Refined Modeling of Ionospheric Induction During the 24 October 2011 Sudden Commencement

Conventional approaches to magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere (MIT) coupling frequently employ a steady-state approximation. However, this assumption is likely insufficient for characterizing the system's response to highly dynamic events. In this study, we utilize a global, two-dimensional model that incorporates ionospheric induction. Recent refinements to the model have yielded higher spatial resolution and improved stability in the interhemispheric coupling regions.

 

We apply this model to the 24 October 2011 sudden commencement, driving the simulation with time-dependent output from the MAGE model. We isolate the specific contribution of induction by comparing the results to a non-inductive baseline, and we validate the dynamic response against ground magnetometer measurements. The analysis reveals that induction produces an ionospheric response that is significantly delayed and dampened relative to the steady-state solution. We discuss how the model allows for a more rigorous interpretation of ground magnetic perturbations and outline the requirements for extending this scheme to fully coupled, two-way simulations.