Variations in Thermospheric Neutral Winds and Ionospheric Total Electron Content during January 2013 geomagnetic storm: A comparative study using GOCE Satellite Data, Madrigal FPI and TEC Data, and GITM Simulations

This study aims to investigate the impacts of key factors - viscosity, ion drag, neutral drag, and ion-neutral collision - on the Thermospheric Neutral Winds and Ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) during the January 2013 geomagnetic storm. The study utilizes observational data from the GOCE satellite and ground-based Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FPI) stations, alongside the results of three Global Ionosphere-Thermosphere Model (GITM) simulations with varying coefficients.

Findings indicate that during the storm's peak, there was a notable increase in TEC, which showed correlation with the geomagnetic storm. Differences were observed in TEC predictions across the three GITM versions, emphasizing the influence of model parameters on output accuracy. The study also revealed dynamic zonal wind behavior, with significant alterations during the storm's main phase due to evolving pressure gradients and local time effects. Observations further illustrated how daytime and nighttime photoionization impacts TEC across different geographical sectors and how the descending node of GOCE and GITM zonal wind changed in the direction due to increased geomagnetic activity and ion-neutral interactions.

The results provided valuable insights into the complex dynamics of the upper atmosphere during geomagnetic storms, highlighting the significance of accurate modeling for reliable space weather predictions. Also, this comprehensive evaluation contributes to the ongoing efforts to improve the accuracy and reliability of global models of Earth's upper atmosphere, which is crucial for understanding the complex interactions between space weather and the Earth's environment.