Large-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances Over the Asian-Pacific Sector During 10–11 May 2024 Geomagnetic Superstorm: Ionosonde Observation and MAGE Simulation

The large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (LSTIDs) over the Asian-Pacific sector during the 10–11 May 2024 superstorm are investigated using ionosonde observation and simulation from a whole geospace model—Multiscale Atmosphere Geospace Environment (MAGE), which fully couples multiple magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere models. The ionosonde-observed ionospheric hmF2 and NmF2 both show wave-like oscillations with a period of 2–3 h, indicative of LSTIDs. Our MAGE simulation qualitatively reproduced the observed LSTID signatures with the propagation velocity of ∼750 m/s and illustrates that LSTIDs were predominantly driven by the equatorward winds propagating from high to low latitudes. Further diagnostic analysis reveals the predominant role of Joule heating in triggering LSTIDs, and also the plasma transport effects by E × B drifts during the pre-reversal enhancement period. Our study highlights the unique capability of the MAGE model in understanding the ionospheric behavior and ionosphere-thermosphere coupling during geomagnetic storms.