Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Variations in the Mid-Latitude Ionosphere Parameters over Ukraine during the Very Moderate Magnetic Storm on December 18, 2019

  • SPACE PHYSICS
  • Published:
Kinematics and Physics of Celestial Bodies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Multiyear researches show that weak and moderate magnetic storms may induce considerable and unpredictable changes in the ionosphere state. The problems of predicting the ionosphere response in a certain region to space weather changes currently remain topical since the physical processes occurring in the ionospheric plasma are variable and complicated. Particular interest is attracted by ionospheric disturbances with variable phases at middle latitudes and their propagation to low latitudes and the occurrence of strong ionospheric storms as a result of moderate or weak magnetic storms. The objective of this study is to perform the experimental studies of variations in the ionospheric plasma parameters over Ukraine during the very moderate magnetic storm on December 18, 2019. The study was carried out by using the incoherent scatter of radio waves as providing the most complete diagnostic capabilities and the vertical sounding method. Observations were performed in the Ionospheric Observatory of the Institute of Ionosphere (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Kharkiv) with an incoherent scatter radar. The critical frequencies were measured with a portable ionosonde. In addition, the geophysical information about the space weather and magnetosphere parameters was used. The ionosphere response to the geospace storm on December 18, 2019, over Kharkiv was analyzed. The very moderate magnetic storm (Kp = 4) was established to induce positive ionospheric disturbance. An increase in the critical frequency (up to 1.6 times) and a corresponding increase in the ionospheric F2 peak electron density (up to 2.6 times) was accompanied by a sequence of changes in the variations of principal ionospheric plasma parameters, such as the F2 layer peak height (a decrease by 30 km), the electron density throughout the entire range of studied altitudes (200–450 km), the electron and ion temperatures, and the vertical ionospheric plasma velocity component (with a decrease in the downward plasma drift velocity Vz at the noon after the magnetic storm began with further velocity recovery, the occurrence of fluctuations in the variations Vz with a quasi-period of 1 h 50 min at 15:40 UT (Universal Time) at altitudes of 360–420 km, and weakening of the evening extremum effect in the Vz variations and a maximum decrease in the velocity to 40–70 m/s at these altitudes). A substantiation was given for the following mechanism of the formation of a positive ionospheric storm: the downward plasma drift is weakened in the mid-latitude ionosphere during the winter daylight due to the fact that normal circulation is weakened by reverse storm-induced circulation. The very moderate magnetic storm on December 18, 2019, induced appreciable changes in the ionospheric plasma parameters throughout the entire range of studied altitudes. The measured data provided additional information for solar-terrestrial relationships study and the ionosphere state prediction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 8.

REFERENCES

  1. I. F. Domnin, L. Ya. Emelyanov, S. A. Pazyura, S. V. Kharitonova, and L. F. Chernogor, “Dynamic processes in the ionosphere during the very moderate magnetic storm on 20–21 January 2010,” Kosm. Nauka Tekhnol. 17 (4), 26–40 (2011). https://doi.org/10.15407/knit2011.04.026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. A. V. Zalizovskii, A. C. Kashcheev, S. B. Kashcheev, A. V. Koloskov, V. N. Lisachenko, V. V. Paznukhov, I. I. Pikulik, A. A. Sopin, and Yu. M. Yampol’skii, “A prototype of a portable coherent ionosonde,” Kosm. Nauka Tekhnol. 24 (3), 10–22 (2018). https://doi.org/10.15407/knit2018.03.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. S. V. Katsko, L. Ya. Emelyanov, and L. F. Chernogor, “Features of the ionosphere storm on December 21–24, 2016,” Kinematics Phys. Celestial Bodies 37, 85–95 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0884591321020045

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ya. N. Chepurnyi and G. M. Tinyakov, “Modeling of rhombic antennas of the ionospheric station "Bazis”,” Visn. Nats. Tekh. Univ. “KhPI”, Ser.: Radiofiz. Ionos., No. 33 (1066), 25–28 (2013). http://repository.kpi. kharkov.ua/handle/KhPI-Press/5164.

  5. L. F. Chernogor and I. F. Domnin, Physics of Geocosmic Storms (Khark. Nats. Univ. im. V. N. Karazina, Kharkiv, 2014) [in Russian].

  6. M. A. Shul’ga, D. V. Kotov, and A. V. Bogomaz, “Investigation of the ionospheric F2-layer electron density peak reaction to weak geomagnetic storm of December 24, 2017 for different latitudes of the European region,” Visn. Nats. Tekh. Univ. “KhPI”, Ser.: Radiofiz. Ionos., No. 43 (1319), 18–23 (2018). http://repository.kpi. kharkov.ua/handle/KhPI-Press/43386.

  7. E. Aa, S.-R. Zhang, P. J. Erickson, A. J. Coster, L. P. Goncharenko, R. H. Varney, and R. Eastes, “Salient midlatitude ionosphere-thermosphere disturbances associated with SAPS during a minor but geo-effective storm at deep solar minimum,” J. Geophys. Res.: Space Phys. 126, e2021JA029509 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029509

  8. A. D. Danilov, “Behavior of F2-layer parameters and solar activity indices in the 24th cycle,” Adv. Space Res. 67, 102–110 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2020.09.042

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. A. D. Danilov and A. V. Konstantinova, “Long-term variations in the parameters of the middle and upper atmosphere and ionosphere (review),” Geomagn. Aeron. (Engl. Transl.) 60, 397–420 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016793220040040

  10. I. F. Domnin, Ya. M. Chepurnyy, L. Ya. Emelyanov, S. V. Chernyaev, A. F. Kononenko, D. V. Kotov, O. V. Bogomaz, and D. A. Iskra, “Kharkiv incoherent scatter facility,” Visn. Nats. Tekh. Univ. “KhPI”, Ser.: Radiofiz. Ionos., No. 47 (1089), 28–42 (2014). http://nbuv.gov.ua/UJRN/vcpiri_2014_47_7.

  11. L. Ya. Emel’yanov, M. V. Lyashenko, L. F. Chernogor, and I. F. Domnin, “Motion of ionospheric plasma: Results of observations above Kharkiv in solar cycle 24,” Geomagn. Aeron. (Engl. Transl.) 58, 533–547 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1134/S001679321802007X

  12. M. Förster and N. Jakowski, “Geomagnetic storm effects on the topside ionosphere and plasmasphere: A compact tutorial and new results,” Surv. Geophys. 21, 47–87 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006775125220

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. L. P. Goncharenko, J. C. Foster, A. J. Coster, C. Huang, N. Aponte, and L. J. Paxton, “Observations of a positive storm phase on September 10, 2005,” J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phys. 69, 1253–1272 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2006.09.011

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. S. V. Katsko, L. Ya. Emelyanov, and L. F. Chernogor, “Ionosphere response to space weather events on 21–23 March 2017 in the central region of Europe,” in Proc. 34th General Assembly and Sci. Symp. Int. Union of Radio Sci. (URSI GASS 2021), Rome, Italy, Aug. 28 – Sept. 4, 2021 (IEEE, Piscataway, N.J., 2021). https://doi.org/10.23919/URSIGASS51995.2021.9560587

  15. D. V. Kotov, P. G. Richards, V. Truhlík, N. Maruyama, M. Fedrizzi, M. O. Shulha, O. V. Bogomaz, J. Lichtenberger, M. Hernández-Pajares, L. F. Chernogor, L. Ya. Emelyanov, T. G. Zhivolup, Ya. M. Chepurnyy, and I. F. Domnin, “Weak magnetic storms can modulate ionosphere plasmasphere interaction significantly: Mechanisms and manifestations at mid-latitudes,” J. Geophys. Res.: Space Phys. 124, 9665–9675 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JA027076

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. J. Lastovicka, “Is the relation between ionospheric parameters and solar proxies stable?,” Geophys. Res. Lett. 46, 14208–14213 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL085033

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to O.V. Koloskov for granting the opportunities of using the data from the portable coherent ionosonde and O.V. Bogomaz and T.H. Zhivolupa for help in the processing of these data.

Funding

This study was financially supported within the state financed research projects from the National Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine to the Institute of Ionosphere.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ionosphere, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, 61001, Kharkiv, Ukraine

    S. V. Katsko & L. Ya. Emelyanov

Authors
  1. S. V. Katsko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Ya. Emelyanov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to S. V. Katsko or L. Ya. Emelyanov.

Additional information

Translated by E. Glushachenkova

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Katsko, S.V., Emelyanov, L.Y. Variations in the Mid-Latitude Ionosphere Parameters over Ukraine during the Very Moderate Magnetic Storm on December 18, 2019. Kinemat. Phys. Celest. Bodies 39, 78–89 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0884591323020034

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S0884591323020034

Keywords:

Search

Navigation