High latitude plasma convection: Predictions for EISCAT and Sondre Stromfjord

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL006i011p00877· OSTI ID:5756887

Sojka, J J; Raitt, W J; Schunk, R W

We have used a plasma convection model to predict diurnal patterns of horizontal drift velocities in the vicinity of the EISCAT incoherent scatter facility at Tromso, Norway and for Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland, a proposed new incoherent scatter facility site. The convection model includes the offset of 11.4 /sup 0/ between the geographic and geomagnetic poles (northern hemisphere), the tendency of plasma to corotate about the geographic pole, and a magnetospheric electric field mapped to a circle about a center offset by 5 /sup 0/ in the antisunward direction from the magnetic pole. Four different magnetospheric electric field configurations were considered, including a constant cross-tail electric field, asymmetric electric fields with enhancements on the dawn and dusk sides of the polar cap, and an electric field pattern that is not aligned parallel to the noon-midnight magnetic meridian. The different electric field configurations produce different signatures in the plasma convection pattern which are clearly identified. Both of the high-latitude sites are better suited to study magnetospheric convection effects than either Chatanika, Alaska or Millstone Hill, Massachusetts. Also, each site appears to have unique capabilities with regard to studying certain aspects of the magnetospheric electric field.

• Research Organization: Center for Atmospheric and Space Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322
• OSTI ID: 5756887
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 6:11; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CONVECTION
DAILY VARIATIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
INCOHERENT SCATTERING
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DRIFT
POLAR REGIONS
SCATTERING
VARIATIONS