Transient cusp ionospheric disturbances caused by a solar wind dynamic pressure enhancement

<p>Interplanetary (IP) shock driven sudden compression produces disturbances in the polar ionosphere. Various studies have investigated the effects of IP shock using imagers and radars. However, very few studies have reported the plasma flow reversal and a sudden vertical plasma drift motion following a CME driven IP shock. We report on the cusp ionospheric features following an IP shock impingement on 16 June 2012, using SuperDARN radar and digisonde from the Antarctic Zhongshan Station (ZHO). SuperDARN ZHO radar observed instant strong plasma flow reversal during the IP shock driven sudden impulse (SI) with a suppression in the number of backscatter echoes. Besides, we also report on a “Doppler Impulse” phenomenon, an instant and brief downward plasma motion, were observed by the digisonde in response to the SI and discuss the possible physical causes. Geomagnetic disturbance and convection patterns indicate the flow reversal was generated by the downward field-aligned current (FAC). We speculate that sudden enhancement in ionization associated with SI is responsible for generating the Doppler Impulse phenomenon.</p>

Shock-induced vorticity variation model of supersonic planar mixing layers

Vorticity variation in a supersonic planar mixing layer interacting with an oblique shock wave is investigated analytically and numerically. A model that simplifies the mixing layer to a discontinuous flow is established to solve the post-shock flow parameters, and it is validated through qualitative and quantitative comparisons with the Buttsworth’s model and numerical results. A model to estimate the shock-induced Maximum Vorticity Amplification (MVA) is obtained, which agrees well with the numerical results. The model could estimate the growth rate and maximum vorticity of the shocked mixing layer. The vorticity of the mixing layer is amplified by the shock impingement, even though the vorticity thickness decreases, which can improve the mixing performance for different practical applications.