Statistical analysis of Pc3‐5 total electron content disturbances at mid‐Latitudes: comparison to the auroral zone
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title>
<jats:p>
Ionospheric Total Electron Content disturbances (dTEC) in the Ultra Low Frequency (ULF, timescales 10 min) range can be driven from below by processes at Earth's surface and lower atmosphere and from above by magnetospheric processes. Using magnetospheric satellite magnetometer, ground‐based magnetometer, and dTEC measurements in the auroral zone, Hartinger et al. (2025),
<jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1029/2024ja033456">https://doi.org/10.1029/2024ja033456</jats:ext-link>
showed that over much of the Pc3‐5 band (∼2–50 mHz) ULF waves routinely drive dTEC perturbations correlated with magnetic field disturbances (dBground), suggesting dTEC could be used as a ULF wave diagnostic. Motivated by the significant differences expected for magnetosphere, ionosphere, atmosphere, and ground properties at a different latitude, we extend Hartinger et al. (2025),
<jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1029/2024ja033456">https://doi.org/10.1029/2024ja033456</jats:ext-link>
to examine mid‐latitude ( degrees magnetic latitude) dTEC during conjunctions with the Van Allen Probes satellites, a ground magnetometer, and a Global Navigation Satellite System receiver. Consistent with the auroral zone, we find that dTEC often has a corresponding dBground signature, and that dTEC and dBground are well correlated with results dependent on the component of the magnetic field. We also find that dTEC amplitudes are lower (0.5 TECU) and tend to occur at higher frequencies than in the auroral zone, as expected for magnetospheric Pc3‐5 wave latitude dependence. In contrast to the auroral zone, we find that dTEC power does not have a strong magnetic local time dependence and that correlations between dTEC power and geomagnetic activity are weak, suggesting underlying differences in the mechanisms connecting ULF wave dynamics to dTEC at mid‐latitudes.
</jats:p>
<jats:p>
Ionospheric Total Electron Content disturbances (dTEC) in the Ultra Low Frequency (ULF, timescales 10 min) range can be driven from below by processes at Earth's surface and lower atmosphere and from above by magnetospheric processes. Using magnetospheric satellite magnetometer, ground‐based magnetometer, and dTEC measurements in the auroral zone, Hartinger et al. (2025),
<jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1029/2024ja033456">https://doi.org/10.1029/2024ja033456</jats:ext-link>
showed that over much of the Pc3‐5 band (∼2–50 mHz) ULF waves routinely drive dTEC perturbations correlated with magnetic field disturbances (dBground), suggesting dTEC could be used as a ULF wave diagnostic. Motivated by the significant differences expected for magnetosphere, ionosphere, atmosphere, and ground properties at a different latitude, we extend Hartinger et al. (2025),
<jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1029/2024ja033456">https://doi.org/10.1029/2024ja033456</jats:ext-link>
to examine mid‐latitude ( degrees magnetic latitude) dTEC during conjunctions with the Van Allen Probes satellites, a ground magnetometer, and a Global Navigation Satellite System receiver. Consistent with the auroral zone, we find that dTEC often has a corresponding dBground signature, and that dTEC and dBground are well correlated with results dependent on the component of the magnetic field. We also find that dTEC amplitudes are lower (0.5 TECU) and tend to occur at higher frequencies than in the auroral zone, as expected for magnetospheric Pc3‐5 wave latitude dependence. In contrast to the auroral zone, we find that dTEC power does not have a strong magnetic local time dependence and that correlations between dTEC power and geomagnetic activity are weak, suggesting underlying differences in the mechanisms connecting ULF wave dynamics to dTEC at mid‐latitudes.
</jats:p>
Date Issued
2026-07-01
Date Acceptance
2026-06-12
Citation
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 2026, 131 (7)
ISSN
2169-9380
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Volume
131
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2026. American Geophysical Union. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
2026JA035310
Date Publish Online
2026-07-09