Influence of geomagnetic storms of September 26–30, 2011, on the ionosphere and HF radiowave propagation. I. Ionospheric effects

Geomagnetic storm ionospheric effects observed at different latitudes and longitudes on September 26 and 28–30, 2011, are interpreted with the GSM TIP model. It has been justified that the results of this model can subsequently be used to calculate the HF radiowave ray tracing under quiet conditions and for the selected dates in September 2011. The model calculations are compared with observations of the ionospheric parameters performed by different radiophysical methods. The presented results confirm the classical mechanisms by which positive and negative ionospheric storms are formed during the main phase of a geomagnetic storm. At high latitudes, the electron density is mainly disturbed due to changes in the neutral composition of the thermosphere, resulting in an increase in the chemical loss rates, and the electromagnetic drift, which results in a substantial reconstruction of the high-latitude ionosphere owing to the horizontal plasma transfer. During the storm recovery phase at midlatitudes, electron density positive disturbances are formed in the daytime due to an increase in the n(O)/n(N₂) ratio; at the same time, negative effects in the electron density are formed at night as a result of plasma tube devastation. Comparison with the observations indicates that the presented model calculation results can be used to describe a medium for solving problems of radiowave propagation in the ionosphere during the storm main phase on September 26 and during the recovery phase on September 28–30, 2011.