Super dual Auroral Radar Network radar imaging of dayside high-latitude convection under northward interplanetary magnetic field: Toward resolving the distorted two-cell versus multicell controversy
- Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD (United States)
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (United States); and others
Data from the Kapuskasing and Saskatoon radars of the evolving Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) HF radar network have been analyzed to study the two-dimensional structure and dynamics of dayside high-latitude ionospheric convection under northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions. A period extending from 1600 to 2030 UT ({approximately}0900-1330 MLT) on January 10, 1994, was examined. During this interval, magnetic field data were available from the IMP 8 satellite and indicated moderately stable northward IMF conditions. For the first few hours of observation the B{sub y} component of the IMF was positive, reasonably steady, and approximately twice the magnitude of B{sub z}. During this interval, the high-latitude convection images obtained with the SuperDARN radars were very similar to the distorted two-cell convection maps for positive B{sub y} as presented by Heppner and Maynard. At {approx} 1840 UT, a decrease in B{sub y} in association with an increase in B{sub z}, led to an extended period with B{sub y}{approx}B{sub z}. During this second interval the convection patterns were highly variable and even chaotic. Finally, a sharp decrease in the B{sub y} component at 1914 UT, probably in association with a rotational discontinuity in the solar wind, led to an extended period with B{sub y}<
- OSTI ID:
- 227154
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 100, Issue A10; Other Information: PBD: 1 Oct 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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