Observations of Ionospheric Effects During the October-November 2003 Storms
Abstract
During the October-November 2003 magnetic storm events, DMSP satellites which orbit the Earth at altitudes of 840 km detected some of the largest electric fields, field-aligned currents (FACs) and highest ionospheric densities ever seen with these spacecraft. The F-layer in the ionosphere within 15 degrees of the equator was lifted up above 800 km repeatedly due to penetration electric fields which alternately intensified and were shielded over the course of the very extended main phase. At times unshielded Region 1 FACs exceeded 1 A/m, the equatorial boundary of the auroral zone moved to geomagnetic latitudes below 55 degrees, and sub-auroral polarization stream (SAPs) speeds approached 1 km/s. We will discuss the consequences of energy dissipation represented by the large electric and magnetic field perturbations, the source in the magnetosphere to which the measured fields map, and place this superstorm in the context of other major storms we have studied.
- Publication:
-
AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004AGUSMSH53A..14H
- Keywords:
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- 2409 Current systems (2708);
- 2720 Energetic particles;
- trapped;
- 2736 Magnetosphere/ionosphere interactions;
- 2788 Storms and substorms