Ionospheric effects at low latitudes during the March 22, 1979, geomagnetic storm

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA094iA05p05405· OSTI ID:5830812

Fesen, C G ^[1]; Crowley, G; Roble, R G ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder (USA)
2. National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (USA)

This paper investigates the response of the equatorial ionosphere to the neutral atmosphere perturbations produced by the magnetic storm of March 22, 1979. A numerical model of the equatorial ionosphere is used to calculate the maximum electron densities and F layer heights associated with a storm-perturbed neutral atmosphere and circulation model. Possible electric field perturbations due to the storm are ignored. The neutral atmosphere and dynamics are simulated by the National Center for Atmospheric Research thermospheric general circulation model (TGCM) for the storm day of March 22, 1979, and the preceding quiet day. The most striking feature of the TGCM storm day simulations is the presence of waves in the neutral composition, wind, and temperature fields which propagate from high latitudes to the equator. The TGCM-calculated fields for the two days are input into a low-latitude ionosphere model which calculates n{sub max} and h{sub max} between {plus minus}20{degree}dip latitude. The calculated nighttime 6300-{angstrom} airglow emission and the altitude profiles of electron concentration are also highly perturbed by the storm. Examination of ionosonde data for March 22, 1979, shows remarkable agreement between the measured and predicted changes in f{sub 0}F{sub 2} and h{sub max} near 140{degree}W. Poorer agreement near 70{degree}W may be due to the neglect of electric field perturbations and the approximations inherent in the modeling. The results of these simulations indicate that the major factor influencing the storm time ionospheric behavior in this case is the neutral wind.

• OSTI ID: 5830812
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA) Vol. 94:A5; ISSN JGREA; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUATOR
EQUIPMENT
F REGION
FUNCTIONS
GENERAL CIRCULATION MODELS
IONOSONDES
IONOSPHERE
IONOSPHERIC EFFECTS
MAGNETIC STORMS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
RADIO EQUIPMENT
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
THERMOSPHERE
WIND