Abstract This study utilizes ICON/MIGHTI observations and reveals, for the first time, the response of neutral temperature in the lower thermosphere (∼110–130 km) to minor‐to‐moderate geomagnetic disturbances. A case study of the 12 October 2021 storm reveals surprising storm‐time temperature enhancements across all observed latitudes (∼14°–42°N), with a peak enhancement of 28% at 130 km near 42°N. The average enhancement within 35°–40°N reaches 18% at 130 km. Statistical analysis indicates a positive correlation between temperature enhancement and geomagnetic activity intensity. The increase rates with respect to ap index are larger in 35°–40°N than those in 20°–25°N. The increase rates increase with altitude, reaching 0.168%/nT at 130 km over 35°–40°N. The peaks of temperature enhancements lag the ap/Dst index maxima/minima for most storms. Comparisons with the NRLMSIS2.1 empirical model and the physics‐based TIEGCM‐ICON model show that both models capture storm‐time temperature enhancements but underestimate their magnitudes compared to observations.
Observations from the Little Bunker
Last updated: October 16, 2025 04:11 AM
Atmospheric CO₂
424.4 ppm
+18.2
ppm/year
Atmospheric CH₄
1933.54 ppb
+12.29
ppb/year
Global Temperature
+1.48 °C
Peak: +1.73°C
World Population
8.1 billion
+67
million/year