Near-simultaneous plasma structuring in the midlatitude and equatorial ionosphere during magnetic superstorms

Near simultaneous formation of ionospheric plasma density structures at middle and equatorial latitudes during the intense magnetic storms of October 29 - 31, 2003, July 15, 2000, and March 30 - 31, 2001 is investigated. The evolution of these structures is explored by measuring amplitude scintillation of satellite signals at 250 MHz, determining zonal irregularity drifts and by detecting equatorial plasma bubbles with DMSP satellites. During abrupt decreases of SYM-H (1-minute resolution Dst) that signify the penetration of high latitude electric fields, an impulsive onset of scintillation occurs at Hanscom AFB (HAFB), a sub-auroral location, as well as in the equatorial region where the early evening period corresponds to the time of scintillation onset at midlatitudes. The onset of equatorial scintillation is delayed from that at midlatitudes by about 20 minutes which can be accounted for by considering instantaneous electric field penetration and plasma instability growth time of equatorial irregularities.