Investigating the Range of Response of Auroral Electron Precipitation in High Latitude Electrodynamics
Abstract
Understanding how energy flows from the plasma trapped in the Earth's magnetic field, the magnetosphere, into the Earth's upper atmosphere, the ionosphere thermosphere, is a fundamental process in space weather. Within the ionosphere-thermosphere, energy from the magnetosphere is dissipated by friction between the ionized plasma and the atmospheric neutral gas, which is driven by the interaction of electrical currents, electric fields, neutral winds, and conductivity through Ohm's law. The ionosphere acts like a resistor in the magnetosphere-ionosphere electrical circuit. The conductivity is difficult to specify since it is not directly observed by ground- or space-based instrumentation. Conductivities driven by auroral precipitation are particularly challenging to quantify due to rapid temporal changes, significant magnitudes, and the localized nature of phenomena. Space weather models do not produce satisfactory agreement with data, which is thought to be due to an inadequate specification of conductivity associated with auroral phenomena. We will investigate and quantify the full range of response of the ionospheric E-region electron density and conductivity caused by auroral electron precipitation. We will analyze a 10+ year (2008-2018) database of nearly continuously sampled incoherent scatter radar observations provided by the Poker Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar to quantify the E-region electron density and conductivity enhancements caused auroral electron precipitation. We will statistically analyze a database of auroral events. We will also undertake a much-needed update to empirical models of the Hall and Pedersen conductance, and we will develop an empirical orthogonal function model for the altitude-resolved conductivity and E-region electron density. We will evaluate the performance these empirical conductance and conductivities models within mesoscale and global ionosphere-thermosphere models.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 14, 2024
- Accession Number
- AD1230909
Entities
People
- Stephen Kaeppler
Organizations
- Clemson University