Sovremennye problemy distantsionnogo zondirovaniya Zemli iz kosmosa, 2016, Vol. 13, No. 6, pp. 175-184
Ionospheric electron density variations during sudden stratospheric warming in the Arctic region
1 Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics SB RAS, Irkutsk, Russia
Accepted: 03.11.2016
DOI: 10.21046/2070-7401-2016-13-6-175-184
The ionospheric dynamic in the Russia’s Arctic region during the periods of sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) is studied. The analysis was performed based on the vertical sounding data from the ionosonde in Norilsk (88.0°E, 69.2°N). I considered twelve SSW events that occurred in the Northern Hemisphere 2006 through 2013. To identify a possible ionospheric response to the SSW events, I analyzed the F2-layer maximum electron density (NmF2) deviations from the background level. For a large number of events, it is shown that, despite quiet geomagnetic conditions, a significant decrease in the NmF2 values (by 5-10% relative to the background level) is observed during the SSW evolution and maximum phases. On the contrary, for 10-20 days after the SSW maxima, NmF2 significantly exceeds the monthly averaged values. Moreover, these electron density changes are observed for both strong and weak stratospheric warmings, and are recorded mainly during daytime. The observed SSW effects in the polar ionosphere are assumed to be probably associated with the changes in the neutral composition at the thermospheric heights that affect the electron density at the F2-layer maximum.
Keywords: sudden stratospheric warming, ionospheric disturbances
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