Polar-cap plasma convection measurements and their relevance to the real-time modeling of the high-latitude ionosphere
Technical Report
·
OSTI ID:5871366
Plasma-convection measurements, using Digisonde ionospheric sounders, were conducted. The plasma convection or ionospheric-drift measurements conducted at Thule and Qaanaaq during campaigns from Winter 1983/84 to present provide evidence, that antisunward convection dominates in the polar cap with velocities typical between 300 and 900 m.sec. Drift shears were observed during periods of arc-transition (quiet magnetic conditions). Observations of the plasma drift at Goose Bay show a drift reversal from westward to eastward around midnight CGLT. Observations at Argentia, typically a suboval/trough station, provide evidence under magnetically disturbed conditions for the midnight reversal of the antisunward flow pattern. However, the data are less consistent under magnetically quiet conditions. The proximity of the station to the boundary between corotating and convecting plasma may at times affect the consistency of the measurements. Recent theoretical calculations of electron density profiles within the high-latitude/polar-cap ionosphere demonstrate that the diurnal foF2 variation observed at Thule, is controlled by the plasma-convections pattern and the associated drift velocities. The model calculations for Bz < 0 and Bz. approx. 0 show factor 2 to 3 differences in Nmax over Thule, supporting the stated importance of convection pattern and velocity measurements for the modelling of the high-latitude ionosphere.
- Research Organization:
- Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5871366
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-205703/2/XAB; AFGL-TR-88-0253
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CONVECTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRON DENSITY
ENERGY TRANSFER
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
GREENLAND
HEAT TRANSFER
IONOSPHERE
LATITUDE EFFECT
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASS TRANSFER
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DRIFT
POLAR REGIONS
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CONVECTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRON DENSITY
ENERGY TRANSFER
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
GREENLAND
HEAT TRANSFER
IONOSPHERE
LATITUDE EFFECT
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASS TRANSFER
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DRIFT
POLAR REGIONS
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY