High-latitude ionospheric convection pattern during steady northward interplanetary magnetic field

Technical Report · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

OSTI ID:220229

Cumnock, J A; Heelis, R A; Hairston, M R; Newell, P T

The DMSP F8 satellite`s coverage of Earth`s polar regions provides horizontal ion drift velocities along the dawn-dusk meridian at approximately 835 km altitude in each hemisphere during the 100 min orbital period. The authors examine the ionospheric convection signatures observed by this spacecraft in the summer and winter hemispheres during periods when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is directed northward for at least 45 min prior to the satellite entering the polar region and remains northward throughout the polar pass. These convection signatures can be readily categorized by the number of sunward and antisunward flow regions and by their potential distributions. Here the authors describe the most frequently identifiable and reproducible features of the convection pattern that exist during steady northward IMF conditions. In addition to IMF Bz, the influences on the convection pattern of the IMF Bz.

• Research Organization: No corporate text available (Country unknown/Code not available)
• OSTI ID: 220229
• Report Number(s): AD-A--301120/2/XAB; CNN: Contract F19628-93-K-0007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
CONVECTION
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
ION DENSITY
ION DRIFT
IONOSPHERE
POLAR REGIONS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS