Investigation of the Physical Mechanisms of the Formation and Evolution of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles During a Moderate Storm on 17 September 2021
Abstract We investigate in detail the occurrence and evolution of ionospheric equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) during a moderate storm on 17 September 2021, using Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) observations and Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model‐eXtended (WACCM‐X) simula...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Space Weather |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023SW003673 |
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| author | Kun Wu Liying Qian Wenbin Wang Xuguang Cai Joseph M. Mclnerney |
| author_facet | Kun Wu Liying Qian Wenbin Wang Xuguang Cai Joseph M. Mclnerney |
| author_sort | Kun Wu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We investigate in detail the occurrence and evolution of ionospheric equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) during a moderate storm on 17 September 2021, using Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) observations and Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model‐eXtended (WACCM‐X) simulations. GOLD observations show that there were no EPBs on 16 September before the storm but EPBs occurred after the storm commencement on 17 September. The EPBs extended to ∼30° magnetic latitude. A diagnostic analysis of WACCM‐X simulations reveals that the rapid enhancement of prompt penetration electric fields (PPEFs) after the sudden storm commencement is the main reason that triggered the occurrence of the EPBs. Further quantitative analysis shows that vertical plasma drifts, which are enhanced by the PPEF, played a dominant role in strengthening the Rayleigh‐Taylor instability, leading to the occurrence of the EPBs and the large latitudinal extension of the EPBs to ∼30° magnetic latitude during the night of 17 September. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2c21fd277dee4b21b3982666f1683fd1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1542-7390 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Space Weather |
| spelling | doaj-art-2c21fd277dee4b21b3982666f1683fd12025-01-14T16:30:45ZengWileySpace Weather1542-73902023-12-012112n/an/a10.1029/2023SW003673Investigation of the Physical Mechanisms of the Formation and Evolution of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles During a Moderate Storm on 17 September 2021Kun Wu0Liying Qian1Wenbin Wang2Xuguang Cai3Joseph M. Mclnerney4High Altitude Observatory National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder CO USAHigh Altitude Observatory National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder CO USAHigh Altitude Observatory National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder CO USALaboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics University of Colorado Boulder CO USAHigh Altitude Observatory National Center for Atmospheric Research Boulder CO USAAbstract We investigate in detail the occurrence and evolution of ionospheric equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) during a moderate storm on 17 September 2021, using Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) observations and Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model‐eXtended (WACCM‐X) simulations. GOLD observations show that there were no EPBs on 16 September before the storm but EPBs occurred after the storm commencement on 17 September. The EPBs extended to ∼30° magnetic latitude. A diagnostic analysis of WACCM‐X simulations reveals that the rapid enhancement of prompt penetration electric fields (PPEFs) after the sudden storm commencement is the main reason that triggered the occurrence of the EPBs. Further quantitative analysis shows that vertical plasma drifts, which are enhanced by the PPEF, played a dominant role in strengthening the Rayleigh‐Taylor instability, leading to the occurrence of the EPBs and the large latitudinal extension of the EPBs to ∼30° magnetic latitude during the night of 17 September.https://doi.org/10.1029/2023SW003673EPBGOLD observationWACCM‐X simulation |
| spellingShingle | Kun Wu Liying Qian Wenbin Wang Xuguang Cai Joseph M. Mclnerney Investigation of the Physical Mechanisms of the Formation and Evolution of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles During a Moderate Storm on 17 September 2021 Space Weather EPB GOLD observation WACCM‐X simulation |
| title | Investigation of the Physical Mechanisms of the Formation and Evolution of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles During a Moderate Storm on 17 September 2021 |
| title_full | Investigation of the Physical Mechanisms of the Formation and Evolution of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles During a Moderate Storm on 17 September 2021 |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of the Physical Mechanisms of the Formation and Evolution of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles During a Moderate Storm on 17 September 2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of the Physical Mechanisms of the Formation and Evolution of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles During a Moderate Storm on 17 September 2021 |
| title_short | Investigation of the Physical Mechanisms of the Formation and Evolution of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles During a Moderate Storm on 17 September 2021 |
| title_sort | investigation of the physical mechanisms of the formation and evolution of equatorial plasma bubbles during a moderate storm on 17 september 2021 |
| topic | EPB GOLD observation WACCM‐X simulation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023SW003673 |
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