PLASMASPHERE DYNAMICS DURING STORM-TIME EROSION EVENTS: INSIGHTS FROM GROUND-BASED AND SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS

Abstract

The Earth's plasmasphere plays a vital role in magnetospheric dynamics and is significantly altered during geomagnetic storms. This study investigates the erosion of the plasmasphere during storm-time conditions using data from satellite missions (e.g., IMAGE, Van Allen Probes) and ground-based VLF receivers located in Pakistan. A comparative analysis of several major geomagnetic storms from 2010–2022 reveals consistent erosion patterns and boundary shifts correlating with variations in Dst, Kp, and interplanetary electric fields. The study also demonstrates the relationship between enhanced convection and plasmapause contraction, contributing to refined models of plasmaspheric dynamics. These findings enhance our understanding of space weather processes and their implications for satellite operations and radio communication systems.