Articles | Volume 44, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-44-773-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-44-773-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Regular paper
| 
19 Aug 2026
Regular paper |
| 19 Aug 2026
| 19 Aug 2026
Storm-time energy budget in the high latitude lower thermosphere–ionosphere: quantification of energy exchange and comparison of different drivers in TIE-GCM
Stelios Tourgaidis
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
Theodoros Sarris
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
Dimitrios Baloukidis
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
Stephan Buchert
Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala, Sweden
Panagiotis Pirnaris
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
Konstantinos Papadakis
Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Athanasios Balafoutis
Department of Production and Management Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, Greece
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The relation between electron, ion and neutral temperatures in the lower thermosphere–ionosphere (LTI) is key to understanding the energy balance and transfer between species. However, their simultaneous measurement is rare in the LTI. Based on data from the AE-C, AE-D, AE-E and DE-2 satellites of the 1970s and 1980s, a large number of events where neutrals are hotter than ions are identified and statistically analyzed. Potential mechanisms that could trigger these events are proposed.
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Vertti Tarvus, Lucile Turc, Markus Battarbee, Jonas Suni, Xóchitl Blanco-Cano, Urs Ganse, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Markku Alho, Maxime Dubart, Maxime Grandin, Andreas Johlander, Konstantinos Papadakis, and Minna Palmroth
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We use simulations of Earth's magnetosphere and study the formation of transient wave structures in the region where the solar wind first interacts with the magnetosphere. These transients move earthward and play a part in the solar wind–magnetosphere interaction. We show that the transients are a common feature and their properties are altered as they move earthward, including an increase in temperature, decrease in solar wind speed and an alteration in their propagation properties.
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Short summary
The Lower Thermosphere-Ionosphere energy balance is driven by complex interactions between ions, neutrals and electrons. These processes are understood theoretically, but their estimates show large discrepancies between models. We calculate the storm-time energy budget according to the neutrals, ions and electrons using TIE-GCM (Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model) using two different external drivers. Discrepancies between the model runs are discussed and the way forward to close the gaps in present knowledge is highlighted.
The Lower Thermosphere-Ionosphere energy balance is driven by complex interactions between ions,...
