Investigation of Long Duration Positive Ionospheric Storms and ICME Interplanetary Structures
Abstract
Space weather results from the variability of the Sun and its interaction with Earth's geospace and atmosphere. It has become an increasingly important topic due to its potential impact on human life, society and economy. Geomagnetic storms are one type of space weather events that can damage satellites, degrade the accuracy of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) applications and high frequency (HF) communication, and affect the electric power grid. Therefore, we need to better understand them to mitigate their impacts. This investigation focuses on space weather impacts on the ionosphere, a layer of electrically charged particles important for satellite-based communication and navigation. We looked at more than 700 geomagnetic storms from 1996-2018, with values of SYM-H < -40 nT to investigate long duration positive ionospheric storms that affect the electron density of the ionosphere. Long duration positive storms refer to storms that cause an increase in the total electron content (TEC) that last six hours or more. After identifying these long-lasting storms and quiet days (i.e., no storms), we used GPS data obtained from the Madrigal CEDAR database to calculate the change in TEC (dTEC) in order to identify positive long-lasting storms. The occurrence statistics of storm events, and how they vary with solar cycle, season, longitude and local time will continue to be the main focus of our study. Additionally, we are also looking at interplanetary structures (sheath, shock, magnetic cloud, etc.) of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) to understand their effects on the ionosphere. Results from our investigation will be discussed, as well as future work.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMED23G1101D
- Keywords:
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- 0810 Post-secondary education;
- EDUCATION;
- 0850 Geoscience education research;
- EDUCATION;
- 0855 Diversity;
- EDUCATION