Response of the Ionospheric Total Electron Content on

Different Solar Storm Events over the Philippine – Taiwanese

Region
Merlin M. Mendoza*, Ernest P. Macalalad, Kyle Ezekiel S. Juadines
Department of Physics, Mapua University,
Muralla St., Intramuros, Manila, Philippines

*Corresponding Author: mendoza.merlin25@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
The ionospheric total electron content (TEC) response during geomagnetic storms at low-latitude and equatorial regions are an interest of
study in the field of space weather, mainly because its effects are considerable as compared to mid-latitude regions. This is due to a
phenomena known as the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA). The strongest space weather events this solar cycle 24 are the St. Patrick's
day geomagnetic storm of 2015 and the recent X9.3 solar flare of September 2017. St. Patrick's day storm is caused by a coronal mass
ejection (CME) from the Sun on March 15, 2015 recorded by SOHO/LASCO. The eruption happened at ~2:10 UT March 15, 2015 and
arrived at around 5 UT March 17, 2015. This storm caused a depletion of TEC as measured on International GNSS Service (IGS) stations
along the Taiwanese and Philippine sectors. On a more recent solar event, the Sun produced a series of flares during the month of
September 2017. The X9.3 solar flare of September 2017 is the strongest of the seven consecutive flares originating from active sunspot
region 2673. Two of these flares produced a G4 Storm, both from a CME. The first to hit is from the X9.3 flare at ~22 UT of September 6,
2017 and the other from a M7.3 flare at ~13 UT of September 8, 2017. The series of continuous bombardment of coronal mass ejections
and solar flares caused enhancements in TEC as observed at the same stations. Different magnitudes on the enhancement and depletion
of TEC among these stations is a clear manifestation of the EIA and its variability over different drivers of geomagnetic storms.

Keywords: coronal mass ejection, solar flare, total electron content, equatorial ionization anomaly

DATA AND RESULTS IGS OBSERVATI

St. Patrick’s Day Geomagnetic Storm of 2015
STATIONS ONS
St. Patrick’s Day Storm
•
TEC depletion on March
18 on TWTF of about 60
TECU, PIMO about 45
TECU, PPPC and PGEN
about 30 TECU
•
On March 21 to March
23, (recovery phase), a
depletion of about 35
TECU was observed on
TWTF. The following day,
TEC enhancements of
about the same amounts
are observed

September Flares
•
TEC enhancement after 23 UT of September 6 from a CME
ejected by M5.5 flare (moderate storm)
•
TEC enhancement after 22 UT of September 7 from a CME
ejected by X9.3 flare (G4 storm)
•
TEC enhancement after 13 UT of September 8 from a CME
ejected by X9.3 flare (G4 storm)
•
TEC enhancements on TWTF and CKSV station after the
last X8.2 flare

Solar Flares of September 2017

ANALYSIS
•
TWTF had the highest TEC depletion during St. Patrick’s
Storm because it is nearer the crest of the EIA.
•
From March 20, 2015 to March 22, 2015, TWTF TEC
remained depleted and from March 22 to 23, TEC
enhancements are observed during recovery.
•
TEC enhancement of about 20 TECU is observed on
September 11, 2017 following the burst of the X8.2 flare. This
TEC enhancement is greater in comparison to the TEC
enhancement after the X9.3 flare, even though it is weaker.
The probable cause of this is the weakened magnetic field
from the previous series of geomagnetic storms.
•
TEC enhancements are more pronounced on TWTF and
CKSV also because they are nearer the crest of the EIA.

CONCLUSIONS
•
Almost all of the TEC response during the September Flares
are enhancements as compared to St. Patrick's Day Storm
which are mostly depletions.
•
The EIA is observed to be the cause of the differences in
TEC response along the latitudes chosen during geomagnetic
storms.

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