scholarly journals Polar patches observed by ESR and their possible origin in the cusp region

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 1043-1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Smith ◽  
S. E. Pryse ◽  
L. Kersley
Keyword(s):  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Electron Density ◽  
Plasma Flow ◽  
Plasma Temperature ◽  
Soft Particle ◽  
Polar Ionosphere ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Particle Precipitation ◽  
Cusp Region ◽  
Reconnection Site

Abstract. Observations by the EISCAT Svalbard radar in summer have revealed electron density enhancements in the magnetic noon sector under conditions of IMF Bz southward. The features were identified as possible candidates for polar-cap patches drifting anti-Sunward with the plasma flow. Supporting measurements by the EISCAT mainland radar, the CUTLASS radar and DMSP satellites, in a multi-instrument study, suggested that the origin of the structures lay upstream at lower latitudes, with the modulation in density being attributed to variability in soft-particle precipitation in the cusp region. It is proposed that the variations in precipitation may be linked to changes in the location of the reconnection site at the magnetopause, which in turn results in changes in the energy distribution of the precipitating particles.Key words: Ionosphere (ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions; plasma temperature and density; polar ionosphere)

scholarly journals On the possible role of cusp/cleft precipitation in the formation of polar-cap patches

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 1298-1305 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. K. Walker ◽  
J. Moen ◽  
L. Kersley ◽  
D. A. Lorentzen
Keyword(s):  
Electron Density ◽  
Source Region ◽  
Convection Flow ◽  
Substantial Part ◽  
Soft Particle ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Particle Precipitation ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
F Region

Abstract. The work describes experimental observations of enhancements in the electron density of the ionospheric F-region created by cusp/cleft particle precipitation at the dayside entry to the polar-cap convection flow. Measurements by meridian scanning photometer and all-sky camera of optical red-line emissions from aurora are used to identify latitudinally narrow bands of soft-particle precipitation responsible for structured enhancements in electron density determined from images obtained by radio tomography. Two examples are discussed in which the electron density features with size scales and magnitudes commensurate with those of patches are shown to be formed by precipitation at the entry region to the anti-sunward flow. In one case the spectrum of the incoming particles results in ionisation being created, for the most part below 250 km, so that the patch will persist only for minutes after convecting away from the auroral source region. However in a second example, at a time when the plasma density of the solar wind was particularly high, a substantial part of the particle-induced enhancement formed above 250 km. It is suggested that, with the reduced recombination loss in the upper F-region, this structure will retain form as a patch during passage in the anti-sunward flow across the polar cap.Key words. Ionosphere (ionospheric irregularities; particle precipitation; polar ionosphere)

scholarly journals Observations of diverging field-aligned ion flow with the ESR

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 889-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Buchert ◽  
Y. Ogawa ◽  
R. Fujii ◽  
A. P. van Eyken
Keyword(s):  
Field Line ◽  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
Plasma Temperature ◽  
Ionization Mechanism ◽  
Soft Particle ◽  
Polar Ionosphere ◽  
Ion Composition ◽  
Ion Flow ◽  
F Region ◽  
Ionization Balance

Abstract. We report on observations of a diverging ion flow along the geomagnetic field that is often seen at the EISCAT Svalbard radar. The flow is upward above the peak of the electron density in the F-region and downward below the peak. We estimate that in such events mass transport along the field line is important for the ionization balance, and that the shape of the F-layer and its ion composition should be strongly influenced by it. Diverging flow typically occurs when there are signatures of direct entry of sheath plasma to the ionosphere in the form of intense soft particle precipitation, and we suggest that it is caused by the ionization and ionospheric electron heating associated with this precipitation. On average, 30% of all events with ion upflow also show significant ion downflow below. Key words.Ionosphere (polar ionosphere; ionization mechanism; plasma temperature and density)

scholarly journals Positive storm effects in the dayside polar ionospheric F-region observed by EISCAT and ESR during the magnetic storm of 15 May 1997

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1377-1384 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Y. Ma ◽  
H. T. Cai ◽  
H. X. Liu ◽  
K. Schlegel ◽  
G. Lu
Keyword(s):  
Electron Temperature ◽  
Magnetic Storm ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Soft Particle ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Particle Precipitation ◽  
Storm Effects ◽  
Cusp Region ◽  
F Region

