High Latitude Ionospheric Gradients and Their Relationships to Auroral and Magnetospheric Boundaries.
Abstract
The main electron density trough in the topside ionosphere is investigated using ISIS 2 topside sounder data, DMSP auroral images and ground-base observations. A base-level ionospheric trough is characterized with the aid of ISIS 2 electron densities obtained under an optimum set of geophysical conditions, namely midwinter, local midnight and very quiet magnetospheric intervals. The statistical positions of the equatorward and poleward walls of the trough are examined in relation to the plasmapause and various auroral boundaries, respectively. The effects created by precipitating soft particles in the upper F-region are investigated, focussing on the electron density enhancements observed beneath the dayside magnetospheric cusp near local noon in midwinter under very quiet magnetic conditions. The altitude dependence of the Cusp-Related Electron Density Enhancements (CREDE), their behavior during magnetically disturbed periods and the implications of these new findings for high latitude plasma convection models are discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA057008
Entities
People
- C. C. Chacko
- Michael Mendillo
Organizations
- Boston University