Equatorial plasma bubble generation/inhibition during 2015 St. Patrick's Day storm

Rajesh, P. K.; Lin, Charles C. H.; Chen, C. H.; Lin, Jeng-Feng; Matsuo, Tomoko; Chou, Ming-Yi; Chen, W. H.; Chang, M. T.; You, Chen-Feng

doi:10.1002/2017sw001641

Cited by 20 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Neutral winds observations are therefore necessary to fully understand the longitudinal differences in the altitudes of EPBs. On the other hand, the inhomogeneous distribution of Es layer, geomagnetic storms, and the midlatitude ionospheric instabilities (i.e., medium‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances, MSTIDs) could be another source to suppress the altitudinal extent of EPBs, making the altitudinal asymmetry of EPBs (e.g., Huba et al, 2020; Otsuka et al, 2012; Rajesh et al, 2017; Stephan et al, 2002).…”

Section: Observations and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, equinoctial EPBs in moderate solar flux years around the India, Asia, and Pacific Ocean regions do not grow much higher compared with those in low solar flux years. It could be due to lower occurrence and growth rates or suppression of EPBs (e.g., Huba & Krall, 2013; Krall et al, 2009; Maruyama, 1988; Otsuka et al, 2012; Rajesh et al, 2017; Stephan et al, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climatology of the Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Captured by FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC

Chou

Pedatella

et al. 2020

JGR Space Physics

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The FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC (F3/C) satellites are used to study the climatology of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) during the low to moderate solar flux years (2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013). We use the F3/C total electron content to identify the presence of EPBs and investigate the background conditions for the initiation of EPBs. The results reveal that the EPB activities have strong solar dependence. The longitudinal and seasonal trends of EPBs are highly correlated to the angle between the dusk solar terminator and magnetic field lines near the magnetic equator. Asymmetries of EPBs between solstices and equinoxes exist and could be due partly to the asymmetry of equatorial ionization anomaly structures, which result in longitudinal differences as well. EPBs extend to higher altitudes and latitudes during the ascending phase of Solar Cycle 24 (2011-2013) due mainly to the increase of background electron density. However, an altitudinal asymmetry of EPBs occurs in moderate solar flux years, which is likely due to the suppression or lower growth and occurrence rates of EPBs. In addition to vertical drift, tidal forcing also contributes to the longitudinal and seasonal distributions of EPBs. Upwellings and precursor waves preceding the EPBs are observed climatologically, which likely play a vital role in initiating the EPBs. This study also reveals a vertical connection between the equatorial ionospheric irregularities and atmospheric forcing on a climatological basis.Plain Language Summary Equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) are an important space weather phenomenon that are often generated over the magnetic equator around twilight. They are ionospheric irregularities that can cause plasma depletions along the geomagnetic field lines, displaying geomagnetic conjugacy in both hemispheres. Since the ionospheric plasma is one of the significant error sources of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), EPBs are considered to be a primary disrupter of GNSS communication and navigation. Postsunset rise (PSSR) of the equatorial ionosphere due to vertical ion drift is often used to explain the occurrence of EPBs; however, it cannot fully explain the day-to-day variability of EPBs and the features of EPBs in patches and clusters. Mysteries abound around the EPBs and the underlying physics that initiates the EPBs remain unsolved. Here we utilize the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC to investigate the underlying background conditions for the generation of EPBs. We find that, in addition to PSSR, symmetric equatorial ionization anomaly, as well as tidal forcing, appears to provide conditions favorable for the initiation of EPBs. Atmospheric tidal waves contribute to the longitudinal and seasonal distribution of EPBs as well. Bottomside ionospheric undulations due to atmospheric forcing are likely playing a vital role in initiating the EPBs.

