Impacts of Extreme Ultraviolet Late Phase of the Solar Flare on Ionospheric Electrodynamics

Abstract

Previous investigations of ionospheric electrodynamical responses to solar flares primarily focused on the main phases (MPs) of solar flares. Typical solar irradiance models for driving global ionosphere models do not include the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) late phase (ELP) of flares, which was recently observed with new high-quality solar EUV spectra. Thus, it is still unclear how ionospheric electrodynamics respond to the flare ELP. Here, we analyzed the ionospheric electrodynamical response to the MP and ELP of the X9.3 flare on 2017 September 6, using observations from ground magnetometers, along with simulation results from an ionosphere–thermosphere coupled model. Observations indicated an intensification of the dayside eastward equatorial electrojet (EEJ) by approximately 12 nT at the ELP peak as compared to the quiet day reference. Additionally, the dayside eastward electric field increased due to the ELP, which is different from the reduction of dayside electric fields during MP. The upward E × B plasma drifts decreased by 2.5 m s ^–1 during MP but increased by 0.75 m s ^–1 during the ELP. Altitude-dependent responses of ionospheric conductivities to the ELP modulated the relative contribution of the E- and F-region wind dynamo to zonal electric fields, resulting in an overall increase in the daytime eastward electric fields. Furthermore, combined effects of electric fields and conductivities enhancements contributed to EEJ intensification during the ELP. This study enhances our understanding of how solar flares with ELP change global ionospheric electric fields and currents.

Keywords

• Solar flares
• Solar flare spectra
• Earth ionosphere
• Solar extreme ultraviolet emission