High-speed solar wind stream effects on the topside ionosphere over Arecibo: A case study during solar minimum

Abstract : The impact of a high-speed solar wind stream (HSS) on the topside near-equatorial ionosphere (Arecibo: 28.17°N, L = 1.3) is investigated for the first time. Although the HSS did not lead to any significant geomagnetic storm activity, the ionosphere over Arecibo became hotter and expanded significantly in altitude as compared to a non-HSS interval. The O+/H+ transition height hT increased by ~200 km in the daytime and by ~100 km at night. At the hT, the peak ionospheric electron and ion temperatures increased by ~200–500 K during day and by ~50–70 K at night. While the O+ ion concentration exhibited an overall enhancement, deep penetration of the H+ ions below hT are observed during the day. The noontime peak electron density was ~4 times higher during the HSS event compared to the non-HSS interval. We present three possible mechanisms to explain this topside ionospheric heating.