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Title: Remote-sensing observations of F-region ion drift velocities using Dynamics Explorer-2 Doppler measurements of the O[sup +]([sup 2]P) [lambda]732. 0 nm emission

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92GL00627· OSTI ID:7012714
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor (United States)
  2. Univ. of Texas, Richardson (United States)

Limb-scan observations of Doppler line profiles from the O[sup +]([sup 2]P) [lambda]732.0 nm emission at F-region altitudes, made with the Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) on the Dynamics Explorer-2 (DE-2) spacecraft, have been analyzed to provide measurements of the meridional component of the ion convection velocity along the instrument line-of-sight. The initial DE-2 results presented here demonstrate the first spaceborne use of the remote-sensing Doppler technique for measurements of ionospheric convection. The FPI meridional ion drift measurements have been compared with nearly simultaneous in-situ ion drift measurements from the Retarding Potential Analyzer (RPA) on DE 2. Once allowance is made for the temporal lag between the in-situ and remote measurements, the results from the two techniques are in good agreement. The results of a simulation study demonstrate that the spaceborne interferometric technique has future utility for 2-D imaging of the quasi-instantaneous ion convection pattern.

OSTI ID:
7012714
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Vol. 19:14; ISSN 0094-8276
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English