Abstract. EISCAT/ESR radar data and in situ FAST and POLAR satellite observations are coordinately analyzed to investigate positive ionospheric storm effects in the dayside upper F-region in both the polar cap and the auroral oval during the magnetic storm of 15 May 1997. An ionization enhancement, lasting for about 2.5 h, appeared first over the EISCAT site around magnetic noon; about one hour later, a similar ionization enhancement was also seen over ESR. During the concerned time period ion energy spectra measured on board FAST show clearly continuous energy-latitude dispersion when the satellite passed by over the EISCAT latitude. This implies that EISCAT was located under the polar cusp region which was highly active, and expanded greatly equatorwards due to magnetopause reconnections during long-lasting southward IMF. Simultaneously, soft particles of the magnetosheath precipitated into the F-region ionosphere and caused the positive storm effects over EISCAT. The coincident increase in electron temperature at EISCAT gives additional evidence for soft particle precipitation. Consistently, POLAR UV images show strong dayside aurora extending to as low as 62° N magnetic latitude. The ionization enhancement over ESR, however, seems not to be caused by local particle precipitation, evidenced by a lack of enhanced electron temperature. The observed plasma convection velocity and data-fitted convection patterns by AMIE suggested that it is likely to be a polar patch originating from the cusp region and traveling to the ESR site.Key words. Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; particle percipitation) Magnetospheric physics (storms and substorms)

scholarly journals Electromagnetic energy deposition rate in the polar upper thermosphere derived from the EISCAT Svalbard radar and CUTLASS Finland radar observations

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 2393-2403 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Fujiwara ◽  
R. Kataoka ◽  
M. Suzuki ◽  
S. Maeda ◽  
S. Nozawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Deposition Rate ◽  
Energy Deposition ◽  
Electromagnetic Energy ◽  
Soft Particle ◽  
Small Contribution ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Radar Observations ◽  
Cusp Region ◽  
Energy Deposition Rate

Abstract. From simultaneous observations of the European incoherent scatter Svalbard radar (ESR) and the Cooperative UK Twin Located Auroral Sounding System (CUTLASS) Finland radar on 9 March 1999, we have derived the height distributions of the thermospheric heating rate at the F region height in association with electromagnetic energy inputs into the dayside polar cap/cusp region. The ESR and CUTLASS radar observations provide the ionospheric parameters with fine time-resolutions of a few minutes. Although the geomagnetic activity was rather moderate (Kp=3+~4), the electric field obtained from the ESR data sometimes shows values exceeding 40 mV/m. The estimated passive energy deposition rates are also larger than 150 W/kg in the upper thermosphere over the ESR site during the period of the enhanced electric field. In addition, enhancements of the Pedersen conductivity also contribute to heating the upper thermosphere, while there is only a small contribution for thermospheric heating from the direct particle heating due to soft particle precipitation in the dayside polar cap/cusp region. In the same period, the CUTLASS observations of the ion drift show the signature of poleward moving pulsed ionospheric flows with a recurrence rate of about 10–20 min. The estimated electromagnetic energy deposition rate shows the existence of the strong heat source in the dayside polar cap/cusp region of the upper thermosphere in association with the dayside magnetospheric phenomena of reconnections and flux transfer events.

scholarly journals A multi-diagnostic approach to understanding high-latitude plasma transport during the Halloween 2003 storm

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2739-2747 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Yin ◽  
C. N. Mitchell ◽  
P. Spencer ◽  
I. McCrea ◽  
T. Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Electron Density ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Extreme Event ◽  
Time History ◽  
Diagnostic Approach ◽  
Plasma Transport ◽  
Storm Event ◽  
Soft Particle ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Optical Images

