Ionospheric VTEC and thermospheric infrared emission dynamics during corotating interaction region and high-speed stream intervals at solar minimum: 25 March to 26 April 2008

Abstract

We analyze a portion of the Whole Heliospheric Interval from 25 March to 26 April 2008 to identify the ionospheric and thermospheric responses to high-speed solar wind streams. This period during solar sunspot minimum is of moderate geomagnetic activity (with the minimum Dst ∼ -50 nT) with enhanced auroral activity seen in High-Intensity Long-Duration Continuous Auroral Activity events. The solar wind data show several corotating interaction regions (CIRs) and recurrent high-speed streams (HSSs). Using the infrared emission data obtained with Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry on Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics, we identify a distinct relationship between the infrared emission irradiated from the thermosphere and CIR-HSS intervals. Specifically, zonal flux of NO infrared radiation correlates well with AE indices. The most pronounced effects are found at high latitudes. We used Jet Propulsion Laboratory Global Ionospheric Maps (GIMs) software and the GPS total electron content (TEC) database to calculate the vertical total electron content (VTEC) and construct GIMs. It is shown that VTEC intensifies during HSSs periods. To illustrate the point, dynamics of daytime VTEC averaged over different latitude bands are presented. These results are compared to quiet time observations to contrast variations associated with geomagnetic activity. Data analyses show fast, global, and continuous ionospheric responses to external solar wind forcing. The largest variations are found in low-latitude (between -30 and 30) VTEC. In conclusion, we suggest that CIRs/HSSs are external drivers for both thermospheric and ionospheric phenomena during the solar sunspot minimum. We discuss both prompt penetration electric fields and disturbance dynamos as possible mechanisms responsible for the observed VTEC effects. It is clear that efficient heliospheric-magnetospheric- ionospheric-thermospheric coupling occurs during CIR-HSS intervals even during solar sunspot minimum in 2008. Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.