scholarly journals Eastward sub-auroral ion drifts or ASAID

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1955-1963 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Voiculescu ◽  
M. Roth
Keyword(s):  
Satellite Data ◽  
Convective Transport ◽  
Data Sampling ◽  
Ion Temperature ◽  
Ion Density ◽  
Ion Drift ◽  
Ion Drifts ◽  
F Region ◽  
Entire Duration ◽  
Spatial Locations

Abstract. From satellite data sampling the top ionosphere in the Northern Hemisphere we have identified strong eastward ion drifts, with speeds larger than 1 km/s, widths of 1°–2°, occurring at similar temporal and spatial locations as rapid westward ion drifts known as sub-auroral ion drifts (SAID). We have called these events "abnormal sub-auroral ion drifts" (ASAID). Two events observed in the 20:00–22:00 MLT interval are discussed: the first occurring on 21 September 2003 and the other on 12 October 2003. Tomographic reconstructions of the electron density in the F-region, based on satellite data, provided by the Scandinavian tomography chain, were also available. We have observed that ASAID are accompanied by upward flows with a speed of the same order as that of the zonal ion drift. They coincide with deep, narrow troughs in the total ion density, both at the altitude of the F15 DMSP satellite (850 km) and in the F-region of the ionosphere, but do not seem to be a feature of the convective transport. During the entire duration of ASAID the electron temperature is very high while, contrary to SAID, the ion temperature has no clear variation. Both events described in this paper end up turning into classical SAID. Satellite data indicate that the generator of ASAID could be located inside the plasmasphere close to the plasmapause and we suggest a possible mechanism for their formation.

scholarly journals Dynamic variability in F-region ionospheric composition at auroral arc boundaries

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 651-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Zettergren ◽  
J. Semeter ◽  
B. Burnett ◽  
W. Oliver ◽  
C. Heinselman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Calculations ◽  
Frictional Heating ◽  
Short Time Scale ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Ion Temperature ◽  
Ion Density ◽  
F Region ◽  
Plasma Depletions ◽  
Auroral Arcs ◽  
Short Time

Abstract. The work presents a data-model synthesis examining the response of the auroral F-region ion temperature, composition, and density to short time scale (<1 min) electric field disturbances associated with auroral arcs. Ion temperature profiles recorded by the Sondrestrom incoherent scatter radar (ISR) are critically analyzed with the aid of theoretical calculations to infer ion composition variability. The analyses presented include a partial accounting for the effects of neutral winds on frictional heating and show promise as the groundwork for future attempts to address ion temperature-mass ambiguities in short-integration ISR data sets. Results indicate that large NO+ enchancements in the F-region can occur in as little as 20 s in response to impulsive changes in ion frictional heating. Enhancements in molecular ion density result in recombination and a depletion in plasma, which is shown to occur on time scales of several minutes. This depletion process, thus, appears to be of comparable importance to electrodynamic evacuation processes in producing auroral arc-related plasma depletions. Furthermore, the potential of ionospheric composition in regulating the amounts and types of ions supplied to the magnetosphere is outlined.

scholarly journals FAST SUBAURORAL DRIFTS OF IONOSPHERE PLASMA ACCORDING TO DATA FROM YAKUT MERIDIONAL CHAIN OF STATIONS

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 60-65
Author(s):  
Alexander Stepanov ◽  
Sargylana Kobyakova ◽  
Viktor Khalipov
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Satellite Data ◽  
Satellite Measurements ◽  
Appearance Time ◽  
Ion Drift ◽  
Ion Drifts ◽  
Ionosphere Plasma ◽  
Term Data ◽  
Good Agreement

Using long-term data from Yakut meridional chain of Yakutsk — Zhigansk — Batagay — Tixie ionospheric stations, we study ionospheric signatures of fast subauroral ion drift. Sharp drops or “falls” of critical frequencies (FCF) of the ionospheric F layer are shown to be one of the main signatures of the development of fast subauroral ion drifts near or at the zenith of the observation station. Comparison between long-term ground-based and satellite measurements indicates that there is good agreement between seasonal variation in the probability of occurrence of FCF derived from ground-based data and subauroral ion drifts derived from DMSP satellite data. Such a coincidence implies that both satellite and ground-based measurement methods register the same phenomenon in the boundary layers of the plasmasphere, namely, the appearance and development of electric fields of magnetospheric origin. The local time for recording of falls of the critical frequency derived from the ground-based data is shown to closely coincide with the appearance time of subauroral polarization streams of plasma according to satellite data. We can therefore conclude that most of the observed FCFs derived from ground-based data refer to intense storms.

scholarly journals FAST SUBAURORAL DRIFTS OF IONOSPHERE PLASMA ACCORDING TO DATA FROM YAKUT MERIDIONAL CHAIN OF STATIONS

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 73-79
Author(s):  
Aleksandr Stepanov ◽  
Sargylana Kobyakova ◽  
Viktor Khalipov
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Satellite Data ◽  
Satellite Measurements ◽  
Appearance Time ◽  
Ion Drift ◽  
Ion Drifts ◽  
Ionosphere Plasma ◽  
Term Data ◽  
Good Agreement