Abstract. During the Halloween 2003 storm event, significant electron density enhancements at elevated F-layer altitudes were recorded by the EISCAT and ESR radars in northern Europe between 20:00 and 24:00 UT on 30 October. At the same time, a sequence of optical images from Qaanaaq in northern Greenland captured a series of eastward-propagating polar cap patches. In this paper, an advanced 4-D tomographic method based on the assimilation of global GPS data, coupled to a predictive Kalman filtering technique, has been used to reveal the linkage between these ionospheric structures. The combination of the various data sources has clearly established the time history of this extreme event, in which high-density plasma was uplifted in the dayside ionosphere and convected anti-sunward across the polar cap to European high latitudes at an elevated F-layer. Using this multi instrument approach, we can differentiate between those density structures observed at the ESR which occurred as a result of cross-polar transport and those more likely to have been produced by in-situ soft particle precipitation, a distinction which is supported by the ESR and EISCAT data. The multi-diagnostic approach reported here has the potential significantly to extend our current understanding of high latitude plasma transport and the origin of electron density enhancements.

scholarly journals Occurrence of F region echoes for the polar cap SuperDARN radars

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander V. Koustov ◽  
Sydney Ullrich ◽  
Pavlo V. Ponomarenko ◽  
Nozomu Nishitani ◽  
Federica M. Marcucci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Electron Density ◽  
Plasma Flow ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
Occurrence Rate ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Velocity Magnitude ◽  
F Region ◽  
Seasonal And Diurnal Variations ◽  
Cycle Maximum

Abstract Observations by six Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) polar cap radars, three in the northern hemisphere and three in the southern hemispheres, are considered to assess F region echo occurrence rates over solar, season, and day cycles and to establish relationship between the echo occurrence rate and the background electron density and plasma flow velocity magnitude. The echo occurrence rate is shown to increase toward the solar cycle maximum, more distinctly on the nightside, consistent with a general trend of the background electron density. Over the last 5 years, the echo occurrence rates decline at a rate of 5–10% per year. The pattern of seasonal and diurnal variations in echo occurrence is found to be consistent with previous SuperDARN publications. Minor dips in echo occurrence rate are observed in winter solstices, and these are related to an overall decrease in the electron density. In most of the time sectors, the echo occurrence rate increases with the electron density but only up to a certain threshold value after which the dependence saturates. The level of the saturation depends on season, local time, and average plasma flow velocity magnitude. For the summer daytime observations, the echo occurrence rate correlates with variations of both electron density and plasma flow velocity magnitude.

scholarly journals Observations of the cusp region under northward IMF

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (10/12) ◽  
pp. 1641-1653 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Pitout ◽  
J.-M. Bosqued ◽  
D. Alcaydé ◽  
W. F. Denig ◽  
H. Rème
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Boundary Layers ◽  
Plasma Flow ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Polar Ionosphere ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Cusp Region ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Lobe Reconnection ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. We present a comparative study of the cusp region using the EISCAT Svalbard Radars (ESR) and the Cluster spacecraft. We focus in this paper on 2 February 2001, over the time period from 07:30 UT to 12:00 UT when the oblique ESR antenna pointing northward at a low elevation recorded latitudinal motions of the cusp region in response to the IMF. Meanwhile, the Cluster satellites were flying over the EISCAT Svalbard Radar field-of-view around local magnetic noon. The spacecraft first flew near ESR, northeast of Svalbard and then passed over the field-of-view of the antenna at about 11:30 UT. From 08:00 UT to 09:00 UT, the IMF remains primarily southward yet several variations in the Z-component are seen to move the cusp. Around 09:00 UT, an abrupt northward turning of the IMF moves the cusp region to higher latitudes. As a result, the Cluster satellites ended up in the northernmost boundary of the high-altitude cusp region where the CIS instrument recorded highly structured plasma due to ion injections in the lobe of the magnetosphere. After 09:00 UT, the IMF remains northward for more than two hours. Over this period, the ESR records sunward plasma flow in the cusp region due to lobe reconnection, while Cluster spacecraft remain in the high-altitude cusp.Key words. Magnetospheric physics (magnetopause, cusp, and boundary layers; plasma convection) Ionosphere (polar ionosphere)

scholarly journals EISCAT Svalbard radar observations of ionospheric signatures of magnetopause reconnection during a changing IMF Bz polarity

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 477-486
Author(s):  
S. E. Pryse ◽  
A. M. Smith ◽  
L. Kersley ◽  
I. W. McCrea
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Frictional Heating ◽  
Plasma Temperature ◽  
Polar Ionosphere ◽  
Ion Temperature ◽  
Precipitation Field ◽  
Cusp Region ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Imf Clock Angle ◽  
Magnetopause Reconnection

