Abstract:
During intense magnetic storms, prompt penetration
electric fields (PPEFs) through E × B forces near the
magnetic equator uplift the dayside ionosphere. This effect
has been called the “dayside super-fountain effect”. Ionneutral
drag forces between the upward moving O+ (oxygen
ions) and oxygen neutrals will elevate the oxygen atoms
to higher altitudes. This paper gives a linear calculation indicating
how serious the effect may be during an 1859-type
(Carrington) superstorm. It is concluded that the oxygen neutral
densities produced at low-Earth-orbiting (LEO) satellite
altitudes may be sufficiently high to present severe satellite
drag. It is estimated that with a prompt penetrating electric
field of ∼ 20 mV m−1
turned on for 20 min, the O atoms and
O
+ ions are uplifted to 850 km where they produce about
40-times-greater satellite drag per unit mass than normal.
Stronger electric fields will presumably lead to greater uplifted
mass.
