Identification of Auroral Zone Activity Driving Large‐Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances

• Published in: Journal of geophysical research. Space physics 2019-01, Vol.124 (1), p.700-714
• Main Authors: Lyons, L. R., Nishimura, Y., Zhang, S.‐R., Coster, A. J., Bhatt, A., Kendall, E., Deng, Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aurora; Auroral oval; Auroral streamers; Auroral zone; Auroral zones; Coronal mass ejection; Electric fields; Electron precipitation; Geomagnetic activity; Geomagnetism; Global positioning systems; GPS; Interplanetary magnetic field; Ionospheric currents; Ionospheric disturbances; Longitude; Magnetic fields; Storms; streamers; substorms; Traveling ionospheric disturbances
• ISSN: 2169-9380; 2169-9402
• DOI: 10.1029/2018JA025980

We have used all‐sky imaging to relate different types of auroral oval disturbances to large‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (LSTIDs). We selected eight nights with good all‐sky imaging and Global Positioning System total electron content coverage, including five non–storm time periods with isolated initiations of geomagnetic activity and three storm main phase periods with continuous activity. Periods with LSTIDs generally started and stopped with initiation and cessation of activity. We found evidence that individual LSTIDs often show 1‐1 correspondence with identifiable auroral disturbances, disturbances either being related to a substorm onset or to auroral streamers without a substorm. Since substorm ground magnetic depressions are directly related to the electric fields and electron precipitation of auroral streamers, we hypothesize that streamers may be the primary drivers of individual nightside LSTIDs with or without a substorm. Additionally, we found evidence that (1) LSTIDs detection is more likely near the longitude range of the initiating disturbance than further away, (2) the orientation of LSTID phase fronts depends on location relative to disturbance longitude, and (3) disturbance ionospheric current and magnetic latitude may influence whether a given disturbance leads to a detectable LSTID. Numerous LSTIDs (10 to 12 over 7‐ to 8‐hr periods) were detected during southward interplanetary magnetic field periods of coronal mass ejection storm main phases, the vast majority reflecting streamers in the absence of substorms. Less LSTIDs were seen during the one examined high‐speed‐stream storm. We have also found evidence that omega band disturbances may drive interesting TIDs that are distinct from the LSTIDs driven by the substorm and streamer disturbances. Key Points All‐sky imaging was used to relate auroral oval disturbances to large‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (LSTIDs) Streamers may be the primary drivers of individual nightside LSTIDs, with or without a substorm Possible LSTID longitude, orientation, and strength connections suggested