3-D tomographic reconstruction of SED plume during 17 March 2013 storm

The three-dimensional computerized ionospheric tomography (3DCIT) technique is used to reconstruct the spatial distribution of storm-enhanced density (SED) based on the global positioning system total electron content measurements over the North American area during the 17 March 2013 storm. The reconstruction results are carefully validated with observations from three ionosonde stations, the constellation observing system for meteorology, ionosphere, and climate (COSMIC) radio occultations, and the Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar. The electron density profiles from the 3DCIT reconstruction show a good agreement with the ionosonde and COSMIC electron density profiles. The 3DCIT-derived electron density difference between the storm day of 17 March and the quiet day of 16 March also captures the similar SED plume signature that was observed by the Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar. The 3DCIT reconstruction allows us for the first time to unveil the 3-D configuration of the SED plume and its spatiotemporal evolution. It was found that the SED plume first appeared around 400 km and then expanded downward to similar to 300 km as well as upward to similar to 500 km over the course of a 3-hr period from 19 to 22 UT on 17 March. Our study also showed that the density enhancement within the SED plume occurred mostly above the storm time F layer peak height.