The Open Atmospheric Science Journal

2017, 11 : 16-28
Published online 2017 May 31. DOI: 10.2174/1874282301711010016
Publisher ID: TOASCJ-11-16

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Response of the Antarctic Ionosphere to Some Intense Geomagnetic Storms

Gustavo A. Mansilla1,2, *

* Address correspondence to this author at the Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucuman, Argentina; E-mail: gmansilla@herrera.unt.edu.ar

ABSTRACT

Background:

The effect of geomagnetic storms on the mid-high latitude F2 region is studied.

Method:

For this purpose, foF2 data from four Antarctic stations were analyzed during three intense magnetic storms occurred in high solar activity (years 2002 and 2003). In general, negative storm effects irrespective of the local time were observed during the first part of the storms (main phase). Negative effects were also observed more often than positive effects during the first part of the recovery phase, which seems to indicate almost no longitudinal dependence in this stage of the storm.

Conclusion:

The negative effects frequently changed to positive during the last stage of the recovery. Several physical mechanisms were operative during the different stages of the storms.

Keywords:

Geomagnetic storms, Ionosphere, Mid-high latitudes, Antartic, Thermospheric, Meridional.