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Super Equatorial Plasma Bubbles and Strong Longitudinal Variability During the 10–11 October 2024 Geomagnetic Storm.

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Title: Super Equatorial Plasma Bubbles and Strong Longitudinal Variability During the 10–11 October 2024 Geomagnetic Storm.
Authors: Aa, Ercha1 (AUTHOR) hu28aercha@gmail.com, Zhang, Shun‐Rong2 (AUTHOR), Coster, Anthea J.2 (AUTHOR), Hairston, Marc R.3 (AUTHOR), Kerr, Robert B.4 (AUTHOR), Souza, Jonas R.5 (AUTHOR), Cai, Xuguang6 (AUTHOR), Luo, Bingxian1 (AUTHOR) luobx@nssc.ac.cn
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics. Aug2025, Vol. 130 Issue 8, p1-16. 16p.
Subject Terms: *Magnetic storms, Ionospheric disturbances, Equatorial ionization anomaly, Remote sensing devices, Electrostatic fields, Spatial variation
Geographic Terms: Atlantic Ocean
Abstract: This paper investigates the characteristics and variability of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) over the American‐Atlantic longitude sector during an intense geomagnetic storm on 10–11 October 2024. The study utilizes multi‐instrument data sets from ground‐based observations (Global Navigation Satellite System receivers and a Fabry–Perot Interferometer) and satellite measurements (Global‐scale Observations of Limb and Disk, Swarm, and DMSP), as well as an equatorial electric field model. The observed EPBs exhibited a significant east‐west longitudinal variability with contrasting behaviors in the American and Atlantic sectors, with the main findings summarized as follows: (a) In the American longitudes west of 60° ${}^{\circ}$W, super EPBs were observed during the main phase after 23:40 UT on October 10, and EPB‐induced plasma depletion extended to the midlatitude ionosphere around ±35° $\pm 35{}^{\circ}$–40° ${}^{\circ}$ geomagnetic latitude. (b) These super EPBs persisted for 12–15 hr throughout the entire local night until sunrise, which exhibited an anomalous westward drift feature due to the penetration of subauroral polarization stream electric field plus induced vertical Hall electric field. (c) In contrast, over the Atlantic longitudes east of 60° ${}^{\circ}$W, the EPBs' activity was largely suppressed after 23:00 UT on October 10, exhibiting substantial differences from that of nearby western longitudes and quiet‐time conditions. Such significant longitudinal variability of EPBs can be attributed to the electrodynamic driver of storm‐time perturbations in the equatorial electric field, which is highly dependent on local‐time sectors with sharp contrast in the dusk and premidnight sectors. Key Points: Storm‐time super equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) occurred in American longitudes, which extended to 35° ${}^{\circ}$–40° ${}^{\circ}$ MLAT and persisted for 12–15 hr throughout the entire nightThe dusktime zonal equatorial electric field increased by 100%–300%, leading to strong upward equatorial plasma drifts of 60–100 m/sEPBs were comparatively inhibited in the Atlantic longitudes, notably different from nearby American longitudes and quiet‐time counterparts [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Abstract:This paper investigates the characteristics and variability of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) over the American‐Atlantic longitude sector during an intense geomagnetic storm on 10–11 October 2024. The study utilizes multi‐instrument data sets from ground‐based observations (Global Navigation Satellite System receivers and a Fabry–Perot Interferometer) and satellite measurements (Global‐scale Observations of Limb and Disk, Swarm, and DMSP), as well as an equatorial electric field model. The observed EPBs exhibited a significant east‐west longitudinal variability with contrasting behaviors in the American and Atlantic sectors, with the main findings summarized as follows: (a) In the American longitudes west of 60° ${}^{\circ}$W, super EPBs were observed during the main phase after 23:40 UT on October 10, and EPB‐induced plasma depletion extended to the midlatitude ionosphere around ±35° $\pm 35{}^{\circ}$–40° ${}^{\circ}$ geomagnetic latitude. (b) These super EPBs persisted for 12–15 hr throughout the entire local night until sunrise, which exhibited an anomalous westward drift feature due to the penetration of subauroral polarization stream electric field plus induced vertical Hall electric field. (c) In contrast, over the Atlantic longitudes east of 60° ${}^{\circ}$W, the EPBs' activity was largely suppressed after 23:00 UT on October 10, exhibiting substantial differences from that of nearby western longitudes and quiet‐time conditions. Such significant longitudinal variability of EPBs can be attributed to the electrodynamic driver of storm‐time perturbations in the equatorial electric field, which is highly dependent on local‐time sectors with sharp contrast in the dusk and premidnight sectors. Key Points: Storm‐time super equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) occurred in American longitudes, which extended to 35° ${}^{\circ}$–40° ${}^{\circ}$ MLAT and persisted for 12–15 hr throughout the entire nightThe dusktime zonal equatorial electric field increased by 100%–300%, leading to strong upward equatorial plasma drifts of 60–100 m/sEPBs were comparatively inhibited in the Atlantic longitudes, notably different from nearby American longitudes and quiet‐time counterparts [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:21699380
DOI:10.1029/2025JA034224