Journal
JOURNAL OF ATMOSPHERIC AND SOLAR-TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS
Volume 69, Issue 10-11, Pages 1292-1304Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.jastp.2006.08.019
Keywords
F3 layer; equatorial plasma fountain; electron density profiles; digisonde; space weather
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We analyzed ionospheric observations made with digisondes in Jicamarca, Ramey, Wallops Island, Ascension Island, and Kwajalein Island during the major magnetic storm of November 9-10, 2004, which was associated with rapid interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz changes. The strongest ionospheric responses to the southward IMF Bz turning were observed at the dip equator at Jicamarca where during the magnetic disturbance a dramatic F2 peak density depiction occurred at around 15:00 local time, accompanied by a fast upward motion of the plasma. In this process, an additional ionospheric layer, the F3 layer, formed with peak densities NmF3 exceeding NmF2. This observation may be considered evidence of an equatorial plasma fountain enhancement caused by the magnetic field disturbance. Responses were observed in a large range of latitudes and local times. The best indicator of the responses appears to be the peak height of the F layer, since competing processes determine the peak densities. The observed responses at low latitude locations in the morning and dusk sectors pose challenges to the simple penetrating electric field model because the upward motion is inconsistent with the E x B drift associated with a dawn-dusk electric field. Clear responses in the Jicamarca local time sector occurred at latitudes as high as 28 degrees, at Ramey, Puerto Rico. This latitude range appears to be beyond the range of the flux tube corresponding to the 900 km F3 layer peak height at Jicamarca, indicating a more extended uplifting of flux tubes. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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