Geospace Concussion: Global Reversal of Ionospheric Vertical Plasma Drift in Response to a Sudden Commencement

  • Xueling Shi
  • , Dong Lin
  • , Wenbin Wang
  • , Joseph B.H. Baker
  • , James M. Weygand
  • , Michael D. Hartinger
  • , Viacheslav G. Merkin
  • , J. Michael Ruohoniemi
  • , Kevin Pham
  • , Haonan Wu
  • , Vassilis Angelopoulos
  • , Kathryn A. McWilliams
  • , Nozomu Nishitani
  • , Simon G. Shepherd

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

An interplanetary shock can abruptly compress the magnetosphere, excite magnetospheric waves and field-aligned currents, and cause a ground magnetic response known as a sudden commencement (SC). However, the transient (<∼1 min) response of the ionosphere-thermosphere system during an SC has been little studied due to limited temporal resolution in previous investigations. Here, we report observations of a global reversal of ionospheric vertical plasma motion during an SC on 24 October 2011 using ∼6 s resolution Super Dual Auroral Radar Network ground scatter data. The dayside ionosphere suddenly moved downward during the magnetospheric compression due to the SC, lasting for only ∼1 min before moving upward. By contrast, the post-midnight ionosphere briefly moved upward then moved downward during the SC. Simulations with a coupled geospace model suggest that the reversed (Formula presented.) vertical drift is caused by a global reversal of ionospheric zonal electric field induced by magnetospheric compression during the SC.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2022GL100014
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume49
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 16 2022

Keywords

  • SuperDARN
  • geomagnetic storm
  • ionospheric vertical drift
  • sudden commencement

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Geospace Concussion: Global Reversal of Ionospheric Vertical Plasma Drift in Response to a Sudden Commencement'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this