Using long-term data from Yakut meridional chain of Yakutsk — Zhigansk — Batagay — Tixie ionospheric stations, we study ionospheric signatures of fast subauroral ion drift. Sharp drops or “falls” of critical frequencies (FCF) of the ionospheric F layer are shown to be one of the main signatures of the development of fast subauroral ion drifts near or at the zenith of the observation station. Comparison between long-term ground-based and satellite measurements indicates that there is good agreement between seasonal variation in the probability of occurrence of FCF derived from ground-based data and subauroral ion drifts derived from DMSP satellite data. Such a coincidence implies that both satellite and ground-based measurement methods register the same phenomenon in the boundary layers of the plasmasphere, namely, the appearance and development of electric fields of magnetospheric origin. The local time for recording of falls of the critical frequency derived from the ground-based data is shown to closely coincide with the appearance time of subauroral polarization streams of plasma according to satellite data. We can therefore conclude that most of the observed FCFs derived from ground-based data refer to intense storms.

scholarly journals WN4 effect on longitudinal distribution of different ion species in the topside ionosphere at low latitudes by means of DEMETER, DMSP-F13 and DMSP-F15 data

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 2893-2902 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bankov ◽  
R. Heelis ◽  
M. Parrot ◽  
J.-J. Berthelier ◽  
P. Marinov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Density Distribution ◽  
Major Ions ◽  
Local Times ◽  
Longitudinal Distribution ◽  
Topside Ionosphere ◽  
Regular Feature ◽  
Ion Density ◽  
F Region ◽  
Longitudinal Variations ◽  
Ion Species

Abstract. Plasma probe data from DMSP-F13, DMSP-F15 and DEMETER satellites were used to examine longitudinal structures in the topside equatorial ionosphere during fall equinox conditions of 2004 year. Since the launch of DEMETER satellite on 29 June 2004, all these satellites operate close together in the topside ionosphere. Here, data taken from Special Sensor-Ion, Electron and Scintillations (SSIES) instruments on board DMSP-F13, F15 and Instrument Analyser de Plasma (IAP) on DEMETER, are used. Longitudinal variations in the major ions at two altitudes (~730 km for DEMETER and ~840 km for DMSP) are studied to further describe the recently observed "wavenumber-four" (WN4) structures in the equatorial topside ionosphere. Different ion species H+, He+ and O+ have a rather complex longitudinal behavior. It is shown that WN4 is almost a regular feature in O+ the density distribution over all local times covered by these satellites. In the evening local time sector, H+ ions follow the O+ behavior within WN4 structures up to the pre-midnight hours. Near sunrise H+ and later in the daytime, He+ longitudinal variations are out of phase with respect to O+ ions and effectively reduce the effect of WN4 on total ion density distribution at altitudes 730–840 km. It is shown that both a WN4 E×B drift driver and local F-region winds must be considered to explain the observed ion composition variations.

scholarly journals Topside equatorial zonal ion velocities measured by C/NOFS during rising solar activity

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. R. Coley ◽  
R. A. Stoneback ◽  
R. A. Heelis ◽  
M. R. Hairston
Keyword(s):  
Solar Activity ◽  
Local Time ◽  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Magnetic Latitude ◽  
Ion Drifts ◽  
F Region ◽  
Westerly Flow ◽  
Solar Local Time ◽  
Ion Velocity

Abstract. The Ion Velocity Meter (IVM), a part of the Coupled Ion Neutral Dynamic Investigation (CINDI) instrument package on the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecast System (C/NOFS) spacecraft, has made over 5 yr of in situ measurements of plasma temperatures, composition, densities, and velocities in the 400–850 km altitude range of the equatorial ionosphere. These measured ion velocities are then transformed into a coordinate system with components parallel and perpendicular to the geomagnetic field allowing us to examine the zonal (horizontal and perpendicular to the geomagnetic field) component of plasma motion over the 2009–2012 interval. The general pattern of local time variation of the equatorial zonal ion velocity is well established as westward during the day and eastward during the night, with the larger nighttime velocities leading to a net ionospheric superrotation. Since the C/NOFS launch in April 2008, F10.7 cm radio fluxes have gradually increased from around 70 sfu to levels in the 130–150 sfu range. The comprehensive coverage of C/NOFS over the low-latitude ionosphere allows us to examine variations of the topside zonal ion velocity over a wide level of solar activity as well as the dependence of the zonal velocity on apex altitude (magnetic latitude), longitude, and solar local time. It was found that the zonal ion drifts show longitude dependence with the largest net eastward values in the American sector. The pre-midnight zonal drifts show definite solar activity (F10.7) dependence. The daytime drifts have a lower dependence on F10.7. The apex altitude (magnetic latitude) variations indicate a more westerly flow at higher altitudes. There is often a net topside subrotation at low F10.7 levels, perhaps indicative of a suppressed F region dynamo due to low field line-integrated conductivity and a low F region altitude at solar minimum.

scholarly journals Review of progress in gathering, distributing and using satellite data for activities within COST 238 (PRIME)

1996 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Kutiev ◽  
S. Stankov
Keyword(s):  
Satellite Data ◽  
Satellite Orbit ◽  
Testing Procedure ◽  
Satellite Orbits ◽  
Neutral Atmosphere ◽  
Recombination Rates ◽  
F Region ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
The Given ◽  
To Receive

Recent progress in using the satellite data for various PRIME purposes is briefly presented. The satellite data base is already in operation and contains data of local plasma and neutral atmosphere parameters taken from several ionospheric satellites. A method of tracing the locally measured parameters along the magnetic field lines down to hmF2 is developed using a theoretical F-region code. This method is applied to receive f0F2sat needed to test monthly median and instantaneous mapping methods. In order to reduce the uncertainties arising from the unknown photoionization and recombination rates, f0F2 is calibrated at one point on the satellite orbit with a Vertical Incident (VI) f0F2 and their ratio is then assumed constant along the whole satellite track over the PRIME area. The testing procedure for monthly median maps traces the measured plasma density down to a basic height of 400 km, where individual f0F2sat values are accumulated in every time/subarea bin within the given month, then their median is calibrated with the available medians from the VI ionosonde network. From all available satellite orbits over the PRIME area, 35 of them were found to pass over two VI ionosonde stations. The second station in these orbits was used to check the calculated f0F2sat with the measured VI f0F2. The standard deviation was found to be only 0.15 MHz.

scholarly journals Velocity shear and current driven instability in a collisional F-region

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 381-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. G. Perron ◽  
J.-M. A. Noël ◽  
J.-P. St.-Maurice
Keyword(s):  
Dispersion Relation ◽  
Electron Temperature ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Threshold Current ◽  
Velocity Shear ◽  
Ion Temperature ◽  
Fluid Limit ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
F Region ◽  
Threshold Conditions

Abstract. We have studied how the presence of collisions affects the behavior of instabilities triggered by a combination of shears and parallel currents in the ionosphere under a variety of ion to electron temperature ratios. To this goal we have numerically solved a kinetic dispersion relation, using a relaxation model to describe the effects of ion and electron collisions. We have compared our solutions to expressions derived in a fluid limit which applied only to large electron to ion temperature ratios. We have limited our study to threshold conditions for the current density and the shears. We have studied how the threshold varies as a function of the wave-vector angle direction and as a function of frequency. As expected, we have found that for low frequencies and/or elevated ion to electron temperature ratios, the kinetic dispersion relation has to be used to evaluate the threshold conditions. We have also found that ion velocity shears can significantly lower the field-aligned threshold current needed to trigger the instability, especially for wave-vectors close to the perpendicular to the magnetic field. However the current density and shear requirements remain significantly higher than if collisions are neglected. Therefore, for ionospheric F-region applications, the effect of collisions should be included in the calculation of instabilities associated with horizontal shears in the vertical flow. Furthermore, in many situations of interest the kinetic solutions should be used instead of the fluid limit, in spite of the fact that the latter can be shown to produce qualitatively valid solutions.

A measurement of positive ion density in the night-time F-region

1965 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Norman ◽  
A.P. Willmore
Keyword(s):  
Night Time ◽  
Ion Density ◽  
F Region ◽  
Positive Ion

The Boltzmann relation in electronegative plasmas: When is it permissible to use it?

2000 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. FRANKLIN ◽  
J. SNELL
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Model ◽  
Negative Ions ◽  
Ionization Rate ◽  
Negative Ion ◽  
Simple Relationship ◽  
Ion Temperature ◽  
Ion Density ◽  
Positive Ions ◽  
Electronegative Plasmas ◽  
Low Pressures

This paper reports the results of computations to obtain the spatial distributions of the charged particles in a bounded active plasma dominated by negative ions. Using the fluid model with a constant collision frequency for electrons, positive ions and negative ions the cases of both detachment-dominated gases (such as oxygen) and recombination-dominated gases (such as chlorine) are examined. It is concluded that it is valid to use a Boltzmann relation ne = ne0exp(eV/kT) for the electrons of density ne, where the temperature T is approximately the electron temperature Te, and that the density nn of the negative ions at low pressures obeys nn = nn0exp(eV/kTn), where Tn is the negative-ion temperature. However, at high pressure in detachment-dominated gases where the ratio of negative-ion density to electron density is constant and greater than unity, and when the attachment rate is larger than the ionization rate, the negative ions are distributed with the same effective temperature as the electrons. In all other cases there is no simple relationship. Thus to put nn/ne = const, nn = ne0exp(eV/kTe) and nn = nn0exp(eV/kTn) simultaneously is mathematically inconsistent and physically unsound. Accordingly, expressions deduced for ambipolar diffusion coefficients based on these assumptions have no validity. The correct expressions for the situation where nn/ne = const are obtained without invoking a Boltzmann relation for the negative ions.

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