Ionospheric and stratospheric electric field responses to an extreme solar energetic particle event Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • ; This paper will report on the effects of an extreme space weather event.; On January 20; th; , 2005, a balloon-borne experiment; intended to measure relativistic electron precipitation and its effects; was aloft over Antarctica (~32 km; near 70º S, 345º W; geographic) throughout the duration of the solar energetic particle; (SEP) event. The balloon carried an x-ray scintillation counter, dc; electric field, and scalar electrical conductivity sensors. Intense; energetic proton precipitation and large increases in the energetic; proton population of the outer radiation belts were observed by a global; array of observatories and spacecraft. The stratospheric conductivity; increased by nearly a factor of 20 above ambient at the time of the SEP; event onset and returned to within a factor of two above normal levels; within 17 hours. The electric field decreased to near zero following the; increase in particle flux at SEP onset. Combined with an atmospheric; electric field mapping model, these data are consistent with a shorting; out of the global electric circuit and point toward substantial; ionospheric convection modifications. It is shown that the conductivity; profile predicted by the Sodankylä Ion and Neutral Chemistry (SIC) model; does not shield the balloon payload at 32 km from the ionospheric; horizontal field. Thus, the data really do indicate a very low level of; ionospheric convection over the balloon during the 6 hours following the; SEP event. We have used global magnetometer and satellite data to; interpret the changes in the vertical field as indicators of large scale; convection changes.;

publication date

  • October 31, 2020

has restriction

  • closed

Date in CU Experts

  • October 16, 2021 5:47 AM

Full Author List

  • BERING EDGARA; Holzworth RH; McCarthy M; Kokorowski M; Millan RM; Woodger LA; Sample J; Smith DM; Rodriguez JV

author count

  • 9

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