Reversed ionospheric convections during the November 2004 storm: Impact on the upper atmosphere

During this time interval, IMF Bz was strongly northward along with a high solar wind dynamic pressure, favorable conditions to form reversed convection in the polar region. Indeed, the AMIE outputs show strong reversed convection cells in both hemispheres for a long period (>1 h), which have rarely been observed.

The impact on the thermospheric neutral wind has been investigated using the AMIE outputs as the electrodynamic inputs of the National Center for Atmospheric Research Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model. After the ionospheric convection reversed, the neutral wind distribution at 400 km altitude changed correspondingly, and the difference wind patterns reversed in the polar cap region. By comparing the temporal variations of the difference ion convection and the difference neutral wind, it is found that horizontal neutral winds respond to the reversed convection with some time delay.