Ionospheric response to the June 2015 geomagnetic storm in the South American region

The ionospheric dynamics in the South America (SA) sector during geomagnetic disturbed period from 21 to 24 June 2015 is investigated through ground ionosonde stations and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, supported by Very Low Frequency (VLF) and magnetometer data. These disturbances were caused by 3 interplanetary shocks (IS) derived from 3 consecutives coronal mass ejections (CME) from the same solar active region; the first two CME were caused by filament eruptions, and the third was a much larger full halo CME, associated with a M2.6 solar flare. The first 2 shocks were compressive and did not cause an immediate response to the ionosphere in the analyzed region, while the third shock increased considerably the electron density from low to high-latitudes, triggering the second strongest geomagnetic storm of the 24th solar cycle. It was possible to observe the expansion of the crest of equatorial ionospheric anomaly (EIA) at midlatitudes and high-latitudes mainly due to prompt penetration electric field (PPEF) during the main phase and the recovery phase of the geomagnetic storm during the day.