Ionospheric Electric Field Response to Substorms
Abstract
We have analyzed Millstone Hill UHF radar observations of the sub-auroral ionosphere in order to determine characteristic disturbance effects seen in both high-spatial/temporal resolution event studies and statistical analyses of over tow solar cycles of radar observations. A series of state-of-the-art radar experiments were performed which combined for the first time coherent and incoherent scatter observations Foster and Erickson, 20011, and these provided us with a new and powerful observing technique with which to investigate electric field variability. We discovered a linear relationship between coherent scatter parameters and the driving electric field. Thus, inverting the very-high resolution coherent scatter observations provides a similar resolution analysis of the electric field. This technique was used to analyze the character of the sub-aurora electric field by Erickson et al. 2002. In pursuing the statistically-significant perturbation electric field at sub-aurora latitudes, we developed bulk data analysis techniques which led to a characterization of sub-auroral gradients in ionospheric total electron content (TEC) Vo and Foster, 2001, and in the large-scale ring current-driven polarization stream (SAPS) electric field Foster and Vo, 2002 which largely has been overlooked in magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling studies in the past. In fact, the SAPS is responsible for the redistribution of thermal plasmas in the ionosphere and inner magnetosphere and is a main contributor to Space Weather effects at mid latitudes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 28, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA402273
Entities
People
- John C. Foster
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology