Space Weather Effects From Moderate to Severe Geomagnetic Storms in October 2024 Over the Latin American Sector

Abstract This study presents a detailed case study of the ionospheric impacts of moderate (G2) and severe (G4) geomagnetic storms over the Latin American sector, with particular emphasis on the formation and suppression of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs). The moderate storm of 7–8 October, 2024, presented a rare case of EPB suppression despite favorable conditions, including a pronounced pre‐reversal enhancement (PRE), with vertical plasma drifts exceeding 40 m/s. Post‐midnight EPBs were observed exclusively in the western side of the Latin American sector. The observed suppressions may be associated with the influence of meridional winds and the presence of an Es layer near the onset time of EPBs. In contrast, the severe storm of 10–11 October, 2024, triggered super and long‐lasting EPB across both eastern and western sectors. The enhancement of EPBs during this event is attributed to the combined effects of an undershielding prompt penetration electric field (PPEF) and disturbance dynamo electric field (DDEF). Moreover, the storm's main phase was marked by a pronounced expansion of the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) and a significant increase in total electron content (TEC), followed by a decrease during the recovery phase. These findings reinforce the importance of regional and local factors in ionospheric storm‐time responses and suggest the need for further statistical studies to improve EPB occurrence forecasts.