Thermal proton flow in the plasmasphere. The morning sector

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1974 · Planet. Space Sci., v. 22, no. 1, pp. 79-94

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0032-0633(74)90124-X· OSTI ID:4360284

Banks, P M; Doupnik, J R

Vertical profiles of electron density obtained in the vicinity of the plasmapause using the Alouette-II topside sounder have been analyzed to assess the presence of H/sup +/ flow in the topside ionosphere. The observations in the midnight sector show clearly the presence of the plasmapause; i.e., there is a sharp boundary separating the poleward regions of polar wind H/sup +/ flow and the more gentle conditions of the plasmasphere where light ions are present in abundance. In contrast, in the sunlit morning sector upwards H/sup +/ flow is deduced to be present to invariant latitudes as low as 48 deg (L = 2.2) in the regions normally known to be well inside the plasmasphere. The upwards H/sup +/ flux is sufficiently large (3 x 10/sup 8/ ions cm/sup -2/ sec/sup -1/) that the plasmapause cannot be seen in th e latitudinal electron density contours of the topside ionosphere. The cause for this flow remains unknown but it may be a result of a diurnal refilling process. (auth)

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA
• NSA Number: NSA-29-019317
• OSTI ID: 4360284
• Journal Information: Planet. Space Sci., v. 22, no. 1, pp. 79-94, Journal Name: Planet. Space Sci., v. 22, no. 1, pp. 79-94; ISSN PLSSA
• Country of Publication: United Kingdom
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*IONOSPHERE-- ELECTRON DENSITY
*PLASMASPHERE-- DAILY VARIATIONS
*PROTONS-- PLASMASPHERE
N58100* --Physics (Atmospheric)--Auroral & Ionospheric Phenomena
PLASMAPAUSE