Speaker
Description
The extreme geomagnetic storm in May 2024 was a landmark space-weather event, characterised by G5-level conditions, solar wind speeds exceeding 900 km/s, and a Dst reaching -406 nT. This presentation provides a comprehensive analysis of the global response of the thermosphere and ionosphere to this historic forcing. Utilising data from the Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission, we examine the evolution of the O/N$_2$ column density ratio, which reveals dramatic spatial and temporal variations. Specifically, we highlight the massive compositional changes, including deep depletions and localised enhancements, that developed during the storm’s peak on May 11 (DOY 132).
These thermospheric observations are integrated with ground-based Total Electron Content (TEC) measurements from South Africa stations (HRAO and HNUS) to characterise the coincident ionospheric response. Our results demonstrate a complex interplay between neutral composition and plasma density, showing how extreme magnetospheric energy input reconfigures the upper atmosphere on a global scale. By comparing the GOLD disk images with regional TEC trends, we offer new insights into the driving mechanisms of the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere (MIT) system during "superstorm" conditions.
| Apply for student award at which level: | MSc |
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| Consent on use of personal information: Abstract Submission | Yes, I ACCEPT |