Premium
Day‐to‐day variability of midlatitude ionospheric currents due to magnetospheric and lower atmospheric forcing
Author(s) -
Yamazaki Y.,
Häusler K.,
Wild J. A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1002/2016ja022817
Subject(s) - ionosphere , thermosphere , atmospheric sciences , earth's magnetic field , middle latitudes , latitude , ionospheric dynamo region , forcing (mathematics) , dynamo , physics , environmental science , geophysics , geomagnetic storm , magnetic field , quantum mechanics , astronomy
As known from previous studies on the solar quiet ( S q ) variation of the geomagnetic field, the strength and pattern of ionospheric dynamo currents change significantly from day to day. The present study investigates the relative importance of two sources that contribute to the day‐to‐day variability of the ionospheric currents at middle and low latitudes. One is high‐latitude electric fields that are caused by magnetospheric convection, and the other is atmospheric waves from the lower atmosphere. Global ionospheric current systems, commonly known as S q current systems, are simulated using the National Center for Atmospheric Research thermosphere‐ionosphere‐mesosphere‐electrodynamics general circulation model. Simulations are run for 1–30 April 2010 with a constant solar energy input but with various combinations of high‐latitude forcing and lower atmospheric forcing. The model well reproduces geomagnetic perturbations on the ground, when both forcings are taken into account. The contribution of high‐latitude forcing to the total S q current intensity ( J total ) is generally smaller than the contribution of wave forcing from below 30 km, except during active periods ( K p ≥4), when J total is enhanced due to the leakage of high‐latitude electric fields to lower latitudes. It is found that the penetration electric field drives ionospheric currents at middle and low latitudes not only on the dayside but also on the nightside, which has an appreciable effect on the D s t index. It is also found that quiet time day‐to‐day variability in J total is dominated by symmetric‐mode migrating diurnal and semidiurnal tidal winds at 45–60° latitude at ∼110 km.