The effectiveness of the westward electric field in causing ionospheric storms has not been carefully investigated

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the stated research gap and stated challenges and future-work section and abstract of the source papers, classified as general, drawn from work published between 2025 and 2026, spanning 4 journals. Those papers have been cited 2 times in total.

Supporting evidence — 7 representative gaps

• Severe Positive Ionospheric Storm at American Low Latitudes During an Intense Long-Lasting CEJ Period of the August 2018 Geomagnetic Storm (2026) · Remote Sensing · doi

  The effectiveness of the westward electric field in causing ionospheric storms has not been carefully investigated. The mechanisms of the severe positive ionospheric storm in the American sector are not well understood. The role of thermospheric disturbances in ionospheric storms is not fully explored.

  generalstated research gap
  Keywords: effectiveness westward electric field causing ionospheric storms has
• Response of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles to the December 2015 Geomagnetic Storm Over Brazil (2026) · Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics · cited 1× · doi

  The study highlights the need to understand the mechanisms responsible for the generation of post-midnight EPBs and the suppression of post-sunset EPBs. There is a lack of understanding of the effects of disturbed electric fields on the equatorial region during a geomagnetic storm. The study aims to fill this gap by analyzing ionosonde data from multiple Brazilian stations.

  generalstated research gap
  Keywords: study highlights need understand mechanisms responsible generation post-midnight
• Response of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles to the December 2015 Geomagnetic Storm Over Brazil (2026) · Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics · cited 1× · doi

  The study faces the challenge of understanding the complex interactions between electric fields, thermospheric winds, and variations in neutral composition during a geomagnetic storm. The analysis is complicated by the lack of intense auroral activity during the initial phase of the storm. The study must also contend with the uncertainty in determining whether Prompt Penetration Electric Field activity was present during the initial phase of the storm.

  generalstated challenges
  Keywords: study faces challenge understanding complex interactions between electric
• Energy from the Sun dissipates into a narrow band around 70$$^\circ$$N geographic latitude (2026) · Scientific Reports · doi

  Further research is needed to determine the exact peak region of substorm occurrence, - Studying the contribution of different latitudes to the IL index could provide more insights into substorm properties, - Investigating the relationship between substorms and geomagnetic storms could help understand the underlying mechanisms

  generalfuture-work sectionevidence 5/5
  Keywords: further research needed determine exact peak region substorm
• High latitude, dayside rapid geomagnetic variations observed with ground-based magnetometers in Greenland (2026) · Annales Geophysicae · doi

  The complexity of the interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere. The need to develop a statistical analysis that accounts for various factors such as season, magnetic latitude, and magnetic local time. The challenge of distinguishing between different types of geomagnetic variations, such as ULF waves and substorm activity.

  generalstated challengesevidence 5/5
  Keywords: complexity interaction between solar wind magnetosphere need develop
• Nightside Ionospheric Oxygen Outflows During Geomagnetic Storms: Van Allen Probes Statistics (2025) · Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics · doi

  Further investigation of the geomagnetic indices combining local magnetic and electric fields relates this enhancement to: (a) the increased geomagnetic disturbance during storms; (b) enhanced plasma waves in the ultra‐low‐frequency range and near oxygen ion gyrofrequency, whose power shows a positive correlation with oxygen outflow rates.

  generalabstractevidence 5/5
  Keywords: geomagnetic oxygen further investigation indices combining local magnetic electric fields relates enhancement increased disturbance storms
• Ionospheric currents and auroral signatures during successive earthward bursty bulk flows and dipolarization: a 7 December 2023 case study (2026) · Annales Geophysicae · doi

  The paper identifies a gap in our understanding of the relationship between bursty bulk flows, dipolarization, and auroral activity. The study aims to fill this gap by examining the ionospheric response to these events using a combination of spacecraft and ground-based data. The paper also highlights the need for further research on the loading-unloading cycle of geomagnetic substorms and the role of dipolarization in this process.

  generalstated research gapevidence 5/5
  Keywords: paper identifies gap understanding relationship between bursty bulk

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