Super Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Observed Over South America During the October 10 and 11, 2024 Strong Geomagnetic Storm

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Abstract
On October 10th, 2024, the second most intense geomagnetic storm of solar cycle 25 to date took place. This storm was triggered by multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that arrived at Earth from October 7th to 9th, causing significant geomagnetic disturbances. The geomagnetic Kp index peaked at its highest level (Kp=9), indicating a red alert status. This study investigated equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) over South America during this geomagnetic storm using ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) rate of total electron content index (ROTI) and Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD)satellite oxygen atom (OI) 135.6 nm radiance wavelength data. The analysis revealed that the EPBs observed in South America lasted for an unusually long duration of approximately 14 hours, from around 23:00 UT (18:00 LT) on October 10th to about 14:00 UT (9:00 LT) on October 11th. Additionally, these super EPBs extended over a wide latitude range, reaching approximately 35 ° N in the north and down to 50 ° S in the south, gradually forming an inverted C-shaped pattern. The observed characteristics of the EPBs are likely associated with changes in solar wind parameters and the effects of the prompt penetration electric field (PPEF).
Funding Information
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (42274017)
  • Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province (2023A1515030184)
  • Guangzhou Science and Technology Plan Project (2025A04J5190)

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