Exploring Thermospheric Variations Triggered by Severe Geomagnetic Storm on 26 August 2018 Using GRACE Follow‐On Data

Abstract

With the successful launch of the satellite mission Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) Follow-On in May 2018 the opportunity arises to resume the analysis of accelerometer data regarding space weather induced perturbations of the Earth's thermosphere. On 21 August 2018 a complex interplanetary coronal mass ejections occurred on the Sun, which subsequently triggered an unexpected large geomagnetic storm on 26 August. We present a detailed analysis of the interplanetary coronal mass ejection eruption and explore the occurred perturbation of the neutral mass density in the upper Earth's atmosphere. Due to the heating and the subsequent expansion of the thermosphere also the drag force acting on the spacecraft is enhanced. This leads to an additional storm-induced orbit decay, which we calculate by means of variations in the semimajor axis. The evaluation is based on the utilization of accelerometer measurements from GRACE Follow-On. For the reduction of disturbing nongravitational forces we implemented a physical shadow function, which incorporates the Earth's oblateness and the atmospheric refraction and extinction. Additionally, the estimation of Earth's reradiation is now based on hourly measurements by the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System. The resulting atmospheric densities and orbit decays are compared with predictions from our preliminary thermospheric forecasting tool, which is based on the study by Krauss et al. (2018, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JA025778). The evaluation shows that the maximum estimated orbit decay triggered by the geomagnetic storm on 26 August is in the order of approximately 8.2 m and thus in good accordance with the forecasted value (9.5 m)-predicted with a lead time of about 60 min.

GRACE Follow‐On Accelerometer Data Recovery

“…During this period, the severest geomagnetic storm happened on 26 August 2018, whose impact on GRACE‐C accelerometer measurements has been studied by Krauss et al. (2020). Due to the gaps in GRACE‐D data, this period is not included in the scale time series.…”

“…However, our observations are mainly collected during solar minimum (2018-2020) and, therefore, sparse solar events are visible in the data. During this period, the severest geomagnetic storm happened on 26 August 2018, whose impact on GRACE-C accelerometer measurements has been studied by Krauss et al (2020). Due to the gaps in GRACE-D data, this period is not included in the scale time series.…”

Large‐Scale Disturbances in the Upper Thermosphere Induced by the 2022 Tonga Volcanic Eruption

“…Neutral densities from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE, Tapley et al., 2004), Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow‐On (GRACE‐FO, Landerer et al., 2020), and Swarm constellations (Olsen et al., 2013) have been utilized to investigate the thermospheric characteristics and responses to space events, such as geomagnetic storms and solar eclipses (Bruinsma & Forbes, 2010; Bruinsma et al., 2006; Krauss et al., 2020; Lei et al., 2011; Li & Lei, 2021b; Li et al., 2021). In this paper, neutral densities observed by GRACE‐FO and Swarm‐C were utilized to provide the direct evidence of the impacts of the Tonga volcanic eruption on the neutral density up in the thermosphere.…”

Solar radiation pressure on LAPAN A1 satellite due to extreme geomagnetic storm

“…Besides, the indirect effect could be in the form of Earth's radiation pressure. This force acts on satellite surface due to solar radiation reflected by Earth atmospheric [3]. In this research, we only consider direct solar radiation pressure.…”