Abstract Following the 2022 Tonga Volcano eruption, dramatic suppression and deformation of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crests occurred in the American sector ∼14,000 km away from the epicenter. The EIA crests variations and associated ionosphere‐thermosphere disturbances were investigated using Global Navigation Satellite System total electron content data, Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk ultraviolet images, Ionospheric Connection Explorer wind data, and ionosonde observations. The main results are as follows: (a) Following the eastward passage of expected eruption‐induced atmospheric disturbances, daytime EIA crests, especially the southern one, showed severe suppression of more than 10 TEC Unit and collapsed equatorward over 10° latitudes, forming a single band of enhanced density near the geomagnetic equator around 14–17 UT, (b) Evening EIA crests experienced a drastic deformation around 22 UT, forming a unique X‐pattern in a limited longitudinal area between 20 and 40°W. (c) Thermospheric horizontal winds, especially the zonal winds, showed long‐lasting quasi‐periodic fluctuations between ±200 m/s for 7–8 hr after the passage of volcano‐induced Lamb waves. The EIA suppression and X‐pattern merging was consistent with a westward equatorial zonal dynamo electric field induced by the strong zonal wind oscillation with a westward reversal.
more »
« less
Impacts of Storm Electric Fields and Traveling Atmospheric Disturbances Over the Americas During 23–24 April 2023 Geomagnetic Storm: Experimental Analysis
Abstract The paper presents the effects of the storm‐time prompt penetration electric fields (PPEF) and traveling atmospheric disturbances (TADs) on the total electron content (TEC), foF2 and hmF2 in the American sector (north and south) during the geomagnetic storm on 23–24 April 2023. The data show a poleward shift of the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) crests to 18°N and 20°S in the evening of 23 April (attributed to eastward PPEF) and the EIA crests remaining almost in the same latitudes after the PPEF reversed westward. The thermospheric neutral wind velocity, foF2, hmF2, and TEC variations show that TADs from the northern and southern high latitudes propagating equatorward and crossing the equator after midnight on 23 April. The meridional keograms of ΔTEC show the TAD structures in the north/south propagated with phase velocity 470/485 m/s, wave length 4,095/4,016 km and period 2.42/2.30 hr, respectively. The interactions of the TADs also appear to modify the wind velocities in low latitudes. The eastward PPEF and equatorward TADs also favored the development of a clear/not so clear F3 layer in northern/southern regions of the equator.
more »
« less
- PAR ID:
- 10549014
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
- Volume:
- 129
- Issue:
- 7
- ISSN:
- 2169-9380
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Abstract A coronal mass ejection erupted from the Sun on 21 April 2023 and created a G4 geomagnetic storm on 23 April. NASA's global‐scale observations of the limb and disk (GOLD) imager observed bright equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crests at ∼25° Mlat, ∼11° poleward from their average locations, computed by averaging the EIA crests during the previous geomagnetic quiet days (18–22 April) between ∼15°W and 5°W Glon. ReversedC‐shape equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) were observed reaching ∼±36° Mlat (∼40°N and ∼30°S Glat) with apex altitudes ∼4,000 km and large westward tilts of ∼52°. Using GOLD's observations EPBs zonal motions are derived. It is observed that the EPBs zonal velocities are eastward near the equator and westward at mid‐latitudes. Model‐predicted prompt penetration electric fields indicate that they may have affected the postsunset pre‐reversal enhancement at equatorial latitudes. Zonal ion drifts from a defense meteorological satellite program satellite suggest that westward neutral winds and perturbed westward ion drifts over mid‐latitudes contributed to the observed latitudinal shear in zonal drifts.more » « less
-
Abstract Using NASA's Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) imager, we report nightside ionospheric changes during the G5 super geomagnetic storm of 10 and 11 May 2024. Specifically, the nightside southern crest of the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) was observed to merge with the aurora near the southern tip of South America. During the storm, the EIA southern crest was seen moving poleward as fast as 450 m/s. Furthermore, the aurora extended to mid‐latitudes reaching the southern tips of Africa and South America. The poleward shift of the equatorial ionospheric structure and equatorward motion of the aurora means there was no mid‐latitude ionosphere in this region. These observations offer unique insights into the ionospheric response to extreme geomagnetic disturbances, highlighting the complex interplay between solar activity and Earth's upper atmosphere.more » « less
-
Abstract During geomagnetically quiet and solar minimum conditions, spatial variations of the early morning thermosphere‐ionosphere (TI) system are expected to be mainly governed by wave dynamics. To study the postmidnight dynamical coupling, we investigated the early morning equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) using Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) measurements of OI‐135.6 nm nightglow emission and global navigation satellite system (GNSS)‐based total electron content (TEC) maps. The EIA structures in the OI‐135.6 nm emission over the American landmass resemble, spatially and temporally, those observed in the GNSS‐TEC maps. The early morning EIA (EM‐EIA) crests are well separated in latitude and mostly located over the middle of South America during October–November. In February–April the crests are less separated in latitude and predominantly located over the west coast sector of South America. Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere and ionosphere eXtension (WACCMX) simulations with constant solar minimum and quiet‐geomagnetic conditions show that EM‐EIA can occur globally and shows properties similar to longitudinal Wave 4 pattern. Thus, we propose that EM‐EIA is driven by dynamical changes associated with the lower atmospheric waves.more » « less
-
This study’s objective is to better specify the rare occurrence of super equatorial plasma bubbles in particular to the European longitude sector, detailing their spatio-temporal evolution, and better understanding pre-conditions for their development. Our comprehensive multi-instrument analysis combined ground-based and space observations from GNSS, ionosondes, and several satellite missions (COSMIC-2, GOLD, Swarm). We have investigated the ionospheric response to the 23–24 April 2023 severe geomagnetic storm and have shown the formation of super plasma bubbles expanding from equatorial latitudes to middle latitudes in the European/African sector during the main phase of the storm. Formation of these super bubbles was associated with storm-induced prompt penetration electric fields. We found that the area affected by the formation of numerous plasma bubbles covered more than 5000 km ranging from 30°W to 30°E in the Atlantic/African sector. The bubbles also had an impressive north-south extension, reaching as far poleward as ~30°–35° latitude in both hemispheres. After 20 UT on 23 April 2023, the zone with equatorial ionospheric irregularities reached Northern Africa, the Iberian Peninsula (Spain, Portugal) and the Mediterranean Sea in southern Europe, including areas of the Canary Islands (Spain) and the Azores and Madeira Islands (Portugal) in the Atlantic Ocean. The ionospheric irregularities persisted for 5–6 h and began to fade after ~01 UT on 24 April 2023. COSMIC-2 scintillation measurements showed intense amplitude scintillations (S4 above 0.8) across this entire region, indicating presence of small-scale ionospheric irregularities inside the extended plasma bubbles. During this storm, EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) experienced degraded performance, with significant navigation errors recorded at its southernmost stations in Northern Africa, Spain, Portugal, and their territories, which were affected by super plasma bubbles. This paper presents conclusive observational evidence showing development of the super plasma bubbles significantly expanding into the southern Europe and northern Africa region under geomagnetically disturbed conditions in April 2023.more » « less
An official website of the United States government

