TID Observations and Source Analysis During the 2017 Memorial Day Weekend Geomagnetic Storm Over North America

Abstract

We investigate ionospheric perturbations associated with traveling ionospheric disturbance (TID) during the geomagnetic storm on Memorial Day weekend (28 May) 2017. Results show the presence of both equatorward propagating large-scale TIDs (LSTIDs) and poleward propagating medium-scale TIDs. Equatorward moving TIDs are connected with enhanced auroral activity owing to geomagnetic storm conditions, while poleward TIDs are believed to be induced by local atmospheric gravity wave sources originating from convection activities near the West Coast of North America. Measurements from magnetometers located in the west, central, and east regions of North America are used to evaluate energy inputs from the auroral belt, and these observations confirm that equatorward LSTIDs are due to geomagnetic disturbance. The observed LSTID waves were characterized by some uncommon features, such as horizontal wavefront stretching from coast to coast, aligned in the NW to SE direction, and propagating to the southwest (equatorward) direction during the storm main phase period. In contrast, during the recovery phase and on other experimental control days, the observed medium-scale TIDs were characterized with relatively smaller wavelengths aligned in the NW to SE direction and propagate primarily in the northeast (poleward) direction. Our results also reveal that LSTID waves appear to travel faster in the central continental region compared to LSTIDs in the western and eastern regions.Plain Language Summary This study reveals the coupling of magnetosphere and ionosphere system as well as the interaction between the lower and upper atmosphere. Using the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers widely distributed over United States, networks of magnetometers over North America, and satellite measurements from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (NOAA-GOES) and Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) missions, we investigated the traveling ionospheric disturbance (TID) characteristics during the 28 May 2017 Memorial Day weekend geomagnetic storm and some quiet geomagnetic periods. Our results show equatorward large-scale TID owning to the 2017 Memorial Day weekend geomagnetic storm and poleward medium-scale TID propagation owning to atmospheric convection activity over the continental United States.

Coordinated Ground‐Based and Space‐Based Observations of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles

“…Detrended TEC was calculated using the same method mentioned in Coster et al (2017) and Zhang et al (2017), where 1-hr TEC moving average was subtracted. Such objects are referred to as deep convective clouds and can be an important source for the generation of upward propagating AGWs (Azeem et al, 2015;Jonah et al, 2018;Vadas & Liu, 2009). Several possible traveling ionospheric disturbance (TID) wavefronts (marked with dashed lines) can also be clearly seen with an estimated propagation velocity of ∼200-300 m/s and wavelength of ∼500-800 km.…”

Subauroral and Polar Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances During the 7–9 September 2017 Storms

“…Furthermore, most prior storm time TID studies have focused on LSTIDs (see; Borries et al, 2009;Ding et al, 2007;Jonah et al, 2018;Zakharenkova et al, 2016), whereas the present work emphasizes TIDs with smaller periodicities primarily ≤30 min. Furthermore, most prior storm time TID studies have focused on LSTIDs (see; Borries et al, 2009;Ding et al, 2007;Jonah et al, 2018;Zakharenkova et al, 2016), whereas the present work emphasizes TIDs with smaller periodicities primarily ≤30 min.…”

Dynamic Response of Ionospheric Plasma Density to the Geomagnetic Storm of 22‐23 June 2015

“…However, there has been a growing number of studies that identify these poleward TIDs (e.g., Ding et al, 2013;Habarulema et al, 2015;Habarulema et al, 2017;Jonah et al, 2018;Zakharenkova et al, 2016, and references therein). However, there has been a growing number of studies that identify these poleward TIDs (e.g., Ding et al, 2013;Habarulema et al, 2015;Habarulema et al, 2017;Jonah et al, 2018;Zakharenkova et al, 2016, and references therein).…”

“…However, there has been a growing number of studies that identify these poleward TIDs (e.g., Ding et al, 2013;Habarulema et al, 2015;Habarulema et al, 2017;Jonah et al, 2018;Zakharenkova et al, 2016, and references therein). Other studies suggest that poleward TIDs could be produced via deep convection induced by atmospheric gravity waves generated from tropospheric weather (e.g., Jonah et al, 2018). Other studies suggest that poleward TIDs could be produced via deep convection induced by atmospheric gravity waves generated from tropospheric weather (e.g., Jonah et al, 2018).…”

“…The filter is applied to individual line-of-sight TEC measurements for each GNSS satellite and receiver pair on a 1-hr sliding window in similar approach to Coster et al (2017). A comprehensive description of the TID analysis method adopted in this study is documented by, for example, Jonah et al (2016Jonah et al ( , 2018. The period of each wave was determined by taking the peak-to-peak wave in time as one wave period, while horizontal TID velocities were computed from basic wave relations.…”