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Section: Observations and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climatology of the Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Captured by FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC

Chou

Pedatella

et al. 2020

JGR Space Physics

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“…Irregularities were similarly suppressed over the Taiwanese sector but not over the Indian sector on 17 March 2015. Using an all‐sky imager observations and GPS‐derived ROTI index, Rajesh et al () found that on 14 March 2015, before the storm, irregularities in the form of EPBs were generated, while the altitude of maximum flux tube integrated density gradient was above 300 km over the Taiwanese and Indian longitudinal sectors. This height level (300 km) is a significant factor in the development of EPBs according to Ajith et al ().…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Response of African Equatorial/Low‐Latitude Ionosphere to 2015 St. Patrick's Day Geomagnetic Storm

2018

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Total electron content (TEC) has been used to study the response of the African equatorial/low‐latitude ionosphere to the 17 March 2015 intense storm. Daily variations of symmetric H index, z component of interplanetary magnetic field, polar cap index, and H component of the Earth's magnetic field were analyzed along with TEC obtained from stations classified into western (11.53°E to 5.24°W) and eastern (25.00°E to 40.20°E) sectors. Storm time behavior of TEC was compared with the mean TEC of quiet days. TEC was enhanced over both sectors at the beginning of the storm while it reduced after the main phase as a result of prompt penetration of electric field and disturbance dynamo electric field (DDEF), respectively. The magnetic effect of the disturbed ionospheric electric current showed oscillations and minima in response to prompt penetration of electric field, which further enhanced the equatorial ionization anomaly. The effect of DDEF estimated from the ionospheric disturbance dynamo manifested in the form of decrease in the amplitude of the horizontal component of the Earth magnetic field (H) several hours after the beginning of the disturbance and during the recovery phase. Consequently, ionospheric irregularities were suppressed over all stations in both sectors on 17 and 18 March due to westward DDEF. On the 19 March, however, there was a difference in the pattern of irregularities over both sectors.

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“…Abdu et al () reported the inhibition of the equatorial PRE and the postsunset spread F due to the westward DDEF in the evening during the storm recovery. Recently, Rajesh et al () discussed the inhibition of the irregularities over Taiwan during the 2015 St. Patrick's Day storm, and they suggested that the westward overshielding electric field resulting from transient northward turning of IMF Bz around the dusk was responsible for the FAIs inhibition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Formation and Evolution of Low‐Latitude F Region Field‐Aligned Irregularities During the 7–8 September 2017 Storm: Hainan Coherent Scatter Phased Array Radar and Digisonde Observations

et al. 2018

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In this paper, we present a study of the low‐latitude field‐aligned irregularities formation and evolution during the 7–8 September 2017 geomagnetic storm by analyzing data of the very high frequency coherent radar installed at Fuke, Hainan Island of China (19.5°N, 109.1°E; magnetic latitude 9.58°N) and a colocated Digisonde Portable Sounder. The prompt penetration of eastward interplanetary electric field associated with sudden southward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field Bz resulted in large ascent of the F layer, making conducive conditions at the bottomside of the layer for the growth of Rayleigh‐Taylor instability and the development of the plasma irregularities in the postsunset hours. The irregularities persisted into the postmidnight sector when the southward interplanetary magnetic field Bz gradually decreased to the quiet time values. In addition, the base height of F layer at Fuke also showed a large elevation after midnight during two consecutive substorm onsets, suggesting that the substorm‐induced overshielding penetration electric field may take over and modify the ambient zonal electric field in low‐latitude ionosphere and induce the irregularities in the postmidnight sector. Moreover, different from the quiet time eastward movement of the irregularities observed over Fuke, the storm time irregularities displayed no zonal drift at the initial period and subsequently began drifting westward. The reversal of background plasma zonal drift velocity observed by Hainan digisonde characterized the storm time zonal drift pattern of the irregularities.

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Equatorial plasma bubble generation/inhibition during 2015 St. Patrick's Day storm

Cited by 20 publications

References 34 publications

Climatology of the Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Captured by FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC

Climatology of the Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Captured by FORMOSAT‐3/COSMIC

The Response of African Equatorial/Low‐Latitude Ionosphere to 2015 St. Patrick's Day Geomagnetic Storm

Formation and Evolution of Low‐Latitude F Region Field‐Aligned Irregularities During the 7–8 September 2017 Storm: Hainan Coherent Scatter Phased Array Radar and Digisonde Observations

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