Numerical modeling of spatial perturbations of the ionosphere from local tropospheric sources

Abstract

The paper presents the results of modeling of spatial and temporal perturbations of the thermosphere during a strong meteorological disturbance. The modeling was performed using the Global Self-Consistent Model of the thermosphere, ionosphere, and protonosphere (GSM TIP). The impact of tropospheric/stratospheric sources on the thermosphere during dissipation of acoustic and internal gravity waves, generated in the meteorological storm region, was considered in GSM TIP by specifying an additional thermal source. The results of modeling of ionospheric effects of the meteorological storm in October 2017 have shown that the action of a local additional source of heating of the thermosphere leads to perturbations of the thermosphere and ionosphere parameters both directly above the source region and at a significant distance from it. In additional heating of the thermosphere, a decrease is observed in the total electron content (TEC) values, reaching 20 % in the daytime compared to a meteorologically quiet day. To the south and east of the source region, there are positive TEC perturbations with relative amplitudes 5–10 % during the daytime. The physical processes determining the ionospheric response directly in the source region are conditioned by heating of the thermosphere and its influence on changes in the neutral composition and circulation of the neutral wind. The TEC perturbations in the regions remote from the source region are determined by dynamic processes, which lead to the eastward transport of plasma and displacement of ionospheric perturbations to low latitudes.

Affiliated Institutions

• Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism Ionosphere and Radio Wave Propagation RU
• Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University RU

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