Global Convection Patterns in the High Latitude.
Abstract
Studies of large and small scale structures in the high latitude F-region plasma velocity and concentration have been undertaken. The large-scale plasma convection pattern has been examined using an extensive satellite data base to reveal a major dependence of the dayside configuration of the pattern on the y-component of the interplanetary magnetic field. A model has been constructed for periods of southward IMF much smaller scale structure is seen to dominate the observations. A smaller scale convection pattern has been tentatively identified in the data for northward IMF. Of primary importance, however, is the existence of small scale structure associated with sun-aligned arcs that have dimensions in the noon-midnight-direction that exceed those in the dawn-dusk direction by a factor of 10. In addition to these properties of the convection pattern the formation of E region structure by the presence of structure in the F region has also been examined. Keywords: Ionospheric plasma; Convection pattern; Plasma structure.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1987
- Accession Number
- ADA185794
Entities
People
- Roderick A. Heelis
Organizations
- University of Texas at Dallas