Relating high-Latitude Topside Ionospheric Vertical Electron-Density-Profile changes to Solar-Wind Parameters During Large Magnetic Storms

Ten large magnetic storms (Dst < -100 nT) where high-latitude topside electron-density profiles Ne(h) could be obtained from Alouette/ISIS topside-sounder data, and where solar-wind data were available, were investigated. The former were obtained from the NASA Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF) and the latter were obtained from the NASA OMNIWeb database. Large Ne(h) changes were observed during the storms in all cases. In some cases large topside Ne(h) gradients were observed between adjacent ionograms (separated by ~ ½ minute) and even within a single ionogram (profiles separated by < 10 s). The changes in the winter profiles have a clear relationship with the solar-wind velocity Vsw in that the topside Ne(h) increases with increasing Vsw during nighttime and decreases with increasing Vsw during daytime.