The influence of ozone concentration on the lower ionosphere – modelling and measurements during the 29–30 October 2003 solar proton event
A numerical model of D-region ion chemistry is used to study the influence of the ozone concentration in the mesosphere on ion-composition and electron density during solar proton events (SPE). We find a strong sensitivity in the lower part of the D-region, where negative ions play a major role in t...
Published in: | Annales Geophysicae |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Text |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2018
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-27-577-2009 https://angeo.copernicus.org/articles/27/577/2009/ |
id |
ftcopernicus:oai:publications.copernicus.org:angeo36678 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftcopernicus:oai:publications.copernicus.org:angeo36678 2023-05-15T16:04:45+02:00 The influence of ozone concentration on the lower ionosphere – modelling and measurements during the 29–30 October 2003 solar proton event Osepian, A. Kirkwood, S. Dalin, P. 2018-09-27 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-27-577-2009 https://angeo.copernicus.org/articles/27/577/2009/ eng eng doi:10.5194/angeo-27-577-2009 https://angeo.copernicus.org/articles/27/577/2009/ eISSN: 1432-0576 Text 2018 ftcopernicus https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-27-577-2009 2020-07-20T16:26:45Z A numerical model of D-region ion chemistry is used to study the influence of the ozone concentration in the mesosphere on ion-composition and electron density during solar proton events (SPE). We find a strong sensitivity in the lower part of the D-region, where negative ions play a major role in the ionization balance. We have chosen the strong SPE on 29–30 October 2003 when very intense proton fluxes with a hard energetic spectrum were observed. Deep penetration into the atmosphere by the proton fluxes and strong ionisation allows us to use measurements of electron density, made by the EISCAT 224 MHz radar, starting from as low as 55 km. We compare the electron density profiles with model results to determine which ozone concentration profiles are the most appropriate for mesospheric altitudes under SPE conditions. We show that, during daytime, an ozone profile corresponding to depletion by a factor of 2 compared to minimum model concentrations for quiet conditions (Rodrigo et al., 1986), is needed to give model electron density profiles consistent with observations. Simple incorporation of minor neutral constituent profiles (NO, O and O 3 ) appropriate for SPE conditions into ion-chemistry models will allow more accurate modeling of electron and ion densities during such events, without the need to apply a complete chemical model calculating all neutral species. Text EISCAT Copernicus Publications: E-Journals Annales Geophysicae 27 2 577 589 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Copernicus Publications: E-Journals |
op_collection_id |
ftcopernicus |
language |
English |
description |
A numerical model of D-region ion chemistry is used to study the influence of the ozone concentration in the mesosphere on ion-composition and electron density during solar proton events (SPE). We find a strong sensitivity in the lower part of the D-region, where negative ions play a major role in the ionization balance. We have chosen the strong SPE on 29–30 October 2003 when very intense proton fluxes with a hard energetic spectrum were observed. Deep penetration into the atmosphere by the proton fluxes and strong ionisation allows us to use measurements of electron density, made by the EISCAT 224 MHz radar, starting from as low as 55 km. We compare the electron density profiles with model results to determine which ozone concentration profiles are the most appropriate for mesospheric altitudes under SPE conditions. We show that, during daytime, an ozone profile corresponding to depletion by a factor of 2 compared to minimum model concentrations for quiet conditions (Rodrigo et al., 1986), is needed to give model electron density profiles consistent with observations. Simple incorporation of minor neutral constituent profiles (NO, O and O 3 ) appropriate for SPE conditions into ion-chemistry models will allow more accurate modeling of electron and ion densities during such events, without the need to apply a complete chemical model calculating all neutral species. |
format |
Text |
author |
Osepian, A. Kirkwood, S. Dalin, P. |
spellingShingle |
Osepian, A. Kirkwood, S. Dalin, P. The influence of ozone concentration on the lower ionosphere – modelling and measurements during the 29–30 October 2003 solar proton event |
author_facet |
Osepian, A. Kirkwood, S. Dalin, P. |
author_sort |
Osepian, A. |
title |
The influence of ozone concentration on the lower ionosphere – modelling and measurements during the 29–30 October 2003 solar proton event |
title_short |
The influence of ozone concentration on the lower ionosphere – modelling and measurements during the 29–30 October 2003 solar proton event |
title_full |
The influence of ozone concentration on the lower ionosphere – modelling and measurements during the 29–30 October 2003 solar proton event |
title_fullStr |
The influence of ozone concentration on the lower ionosphere – modelling and measurements during the 29–30 October 2003 solar proton event |
title_full_unstemmed |
The influence of ozone concentration on the lower ionosphere – modelling and measurements during the 29–30 October 2003 solar proton event |
title_sort |
influence of ozone concentration on the lower ionosphere – modelling and measurements during the 29–30 october 2003 solar proton event |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-27-577-2009 https://angeo.copernicus.org/articles/27/577/2009/ |
genre |
EISCAT |
genre_facet |
EISCAT |
op_source |
eISSN: 1432-0576 |
op_relation |
doi:10.5194/angeo-27-577-2009 https://angeo.copernicus.org/articles/27/577/2009/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-27-577-2009 |
container_title |
Annales Geophysicae |
container_volume |
27 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
577 |
op_container_end_page |
589 |
_version_ |
1766400382202806272 |