The Earth’s ionosphere is characterized by large spatial scale electrical current systems which can exhibit extremely dynamical behaviour during periods of high solar activity. It is well established that the enhancement and variability of these current systems produce high amplitude and rapidly varying geomagnetic disturbances. As a result, currents are created in the conductive ground which set up a geoelectric field causing hazardous Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GIC) in ground conductive networks. At high-latitudes, where the more intense auroral electrojet currents flow, the ground response can be even greater, potentially increasing the susceptibility of high-latitude regions to space weather effects. Moreover, ionospheric currents can form complex spatio-temporal structures, such as vortices, that can result in localised ground responses, such as regional peak geoelectric fields. In this context, the regional 3D ground conductivity plays a key role, particularly in areas of high conductivity gradients, such as in close proximity to coastlines.

In this session we invite contributions which improve the understanding of the dynamics of ionospheric currents, the relevant magnetospheric coupling processes, and their subsequent ground effects, such as GIC.

This session provides a forum for the latest results based on spacecraft observations (e.g. MMS, Cluster, THEMIS, SWARM and CSES), ground-based measurements (such as all-sky cameras, radar and magnetometers), data derived products (e.g. ionospheric equivalent currents), and numerical simulations. Contributions focusing on more than one of these, and/or the coupling between multiple (magnetosphere-ionosphere-ground) regions are strongly encouraged.