Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere coupling response to the 1st December 2023 geomagnetic storm at low and middle latitude regions

• Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere coupling response to the 1st December 2023 geomagnetic storm at low- and middle-latitude regions

Syed Faizan Haider<sup>1*

1*</sup> Space Education and GNSS Lab, National Center of GIS & Space Applications, Department of Space Science, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Faizanhaider92110@gmail.com

Abstract:

We investigate the global effects of the December 1, 2023 geomagnetic storm on the magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere by utilizing data from the Magnetometer, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Swarm Mission and Global Ultraviolet Imager (GUVI). We found distinct vTEC patterns across different latitudes during various storm phases. Stations in Asia, Africa, North America, and Central America showed vTEC peaks during the main phase. In contrast, stations at mid-latitudes demonstrated both positive and negative ionosphere storms. These variations are attributed to changes in the Prompt Penetration Electric Field (PPEF), influenced by oscillations in the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) Bz component and interactions with solar winds and Earth's magnetosphere. Moreover, both the meridional and zonal winds provided by Horizontal Wind Model 2014 (HWM14) displayed positive correlation with vTEC variations of multiple GNSS stations throughout the storm. This correlation was especially strong over the Asian stations during both the main and recovery phases, while stations in Africa, America, and Oceania showed more prominent correlations during the recovery phase. In addition, low latitude regions in Asia, as well as mid latitude regions in New Zealand, South Africa, and South America, all showed a negative ionosphere storm as a result of the modification of the thermosphere winds. Strong correlations between the Swarm satellite data, GNSS stations, and vTEC variations confirm storm-penetrated ionospheric disturbances. Furthermore, significant variations in Earth's magnetic field, including the H-component and Diono, are observed, highlighting the complex dynamics of ionospheric perturbations during geomagnetic storms across diverse latitudinal and longitudinal contexts.

Keywords: Ionosphere, Thermosphere, Magnetosphere, Geomagnetic Storm, GNSS, Remote Sensing, vTEC, PPEF, GUVI