A Case Study of Thermospheric Exospheric Temperature Responses During the G-Condition at Mohe and Beijing Stations

Abstract

The G-condition (NmF₂ ≤ NmF₁) was observed by ground-based ionosondes at Mohe and Beijing during the geomagnetic storm occurred on 23 and 24 April 2023. We studied exospheric temperature (Tex) responses during the G-condition. Tex was derived from electron density (Ne) profiles (∼150–200 km) by the method proposed by Li et al. (2023, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022ja030988). The retrieved Tex showed obvious enhancements, with relative deviation of ∼10%–35% and ∼3%–20% at Mohe and Beijing, respectively. Additionally, chemical reaction rate increased by ∼15%–100% and ∼13%–30%, and O/N₂ decreased by ∼17%–35% and ∼23%–30% at Mohe and Beijing, respectively. Under photochemical equilibrium assumption, peak Ne is inversely proportional to chemical reaction rate and proportional to O/N₂. Increased chemical reaction rate and decreased O/N₂ indicate a decrease in peak Ne. Compared to the increased Tex, the relative enhancement in Tex is more significantly associated with the G-condition, with relative deviation above ∼10% during the G-condition.