Direct Evidence of the Lower Atmosphere Perturbations Producing Abnormal Ionospheric Longitudinal Gradients During Quiescent Geomagnetic Conditions

Abstract An unusual case of a large ionospheric longitudinal gradient in East Asia on 11 May 2021 occurred during a geomagnetically‐quiet period. It shows the largest east‐west difference in electron density at Yamagawa and Wuhan stations when Kp < 2 for 13:00–17:00 LT in 2021. Ground‐ and satell...

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Main Authors: Yuyan Jin, Biqiang Zhao, Xu Zhou, Honglian Hao, Guozhu Li, Xinan Yue, Zishen Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113648
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author Yuyan Jin
Biqiang Zhao
Xu Zhou
Honglian Hao
Guozhu Li
Xinan Yue
Zishen Li
author_facet Yuyan Jin
Biqiang Zhao
Xu Zhou
Honglian Hao
Guozhu Li
Xinan Yue
Zishen Li
author_sort Yuyan Jin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract An unusual case of a large ionospheric longitudinal gradient in East Asia on 11 May 2021 occurred during a geomagnetically‐quiet period. It shows the largest east‐west difference in electron density at Yamagawa and Wuhan stations when Kp < 2 for 13:00–17:00 LT in 2021. Ground‐ and satellite‐based observations consistently confirm that there was a decrease in the west and an increase in the east of ∼125°E, with hemispherical symmetric with respect to the geomagnetic equator. The potential mechanism is further investigated through multi‐observations of plasma drifts and neutral winds, provided by the Ionospheric Connections Explorer satellite and newly‐established Sanya Incoherent Scatter Radar. The prominent longitudinal gradient in plasma drifts, electro‐dynamically coupled with E‐region winds, is suggested as the contributor for the east‐west differences, together with the strong gradient of F‐region winds in phase. This study provides direct evidence linking atmosphere perturbations to unusual longitudinal structure of terrestrial space plasma environment.
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institution OA Journals
issn 0094-8276
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Wiley
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-ac75443ebe984cbab9fd0a76e622eb202025-08-20T02:16:05ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-03-01525n/an/a10.1029/2024GL113648Direct Evidence of the Lower Atmosphere Perturbations Producing Abnormal Ionospheric Longitudinal Gradients During Quiescent Geomagnetic ConditionsYuyan Jin0Biqiang Zhao1Xu Zhou2Honglian Hao3Guozhu Li4Xinan Yue5Zishen Li6Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaKey Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaKey Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaKey Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaKey Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaKey Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaAerospace Information Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaAbstract An unusual case of a large ionospheric longitudinal gradient in East Asia on 11 May 2021 occurred during a geomagnetically‐quiet period. It shows the largest east‐west difference in electron density at Yamagawa and Wuhan stations when Kp < 2 for 13:00–17:00 LT in 2021. Ground‐ and satellite‐based observations consistently confirm that there was a decrease in the west and an increase in the east of ∼125°E, with hemispherical symmetric with respect to the geomagnetic equator. The potential mechanism is further investigated through multi‐observations of plasma drifts and neutral winds, provided by the Ionospheric Connections Explorer satellite and newly‐established Sanya Incoherent Scatter Radar. The prominent longitudinal gradient in plasma drifts, electro‐dynamically coupled with E‐region winds, is suggested as the contributor for the east‐west differences, together with the strong gradient of F‐region winds in phase. This study provides direct evidence linking atmosphere perturbations to unusual longitudinal structure of terrestrial space plasma environment.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113648
spellingShingle Yuyan Jin
Biqiang Zhao
Xu Zhou
Honglian Hao
Guozhu Li
Xinan Yue
Zishen Li
Direct Evidence of the Lower Atmosphere Perturbations Producing Abnormal Ionospheric Longitudinal Gradients During Quiescent Geomagnetic Conditions
Geophysical Research Letters
title Direct Evidence of the Lower Atmosphere Perturbations Producing Abnormal Ionospheric Longitudinal Gradients During Quiescent Geomagnetic Conditions
title_full Direct Evidence of the Lower Atmosphere Perturbations Producing Abnormal Ionospheric Longitudinal Gradients During Quiescent Geomagnetic Conditions
title_fullStr Direct Evidence of the Lower Atmosphere Perturbations Producing Abnormal Ionospheric Longitudinal Gradients During Quiescent Geomagnetic Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Direct Evidence of the Lower Atmosphere Perturbations Producing Abnormal Ionospheric Longitudinal Gradients During Quiescent Geomagnetic Conditions
title_short Direct Evidence of the Lower Atmosphere Perturbations Producing Abnormal Ionospheric Longitudinal Gradients During Quiescent Geomagnetic Conditions
title_sort direct evidence of the lower atmosphere perturbations producing abnormal ionospheric longitudinal gradients during quiescent geomagnetic conditions
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL113648
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AT xuzhou directevidenceoftheloweratmosphereperturbationsproducingabnormalionosphericlongitudinalgradientsduringquiescentgeomagneticconditions
AT honglianhao directevidenceoftheloweratmosphereperturbationsproducingabnormalionosphericlongitudinalgradientsduringquiescentgeomagneticconditions
AT guozhuli directevidenceoftheloweratmosphereperturbationsproducingabnormalionosphericlongitudinalgradientsduringquiescentgeomagneticconditions
AT xinanyue directevidenceoftheloweratmosphereperturbationsproducingabnormalionosphericlongitudinalgradientsduringquiescentgeomagneticconditions
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