First simultaneous observations of daytime MSTIDs over North America using GPS-TEC and DEMETER satellite data

International audienceWe present simultaneous observations of daytime medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) over North America, using measurements of the Total Electron Content (TEC) by the US GPS network and ionospheric plasma data from the DEMETER micro-satellite. Several events show latitudinal variations of the plasma parameters at satellite altitude corresponding to the MSTID structures revealed on 2D TEC maps. In a case study with a very well defined MSTID, quasi periodic variations of the plasma density and of the ion velocity parallel to the Earth's magnetic field are observed along the satellite orbit that match the signature of the MSTID on the TEC maps. We believe it is the first simultaneous observation of parallel plasma motion in the topside ionosphere and propagating MSTID structures in the F-region. An initial analysis of this event is performed in the light of results from simple model of ionospheric disturbances associated with Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGWs)