Ionospheric convection signatures observed by DE (Dynamics Explorer) 2 during northward interplanetary magnetic field

Technical Report · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6783992

Heelis, R A; Reiff, P H; Winningham, J D; Hanson, W B

Observations of the ionospheric convection signature at high latitudes are examined during periods of prolonged northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). The data from Dynamics Explorer 2 show that a four-cell convection pattern can frequently be observed in a region that is displaced to the sunward side of the dawn-dusk meridian regardless of season. In the eclipsed ionosphere, extremely structured or turbulent flow exists with no identifiable connection to a more-coherent pattern that may simultaneously exist in the dayside region. The two highest-latitude convection cells that form part of the coherent dayside pattern show a dependence on the y component of the IMF. This dependence is such that a clockwise circulating cell displaced toward dawn dominates the high-latitude region when By is positive. Anti-clockwise circulation displaced toward dusk dominates the highest latitudes when By is negative. Examination of the simultaneously observed energetic-particle environment suggests that both open and closed field lines may be associated with the high-latitude convection cells. On occasions these entire cells can exist on open-field lines. The existence of closed field lines in regions of sunward flow is also apparent in the data.

• Research Organization: Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6783992
• Report Number(s): AD-A-177503/0/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CONVECTION
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXPLORER SATELLITES
FLUID FLOW
HEAT TRANSFER
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASS TRANSFER
PARTICLES
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
SATELLITES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
SPACE
TURBULENT FLOW