Space weather effects on Earth's environment associated to the 24–25 October 2011 geomagnetic storm

Abstract

[1] Space weather studies have increased due to human society dependence on spaceborne and terrestrial infrastructure vulnerable to its effects. In this paper, we present an interdisciplinary study of the effects of solar activity on the Earth's environment; specifically, we focus on the effects on the ionosphere and the geomagnetic field. A timeline of effects occurring on the Earth produced by one of the first relevant events of the present solar cycle (24-25 October 2011) is given. We have analyzed the solar wind shockwave from satellite data, the storm-time development, the ionospheric effects at global and local scales using the National Center for Atmospheric Research Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model fed with geomagnetic field-aligned current data from the Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment, and ground ionosonde data from both hemispheres, at Ebre Observatory and Port Stanley locations. We have compared observed geomagnetic variations at high latitudes with those modeled by the National Center for Atmospheric Research Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model. We have analyzed rapid geomagnetic variations (e.g., solar flare effect, storm commencement, Pi2) also on both hemispheres, at Ebre Observatory and Livingston Island locations. Finally, we have estimated geoelectric field and geomagnetically induced currents in the northeast of Spain (Catalonia) produced by this geomagnetic disturbance.

Assessing the hazard from geomagnetically induced currents to the entire high-voltage power network in Spain

“…Geomagnetic storms caused by disturbances in solar conditions can affect the terrestrial environment including the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere-ionosphere interaction region; such effects are detectable at the surface of the Earth (e.g., Blanch et al 2013). The highly conductive nature of the ionosphere produces significant current systems in this region, such as the equatorial and auroral electrojets.…”

Oblique Ionograms Automatic Scaling Algorithm OIASA application to the ionograms recorded by Ebro observatory ionosonde

“…The geomagnetic storms can cause negative or positive ionospheric effects, uplifting the F2 layer (e.g. Blanch & Altadill, 2012;Blanch et al, 2013), and/or launching TIDs. Negative ionospheric effects would result in lower MUF for 1F2 compared to 1E or 1F1 (Fig.…”

“…This make possible to shorten the ionogram running time to few of seconds with low power transmission and with an accuracy better than 1 km. The DPS4D runs the new ARTIST-5 ionogram autoscaling software , which provides in real time the required data for assimilation in ionospheric models (Galkin et al, 2012), especially the IRI model (Bilitza et al, 2017). OE DPS4D operates with identical schedule and programs as other European DPS4Ds do.…”

GPS observation of continent‐size traveling TEC pulsations at the start of geomagnetic storms

“…For the 24/25 October 2011 storm, ionosonde data from S.J. dos Campos (Brazil), Port Stanley (Falkland Islands), and Ebre (Spain) indicate that signatures of TIDs were only observed during the early UT hours of 25 October 2011 [ de Jesus et al , ; Blanch et al , ]. No such signatures could be seen between the SSC (∼18:30 UT on 24 October 2011) and the early UT hours on 25 October 2011.…”