During geomagnetic storms the latitudinal distributions of electron density and temperature in the mid-latitude topside ionosphere are observed to change in a manner than can be related to the evolution of ring current particle popula¬tions as predicted theoretically earlier (Cole 1964;1965). The region of auroral precipitation is characterized by correlated increases in electron temperature and density. Equatorwards of this region there is a broad belt of elevated elec¬tron temperatures and depressed electron densities which is usually much broader than any SAR-arc distinguishable from the ground, but which is nevertheless the same basic physical phenomenon. The changes of position of this belt can be related to prior bursts of geomagnetic activity and injection of ring current particles into the magnetosphere.
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