European Space Weather Week 2025

Assessment of Vertical Redistribution of Electron Density in the Ionosphere During an X-Class Solar Flare Using GNSS Data

Not scheduled

20m

Mon 27/10: Idun - Tue 28/10, Wed 29/10: Studion

Poster SWR4 - Interactions in the Earth’s Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere System and their Space Weather Impact SWR4 –Interactions in the Earth’s Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere System and their Space Weather Impact

Speaker

Susanna Bekker (Queen's University Belfast)

Description

The impact of solar flares on the Earth’s ionosphere has been studied for many decades using both experimental and theoretical approaches. However, the accuracy of predicting ionospheric layer dynamics in response to variations in solar radiation remains limited. In particular, understanding the vertical redistribution of charged particles in the ionosphere during flares with different spectral characteristics presents a significant challenge. In this study, a method is presented for reconstructing the temporal evolution of the vertical electron concentration (Ne) profile based on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) measurements of total electron content along partially illuminated satellite-receiver paths. Using this method, vertical profiles of Ne were reconstructed during various phases of the X13.3-class solar flare that occurred on 6 September 2017. The resulting profiles correctly respond to the observed variations in solar extreme ultraviolet and X-ray radiation, and they show good agreement with incoherent scatter radar measurements and theoretical estimates. This indicates that the method can be effectively applied to analyse other powerful solar events.