Magnetospheric Control of Density and Composition in the Polar Ionosphere
Abstract
This research has used collaborative observations by UHF incoherent scatter radar (ISR), the SuperDARN HF radar network, and wide-angle monochromatic optical imagers, supported by first-principles numerical modeling, to investigate the structure and composition of Earth's polar ionosphere. Key observational evidence has been provided by the electronically steerable Incoherent Scatter Radar at Resolute Bay, Canada. Findings include technical contributions related to the application of phased array ISR in the deep polar cap, as well as scientific contributions arising from the application of these techniques: 1) Development of a sensor fusion framework for combining simultaneous observations of auroral phenomena observed by radar and optical means [Semeter and Zettergren, 2014], 2) Development of a deconvolution approach for analyzing volumetric ISR measurements in a temporally and spatially varying ionosphere [Swoboda et al., 2015], 3) Discovery of direct evidence for internal structuring of convecting plasma patches [Dahlgren et al., 2013], 4) Quantitative description of electrodynamic coupling within polar auroral arcs developing along the nightside polar cap boundary [Perry et al., 2015], 5) Steepening of ionospheric density gradients via magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling at the poleward auroral boundary, and 6) Measurements of anomalous ion heating by Langmuir turbulence caused be soft particle fluxes in the aurora -- a possible ``hidden" energy source for F-region energy balance at high latitudes [Akbari et al., 2014, 2015].
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 24, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA621546
Entities
People
- J. L. Semeter
Organizations
- Boston University