Modeling Longitudinal Hemispheric Differences during Geomagnetic Storm Times

Work by Immel and Mannucci [2013] has indicated that geomagnetic storms causes a larger effect on the ionospheric TEC (Total Electron Count) in the American sector than anywhere else on the planet, suggesting that there is a longitude dependent (UT) effect which is important for correctly understanding the impact, structure and timing of geomagnetic storms. Here we examine the extent to which numerical models appropriately reproduce the observed results. Using Global Ionosphere-Thermosphere Model (GITM) [Ridley et al., 2006] coupled with realistic transport to examine the underlying mechanisms of the longitude-dependent storm enhancements and whether these mid-latitude enhancements are connected to high-latitude changes. TEC measurements, the Dst index, and are used in conjunction with model output.