scholarly journals Evidence for solar-production as a source of polar-cap plasma

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1093-1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Pryse ◽  
R. W. Sims ◽  
J. Moen ◽  
L. Kersley ◽  
D. Lorentzen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Latitude ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Soft Particle ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Ionosphere Plasma ◽  
F Region ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
Restricted Region ◽  
Radio Tomographic Imaging

Abstract. The focus of the study is a region of enhanced ionospheric densities observed by the EISCAT Svalbard radar in the polar F-region near local magnetic noon under conditions of IMF Bz<0. Multi-instrument observations, using optical, spacecraft and radar instrumentation, together with radio tomographic imaging, have been used to identify the source of the enhancement and establish the background ionospheric conditions. Soft-particle precipitation was ruled out as a candidate for the production. Tomographic observations identified a latitudinally restricted region of enhanced densities at sub-auroral latitudes, distinct from the normal mid-latitude ionosphere, which was likely to be the source. The evidence suggested that the increased sub-auroral densities were photoionisation produced at the equatorward edge of the afternoon high-latitude cell, where the plasma is exposed to sunlight for an extended period as it flows slowly sunward toward magnetic noon. It is proposed that this plasma, once in the noon sector, was drawn antisunward by the high-latitude convection toward polar latitudes where it was identified by the EISCAT Svalbard radar. The observations are discussed in terms of earlier modelling studies of polar patch densities. Key words. Ionosphere (polar ionosphere; plasma temerature; plasma convection)

scholarly journals Spatial structure of summertime ionospheric plasma near magnetic noon

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Sims ◽  
S. E. Pryse ◽  
W. F. Denig
Keyword(s):  
High Latitude ◽  
Ionospheric Plasma ◽  
Local Times ◽  
Soft Particle ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Ionospheric Electron Density ◽  
Plasma Distribution

Abstract. Results are presented from a multi-instrument study of the spatial distribution of the summertime, polar ionospheric electron density under conditions of relatively stable IMF Bz<0. The EISCAT Svalbard radar revealed a region of enhanced densities near magnetic noon that, when comparing radar scans from different local times, appeared to be spatially confined in longitude. This was identified as the tongue-of-ionisation (TOI) that comprised photoionisation of sub-auroral origin that is drawn poleward into the polar cap by the anti-sunward flow of the high-latitude convection. The TOI was bounded in longitude by high-latitude troughs; the pre-noon trough on the morning side with a minimum near 78° N and the post-noon trough on the afternoon side with a minimum at 80° N. Complementary measurements by radio tomography, the SuperDARN radars, and a DMSP satellite, together with comparisons with earlier modelling work, provided supporting evidence for the interpretation of the density structuring, and highlighted the role of plasma convection in the formation of summertime plasma distribution. Soft particle precipitation played only a secondary role in the modulation of the large summertime densities entering the polar cap.

scholarly journals Central polar cap convection response to short duration southward Interplanetary Magnetic Field

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 887-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. T. Jayachandran ◽  
J. W. MacDougall
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Short Duration ◽  
Initial Response ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Ionosphere Plasma ◽  
Rapid Transition ◽  
Convection Speed ◽  
A Chain

Abstract. Central polar cap convection changes associated with southward turnings of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) are studied using a chain of Canadian Advanced Digital Ionosondes (CADI) in the northern polar cap. A study of 32 short duration (~1 h) southward IMF transition events found a three stage response: (1) initial response to a southward transition is near simultaneous for the entire polar cap; (2) the peak of the convection speed (attributed to the maximum merging electric field) propagates poleward from the ionospheric footprint of the merging region; and (3) if the change in IMF is rapid enough, then a step in convection appears to start at the cusp and then propagates antisunward over the polar cap with the velocity of the maximum convection. On the nightside, a substorm onset is observed at about the time when the step increase in convection (associated with the rapid transition of IMF) arrives at the polar cap boundary.Key words: Ionosphere (plasma convection; polar ionosphere) - Magnetospheric physics (solar wind - magnetosphere interaction)

scholarly journals Simultaneous high- and low-latitude reconnection: ESR and DMSP observations

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1311-1320 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Pitout ◽  
P. T. Newell ◽  
S. C. Buchert
Keyword(s):  
High Latitude ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
High Latitudes ◽  
Polar Ionosphere ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Low Latitude ◽  
Svalbard Archipelago ◽  
Cusp Region ◽  
Ionosphere Plasma ◽  
Particle Measurement

Abstract. We present EISCAT Svalbard Radar and DMSP observations of a double cusp during an interval of predominantly northward IMF on 26 November 2000. In the cusp region, the ESR dish, pointing northward, recorded sun-ward ionospheric flow at high latitudes (above 82° GL), indicating reconnection occuring in the magnetospheric lobe. Meanwhile, the same dish also recorded bursts of poleward flow, indicative of bursty reconnection at the subsolar magnetopause. Within this time interval, the DMSP F13 satellite passed in the close vicinity of the Svalbard archipelago. The particle measurement on board exhibited a double cusp structure in which two oppositely oriented ion dispersions are recorded. We interpret this set of data in terms of simultaneous merging at low- and high-latitude magnetopause. We discuss the conditions for which such simultaneous high-latitude and low-latitude reconnection can be anticipated. We also discuss the consequences of the presence of two X-lines in the dayside polar ionosphere.Key words. Magnetospheric physics (solar wind-magnetosphere interactions) – Ionosphere (polar ionosphere; plasma convection)

scholarly journals Modulation of nightside polar patches by substorm activity

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 3923-3932 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Wood ◽  
S. E. Pryse ◽  
J. Moen
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Ionospheric Plasma ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Convection Pattern ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Incoherent Scatter ◽  
Repetition Time ◽  
Substorm Activity ◽  
European Sector

