System Science Approach to Studying the Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere Coupling: Ionospheric Storms as an Example

Abstract:

The solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere together form an integrated system at Earth, which is driven predominantly by the transfer of mass, momentum and energy from the Sun to the near-Earth space. This complex system is characterized by coupling and feedback as well as preconditioning and memory. The impact of solar wind driving on geospace is of particular importance during the most severe geomagnetic disturbances, i.e., storms. In this presentation, we will use ionospheric storms as an example to demonstrate a system science approach to studying the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere coupling. During geomagnetic storms, the ionospheric plasma density increases dramatically in the dayside mid-latitude region forming the so-called Storm-Enhanced Density (SED). SED can extend to higher latitude as a plume-like structure and occasionally be transported into the polar cap and the nightside auroral zone, where it constitutes an important seed population for intense ion outflow that can potentially produce significant global impact on the magnetosphere. We will present observational results of the generation and decay of SED plumes as well as their interaction with dayside cusp using data from multiple space-borne and ground-based instruments.