1. Dayside Global Ionospheric Response to the Major Interplanetary Events of October 29-30, 2003 'Halloween Storms'
- Author
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Mannucci, A. J, Tsurutani, B. T, Iijima, B. A, Komjathy, A, Saito, A, Gonzalez, W. D, Guarnieri, F. L, Kozyra, J. U, and Skoug, R
- Subjects
Geophysics - Abstract
We demonstrate extreme ionospheric response to the large interplanetary electric fields during the "Halloween" storms that occurred on October 29 and 30, 2003. Within a few (2 - 5) hours of the time when the enhanced interplanetary electric field impinged on the magnetopause, dayside total electron content increases of approx.40% and approx.250% are observed for the October 29 and 30 events, respectively. During the Oct 30 event, approx.900% increases in electron content above the CHAMP satellite (approx.400 km altitude) were observed at mid-latitudes (+/-30 degrees geomagnetic). The geomagnetic storm-time phenomenon of prompt penetration electric fields is a possible contributing cause of these electron content increases, producing dayside ionospheric uplift combined with equatorial plasma diffusion along magnetic field lines to higher latitudes, creating a "daytime super-fountain" effect.
- Published
- 2005
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