Electrodynamics of the high-latitude ionosphere. Final report, September 1986-September 1989

Technical Report · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:6595415

Heelis, R A

Both large and small scale structure in the plasma density and velocity are important phenomena to be understood in the ionosphere. The ability to characterize the high-latitude plasma motion over large spatial scales is demonstrated here with the development of a model that can be driven by data inputs. The model can also be used to study the mechanisms producing large scale structures in the plasma. The applicability of the model is demonstrated for periods when the interplanetary magnetic field has a southward component. During periods of northward IMF the electrodynamics of the ionosphere on spatial scales of 100 km must be understood. Here the combination of ground based and space based data are invaluable tools. We show that mesoscale features may be coherent over many hours and constitute an important signature of the interaction of the Earth's magnetic field with the interplanetary medium.

• Research Organization: Texas Univ., Richardson, TX (USA). Center for Space Sciences
• OSTI ID: 6595415
• Report Number(s): AD-A-223229/6/XAB; CNN: F19628-86-K-0042
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHARGE DENSITY
DISTRIBUTION
DOCUMENT TYPES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONOSPHERE
LATITUDE EFFECT
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PROGRESS REPORT
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
VARIATIONS