Multi-instrument probing of the polar ionosphere under steady northward IMF

Annales Geophysicae

S. E.Pryse¹  R. W.Smith¹  L.Kersley¹  A. M.Smith¹  C. N.Mitchell¹  I. K.Walker¹  J.Moen¹ 

DOI  :  10.1007/s00585-000-0090-2

学科分类：地球科学(综合)

来源: Copernicus Publications

【 摘 要 】

Observations are presented of the polarionosphere under steady, northward IMF. The measurements, made by sixcomplementary experimental techniques, including radio tomography, all-sky andmeridian scanning photometer optical imaging, incoherent and coherent scatterradars and satellite particle detection, reveal plasma parameters consistentwith ionospheric signatures of lobe reconnection. The optical green-linefootprint of the reconnection site is seen to lie in the sunward plasmaconvection of the lobe cells. Downstream in the region of softer precipitationthe reverse energy dispersion of the incoming ions can be identified. A steeplatitudinal density gradient at the equatorward edge of the precipitationidentifies the general location of an adiaroic boundary, separating the openfield lines of polar lobe cells from the closed field of viscous-driven cells.Enhancements in plasma density to the south of the gradient are interpreted asionisation being reconfigured as it is thrust against the boundary by theantisunward flow of the viscous cells near noon. Each of the instrumentsindividually provides valuable information on certain aspects of the ionosphere,but the paper demonstrates that taken together the different experimentscomplement each other to give a consistent and comprehensive picture of thedayside polar ionosphere..

Key words. Ionosphere (polar ionosphere) ·Magnetospheric physics (magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions; polar capphenomena)

【 授权许可】

Unknown