Observations of equatorial plasma bubbles during the geomagnetic storm of October 2016

• Published in: Earth and planetary physics Vol. 5; no. 5; pp. 416 - 426
• Main Authors: Huang, FuQing, Lei, JiuHou, Xiong, Chao, Zhong, JiaHao, Li, GuoZhu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment,School of Earth and Space Sciences,University of Science and Technology of China,Hefei 230026,China 01.09.2021; Mengcheng National Geophysical Observatory,University of Science and Technology of China,Hefei 230026,China; Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Comparative Planetology,University of Science and Technology of China,Hefei 230026,China%Electronic Information School,Wuhan University,Wuhan 430072,China%Planetary Environmental and Astrobiological Research Laboratory,School of Atmospheric Sciences,Sun Yat-sen University,Zhuhai 519082,China%Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics,Institute of Geology and Geophysics,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100029,China; Beijing National Observatory of Space Environment,Institute of Geology and Geophysics,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100029,China; Science Press
• Subjects: Beidou GEO TEC; electric field; electron density; EPBs; geomagnetic storm; ionospheric irregularities; electric field; electron density; EPBs; ionospheric irregularities; geomagnetic storm; Beidou GEO TEC
• ISSN: 2096-3955; 2096-3955
• DOI: 10.26464/epp2021043

We investigated the variations of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) in the East‐Asian sector during a strong geomagnetic storm in October 2016, based on observations from the Beidou geostationary (GEO) satellites, Swarm satellite and ground‐based ionosonde. Significant nighttime depletions of F region in situ electron density from Swarm and obvious nighttime EPBs in the Beidou GEO observations were observed on 13 October 2016 during the main phase. Moreover, one interesting feature is that the rare and unique sunrise EPBs were triggered on 14 October 2016 in the main phase rather than during the recovery phase as reported by previous studies. In addition, the nighttime EPBs were suppressed during the whole recovery phase, and absent from 14 to 19 October 2016. Meanwhile, the minimum virtual height of F trace (h’F) at Sanya (18.3°N, 109.6°E, MLAT 11.1°N) displayed obvious changes during these intervals. The h’F was enhanced in the main phase and declined during the recovery phase, compared with the values at pre‐ and post‐storm. These results indicate that the enhanced nighttime EPBs and sunrise EPBs during the main phase and the absence nighttime EPBs for many days during the recovery phase could be associated with storm‐time electric field changes. Key Points Sunrise EPBs were observed in the geomagnetic storm main phase. Post‐sunset EPBs were enhanced during the main phase and suppressed throughout the recovery phase. Storm‐induced electric field variations could be the primary causal factor to produce the EPB variations during the storm.