Abstract. Results are presented from a multi-instrument study showing the influence of geomagnetic substorm activity on the spatial distribution of the high-latitude ionospheric plasma. Incoherent scatter radar and radio tomography measurements on 12 December 2001 were used to directly observe the remnants of polar patches in the nightside ionosphere and to investigate their characteristics. The patches occurred under conditions of IMF Bz negative and IMF By negative. They were attributed to dayside photoionisation transported by the high-latitude convection pattern across the polar cap and into the nighttime European sector. The patches on the nightside were separated by some 5° latitude during substorm expansion, but this was reduced to some 2° when the activity had subsided. The different patch separations resulted from the expansion and contraction of the high-latitude plasma convection pattern on the nightside in response to the substorm activity. The patches of larger separation occurred in the antisunward cross-polar flow as it entered the nightside sector. Those of smaller separation were also in antisunward flow, but close to the equatorward edge of the convection pattern, in the slower, diverging flow at the Harang discontinuity. A patch repetition time of some 10 to 30 min was estimated depending on the phase of the substorm.

scholarly journals High-latitude plasma convection during Northward IMF as derived from in-situ magnetospheric Cluster EDI measurements

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2685-2700 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Förster ◽  
S. E. Haaland ◽  
G. Paschmann ◽  
J. M. Quinn ◽  
R. B. Torbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Latitude ◽  
Cell Structure ◽  
Reference Plane ◽  
Convection Cell ◽  
Gradual Transition ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Convection Pattern ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Small Shift ◽  
Magnetic Latitude

Abstract. In this study, we investigate statistical, systematic variations of the high-latitude convection cell structure during northward IMF. Using 1-min-averages of Cluster/EDI electron drift observations above the Northern and Southern polar cap areas for six and a half years (February 2001 till July 2007), and mapping the spatially distributed measurements to a common reference plane at ionospheric level in a magnetic latitude/MLT grid, we obtained regular drift patterns according to the various IMF conditions. We focus on the particular conditions during northward IMF, where lobe cells at magnetic latitudes >80° with opposite (sunward) convection over the central polar cap are a permanent feature in addition to the main convection cells at lower latitudes. They are due to reconnection processes at the magnetopause boundary poleward of the cusp regions. Mapped EDI data have a particular good coverage within the central part of the polar cap, so that these patterns and their dependence on various solar wind conditions are well verified in a statistical sense. On average, 4-cell convection pattern are shown as regular structures during periods of nearly northward IMF with the tendency of a small shift toward negative clock angles. The positions of these high-latitude convection foci are within 79° to 85° magnetic latitude and 09:00–15:00 MLT. The MLT positions are approximately symmetric ±2 h about 11:30 MLT, i.e. slightly offset from midday toward prenoon hours, while the maximum (minimum) potential of the high-latitude cells is at higher magnetic latitudes near their maximum potential difference at ≈−10° to −15° clock angle for the North (South) Hemisphere. With increasing clock angle distances from ≈IMFBz+, a gradual transition occurs from the 4-cell pattern via a 3-cell to the common 2-cell convection pattern, in the course of which one of the medium-scale high-latitude dayside cells diminishes and disappears while the other intensifies and merges with the opposite main cell of the same polarity to form the large "round-shaped" convection cell when approaching a well-known IMFBy-dominated configuration. Opposite scenarios with interchanged roles of the respective cells occur for the opposite turning of the clock angle and at the Southern Hemisphere. The high-latitude dayside cells become more pronounced with increasing magnitude of the IMF vector.

scholarly journals Orientation of the cross-field anisotropy of small-scale ionospheric irregularities and direction of plasma convection

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1227-1237 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. D. Tereshchenko ◽  
N. Yu. Romanova ◽  
A. V. Koustov
Keyword(s):  
Auroral Zone ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
F Region ◽  
Radio Signals ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Satellite Radar ◽  
Convection Patterns ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. The relationship between the orientation of the small-scale ionospheric irregularity anisotropy in a plane perpendicular to the geomagnetic field and the direction of plasma convection in the F region is investigated. The cross-field anisotropy of irregularities is obtained by fitting theoretical expectations for the amplitude scintillations of satellite radio signals to the actual measurements. Information on plasma convection was provided by the SuperDARN HF radars. Joint satellite/radar observations in both the auroral zone and the polar cap are considered. It is shown that the irregularity cross-field anisotropy agrees quite well with the direction of plasma convection with the best agreement for events with quasi-stationary convection patterns.

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 Assessing the contamination of SuperDARN global convection maps by non-F-region backscatter

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Chisham ◽  
M. Pinnock
Keyword(s):  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Radio Science ◽  
Ionosphere Plasma ◽  
F Region ◽  
Mesoscale Structure ◽  
Mapping Process ◽  
E Region ◽  
Instruments And Techniques

Abstract. Global convection mapping using line-of-sight Doppler velocity data from the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) is now an accepted method of imaging high-latitude ionospheric convection. This mapping process requires that the flow measured by the radars is defined solely by the convection electric field. This is generally only true of radar backscatter from the ionospheric F-region. We investigate the extent to which the E-region and ground backscatter in the SuperDARN data set may be misidentified as F-region backscatter, and assess the contamination of global convection maps which results from the addition of this non-F-region backscatter. We present examples which highlight the importance of identifying this contamination, especially with regard to the mesoscale structure in the convection maps.Key words. Ionosphere (plasma convection) – Radio science (radio wave propagation; instruments and techniques)

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.

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