‐thermosphere (I‐T) system at mid‐ and high‐latitudes (|geographic latitude| > 45°) associated with inter‐hemispheric differences in (a) the solar irradiance, (b) geomagnetic field, and (c) magnetospheric forcing under moderate geomagnetic conditions. Specifically, we have quantified the relative significance of the above three causes to the inter‐hemispheric asymmetries in the spatially weighted averaged E‐region electron density, F‐region neutral mass density, and horizontal neutral wind along with the hemispheric‐integrated Joule heating. Further, an asymmetry index defined as the percentage differences of these four quantities between the northern and southern hemispheres (|geographic latitude| > 45°) was calculated. It is found that: (a) The difference of the solar extreme ulutraviolet (EUV) irradiance plays a dominant role in causing inter‐hemispheric asymmetries in the four examined I‐T quantities. Typically, the asymmetry index for the E‐region electron density and integrated Joule heating at solstices with F10.7 = 150 sfu can reach 92.97% and 38.25%, respectively. (b) The asymmetric geomagnetic field can result in a strong daily variation of inter‐hemispheric asymmetries in the F‐region neutral wind and hemispheric‐integrated Joule heating over geographic coordinates. Their amplitude of asymmetry indices can be as large as 20.81% and 42.52%, which can be comparable to the solar EUV irradiance effect. (c) The contributions of the asymmetric magnetospheric forcing, including particle precipitation and ion convection pattern, can cause the asymmetry of integrated Joule heating as significant as 28.43% and 34.72%, respectively, which can be even stronger than other causes when the geomagnetic activity is intense.
Inter-hemispheric asymmetry (IHA) in Earth’s ionosphere–thermosphere (IT) system can be associated with high-latitude forcing that intensifies during storm time, e.g., ion convection, auroral electron precipitation, and energy deposition, but a comprehensive understanding of the pathways that generate IHA in the IT is lacking. Numerical simulations can help address this issue, but accurate specification of high-latitude forcing is needed. In this study, we utilize the Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment-revised fieldaligned currents (FACs) to specify the high-latitude electric potential in the Global Ionosphere and Thermosphere Model (GITM) during the October 8–9, 2012, storm. Our result illustrates the advantages of the FAC-driven technique in capturing high-latitude ion drift, ion convection equatorial boundary, and the storm-time neutral density response observed by satellite. First, it is found that the cross-polar-cap potential, hemispheric power, and ion convection distribution can be highly asymmetric between two hemispheres with a clear Bydependence in the convection equatorial boundary. Comparison with simulation based on mirror precipitation suggests that the convection distribution is more sensitive to FAC, while its intensity also depends on the ionospheric conductance-related precipitation. Second, the IHA in the neutral density response closely follows the IHA in the total Joule heating dissipation with a time delay. Stronger Joule heating deposited associated with greater high-latitude electric potential in the southern hemisphere during the focus period generates more neutral density as well, which provides some evidences that the high-latitude forcing could become the dominant factor to IHAs in the thermosphere when near the equinox. Our study improves the understanding of storm-time IHA in high-latitude forcing and the IT system.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 1663770
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10480354
- Publisher / Repository:
- Frontiers
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
- Volume:
- 10
- ISSN:
- 2296-987X
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fspas.2023.1062265
