Ionospheric disturbances over Alma‐Ata during the October–November 2003 magnetic storms

The ionospheric effects of the great geomagnetic storms of 30–31 October and 20–21 November 2003 observed over Alma‐Ata (43.25°N, 76.92°E) were studied experimentally using ground‐based ionosondes. The observations showed a number of unusual (for the Alma‐Ata location) ionospheric phenomena during the active phase of the geomagnetic storms. It is a very high F 2 layer ( h ′ F ≥ 490 km), an anomalous formation of the E , E 2 , and F 1 layers at nighttime, and the appearance of auroral‐type sporadic E layers. Processes of interaction of energetic neutrals with the upper atmosphere modeled by Bauske et al. (1997) for magnetically disturbed conditions seem to explain the phenomena of ionization of F 1 and E regions at night.