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Solar Flare Impacts on Ionospheric ElectrodynamicsThe sudden increase of X-ray and extreme ultra-violet irradiance during flares increases the density of the ionosphere through enhanced photoionization. In this paper, we use model simulations to investigate possible additional contributions from electrodynamics, finding that the vertical E X B drift in the magnetic equatorial region plays a significant role in the ionosphere response to solar flares. During the initial stage of flares, upward E X B drifts weaken in the magnetic equatorial region, causing a weakened equatorial fountain effect, which in turn causes lowering of the peak height of the F2 region and depletion of the peak electron density of the F2 region. In this initial stage, total electron content (TEC) enhancement is predominantly determined by solar zenith angle control of photoionization. As flares decay, upward E X B drifts are enhanced in the magnetic equatorial region, causing increases of the peak height and density of the F2 region. This process lasts for several hours, causing a prolonged F2-region disturbance and TEC enhancement in the magnetic equator region in the aftermath of flares. During this stage, the global morphology of the TEC enhancement becomes predominantly determined by these perturbations to the electrodynamics of the ionosphere.
Document ID
20120012557
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Qian, Liying
(National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, CO, United States)
Burns, Alan G.
(National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, CO, United States)
Solomon, Stanley C.
(National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder, CO, United States)
Chamberlin, Phillip C.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 26, 2013
Publication Date
March 20, 2012
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 39
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA.01216.2012
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX09AJ60G
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX08AQ31G
CONTRACT_GRANT: ATM-0120950
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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