On relation between mid-latitude ionospheric ionization and quasi-trapped energetic electrons during 15 December 2006 magnetic storm

TL;DR

This study demonstrates a strong correlation between quasi-trapped energetic electrons and ionospheric electron density enhancements during a 2006 geomagnetic storm, suggesting electrons as a significant ionization source.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed correlation analysis linking energetic electron fluxes to ionospheric ionization during a specific storm event.

Findings

Quasi-trapped energetic electrons correlate with increased ionospheric electron concentration.

Electrons with tens of keV energy were observed at ~800-900 km altitude.

Electron fluxes can significantly contribute to ionospheric ionization during storms.

Abstract

We report simultaneous observations of intense fluxes of quasi-trapped energetic electrons and substantial enhancements of ionospheric electron concentration (EC) at low and middle latitudes over Pacific region during geomagnetic storm on 15 December 2006. Electrons with energy of tens of keV were measured at altitude of ~800 to 900 km by POES and DMSP satellites. Experimental data from COSMIC/FS3 satellites and global network of ground-based GPS receivers were used to determine height profiles of EC and vertical total EC, respectively. A good spatial and temporal correlation between the electron fluxes and EC enhancements was found. This fact allows us to suggest that the quasi-trapped energetic electrons can be an important source of ionospheric ionization at middle latitudes during magnetic storms.