3D Tomographic Reconstruction of Storm-Enhanced Density (SED) Plume During March 17, 2013 Storm

The three-dimensional computerized ionospheric tomography (3DCIT) technique is used to reconstruct the spatial distribution of storm enhanced density (SED) based on the GPS total electron content (TEC) measurements over the North American area during the March 17, 2013 storm. The reconstruction results are carefully validated with observations from three ionosonde stations, the constellation observing system for meteorology, ionosphere, and climate (COSMIC) radio occultations and the Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar (ISR). The electron density profiles from the 3DCIT reconstruction show a good agreement with the ionosonde and COSMIC electron density profiles. The 3DCIT-derived electron density difference between the storm day of March 17 and the quiet day of March 16 also captures the similar SED plume signature that was observed by the Millstone Hill ISR. The 3DCIT reconstruction allows us for the first time to unveil the 3D configuration of the SED plume and its spatiotemporal evolution. It was found that the SED plume first appeared around 400 km, and then expanded downward to ~ 300 km as well as upward to ~ 500 km over the course of a 3-hour period from 19 to 22 UT on March 17. Our study also showed that the SED plume occurred mostly above the storm-time F-layer peak height.