Abstract. Observations by the EISCAT Svalbard radar are presented that show the response of the spatial structure of the ionosphere in the dayside cusp region to a rotational trend in the IMF clock angle. Over a period of one hour, the clock angle increased from about 45° to some 150°, moving the likely location of the magnetopause reconnection site from the high-latitude lobe to near the equatorial plane. Increased topside electron temperatures measured by the ESR identified footprints of the reconnection process. Temporal changes in the spatial distribution of the temperature reflected the change from lobe to equatorial reconnection. Discrete spatial enhancements in ion temperature were found resulting from ion-neutral frictional heating in the fast flows where it was likely that field lines were being convected from the reconnection locations. The corresponding electron density structuring is interpreted in terms of the particle precipitation, field-aligned currents and convection flows driven by the IMF.Key words. Ionosphere (ionosphere – magnetosphere interactions; plasma temperature and density; polar ionosphere)

scholarly journals Seasonal variations and north–south asymmetries in polar wind outflow due to solar illumination

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 961-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Maes ◽  
Romain Maggiolo ◽  
Johan De Keyser
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Solar Zenith Angle ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Polar Ionosphere ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Polar Wind ◽  
Simple Set ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Rotation Of The Earth ◽  
Set Up

Abstract. The cold ions (energy less than several tens of electronvolts) flowing out from the polar ionosphere, called the polar wind, are an important source of plasma for the magnetosphere. The main source of energy driving the polar wind is solar illumination, which therefore has a large influence on the outflow. Observations have shown that solar illumination creates roughly two distinct regimes where the outflow from a sunlit ionosphere is higher than that from a dark one. The transition between both regimes is at a solar zenith angle larger than 90°. The rotation of the Earth and its orbit around the Sun causes the magnetic polar cap to move into and out of the sunlight. In this paper we use a simple set-up to study qualitatively the effects of these variations in solar illumination of the polar cap on the ion flux from the whole polar cap. We find that this flux exhibits diurnal and seasonal variations even when combining the flux from both hemispheres. In addition there are asymmetries between the outflows from the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.

scholarly journals Variations of topside ionospheric scale heights over Millstone Hill during the 30-day incoherent scatter radar experiment

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 2019-2027 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Liu ◽  
W. Wan ◽  
M.-L. Zhang ◽  
B. Ning ◽  
S.-R. Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Density ◽  
Thermal Structure ◽  
Plasma Temperature ◽  
Scale Height ◽  
Incoherent Scatter Radar ◽  
Density Profiles ◽  
Incoherent Scatter ◽  
Scatter Radar ◽  
Vertical Scale ◽  
Electron Density Profiles

Abstract. A 30-day incoherent scatter radar (ISR) experiment was conducted at Millstone Hill (288.5° E, 42.6° N) from 4 October to 4 November 2002. The altitude profiles of electron density Ne, ion and electron temperature (Ti and Te), and line-of-sight velocity during this experiment were processed to deduce the topside plasma scale height Hp, vertical scale height VSH, Chapman scale height Hm, ion velocity, and the relative altitude gradient of plasma temperature (dTp/dh)/Tp, as well as the F2 layer electron density (NmF2) and height (hmF2). These data are analyzed to explore the variations of the ionosphere over Millstone Hill under geomagnetically quiet and disturbed conditions. Results show that ionospheric parameters generally follow their median behavior under geomagnetically quiet conditions, while the main feature of the scale heights, as well as other parameters, deviated significantly from their median behaviors under disturbed conditions. The enhanced variability of ionospheric scale heights during the storm-times suggests that the geomagnetic activity has a major impact on the behavior of ionospheric scale heights, as well as the shape of the topside electron density profiles. Over Millstone Hill, the diurnal behaviors of the median VSH and Hm are very similar to each other and are not so tightly correlated with that of the plasma scale height Hp or the plasma temperature. The present study confirms the sensitivity of the ionospheric scale heights over Millstone Hill to thermal structure and dynamics. The values of VSH/Hp tend to decrease as (dTp/dh)/Tp becomes larger or the dynamic processes become enhanced.

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