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Ionospheric response to X-class solar flares in the ascending half of the subdued solar cycle 24

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Abstract

The signature of 11 X-class solar flares that occurred during the ascending half of the present subdued solar cycle 24 from 2009 to 2013 on the ionosphere over the low- and mid-latitude station, Dibrugarh (27.5∘N, 95∘E; magnetic latitude 17.6∘N), are examined. Total electron content (TEC) data derived from Global Positioning System satellite transmissions are used to study the effect of the flares on the ionosphere. A nonlinear significant correlation (R 2 = 0.86) has been observed between EUV enhancement (ΔEUV) and corresponding enhancement in TEC (ΔTEC). This nonlinearity is triggered by a rapid increase in ΔTEC beyond the threshold value ∼1.5 (×1010 ph cm−2 s−1) in ΔEUV. It is also found that this nonlinear relationship between TEC and EUV flux is driven by a similar nonlinear relationship between flare induced enhancement in X-ray and EUV fluxes. The local time of occurrence of the flares determines the magnitude of enhancement in TEC for flares originating from nearly similar longitudes on the solar disc, and hence proximity to the central meridian alone may not play the dominating role. Further, the X-ray peak flux, when corrected for the earth zenith angle effect, did not improve the correlation between ΔX-ray and ΔTEC.

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Acknowledgements

This work was partially sponsored by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) through its Space Science Promotion Scheme (SSPS). We acknowledge the GOES, http://spidr.ngdc.noaa.gov/spidr/ and the Solar EUV Monitor (SEM) onboard the SOHO satellite for providing X-ray and EUV flux data. We are also thankful to the www.SolarMonitor.org for providing all information of the Sun, during solar flares. RH is grateful to the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for providing fellowships under grant No. SB/S4/AS-127/2013. We are also grateful to the reviewers for their valuable comments and constructive suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Atmospheric Studies, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, 786 004, India

    Rumajyoti Hazarika, Bitap Raj Kalita & Pradip Kumar Bhuyan

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  1. Rumajyoti Hazarika
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  2. Bitap Raj Kalita
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  3. Pradip Kumar Bhuyan
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Correspondence to Pradip Kumar Bhuyan.

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Corresponding editor: K Krishnamoorthy

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Hazarika, R., Kalita, B.R. & Bhuyan, P.K. Ionospheric response to X-class solar flares in the ascending half of the subdued solar cycle 24. J Earth Syst Sci 125, 1235–1244 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-016-0726-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-016-0726-6

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