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Ionospheric Disturbances observed over the Peruvian sector during the Mother’s Day Storm (G5-level) on May 10-12, 2024
  • +5
  • Ram Singh,
  • Danny E Scipion,
  • Karim Kuyeng,
  • Percy Jesus Condor Patilongo,
  • Cesar De La Jara,
  • Juan Pablo Velasquez,
  • Roberto Flores,
  • Edwar Ivan
Ram Singh
Radio Observatorio de Jicamarca, Instituto Geofísico del Perú, Lima, Peru

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Danny E Scipion
Instituto Geofísico del Peru
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Karim Kuyeng
Jicamarca Radio Observatory
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Percy Jesus Condor Patilongo
Radio Observatorio de Jicamarca, Instituto Geofísico del Perú
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Cesar De La Jara
Geophysical Institute of Perú
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Juan Pablo Velasquez
Radio Observatorio de Jicamarca, Instituto Geofísico del Perú
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Roberto Flores
Jicamarca Radio Observatory - Instituto Geofísico del Perú
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Edwar Ivan
Jicamarca Radio Observatory - Instituto Geofísico del Perú
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Abstract

This article presents the recent extreme and rare G5-level geomagnetic storm (Mother’s Day Storm) effects on the equatorial and low-latitude ionosphere observed at the Peruvian sector by the Jicamarca (11.9°S, 76.8°W, magnetic dip 1°N) incoherent scatter radar and associated instruments. This storm was produced by multiple Earth-directed coronal mass ejections, which generated significant modifications in the Earth’s magnetic field, leading to the Sym-H of ~-518 nT. On the dayside, due to the strong eastward penetration electric field, vertical plasma drift and equatorial electrojet (EEJ) enhanced for 2-3 hours and remained consistent at values of ~95 m/s and 260 nT between 1700 and 1900 UT (1200 and 1500 LT). At the same time, vertical E B plasma drift uplifted the equatorial ionosphere, producing the dusk-side super plasma fountain and transferring electron density to higher latitudes. A huge increase (~1325 %) in electron density (from 11 to 142 TECu) is observed at low and mid-latitudes from ~20o S to 50oS between 2000-0400 UT (1500-2300 LT). The strong westward penetration electric field suppressed pre-reversal enhancement, leading to downward plasma drift (~-96 m/s) at around 2400 UT (1900LT). Overnight, the vertical plasma drift fluctuated between ±90 m/s owing to under- and over-shielding electric fields. On May 11, a long-duration (~6-8 hours) westward penetration electric field induced downward plasma drift and a strong westward EEJ (-240 nT). In the main and early recovery phase, consistent short- and long-duration penetration electric fields persisted for approximately 30 hours, with periods of 48 and 90 minutes.
10 Jul 2024Submitted to ESS Open Archive
15 Jul 2024Published in ESS Open Archive