AUTHOR=Klenzing Jeff , Zawdie Kate , Astafyeva Elvira , Belehaki Anna , Burleigh Meghan , Burrell Angeline G. , Figueiredo Cosme A. O. B. , Frissell Nathaniel A. , Fu Weizheng , Hickey Dustin , Huba Joe , Inchin Pavel , Kaeppler Stephen R. , Narayanan Viswanathan Lakshmi , Sivankandan Mani , Smith Jonathon M. , Xiong Chao , Yokoyama Tatsuhiro , Zettergren Matt , Zhang Shun-Rong 

TITLE=Resolving the generation mechanisms and electrodynamical effects of Medium Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (MSTIDs)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/astronomy-and-space-sciences/articles/10.3389/fspas.2025.1539821

DOI=10.3389/fspas.2025.1539821

ISSN=2296-987X

ABSTRACT=The term “Medium-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances” is used to describe a number of different propagating phenomena in ionospheric plasma density with a scale size of hundreds of km. This includes multiple generation mechanisms, including ion-neutral collisions, plasma instabilities, and electromagnetic forcing. Observational limitations can impede characterization and identification of MSTID generation mechanisms. We discuss inconsistencies in the current terminology used to describe these and provide a set of recommendations for description and discussion.