Ionospheric signatures of magnetospheric boundaries in the post-noon sector
Spatial structures in ionospheric electron density revealed in a tomographic image have been identified with auroral forms and related to their sources in precipitating particles observed by DMSP satellites. The observations of plasma enhancements relate to discrete auroral arcs seen in the post...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2000-01-01
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| Series: | Annales Geophysicae |
| Online Access: | https://www.ann-geophys.net/18/74/2000/angeo-18-74-2000.pdf |
| Summary: | Spatial structures in ionospheric electron
density revealed in a tomographic image have been identified with auroral forms
and related to their sources in precipitating particles observed by DMSP
satellites. The observations of plasma enhancements relate to discrete auroral
arcs seen in the post-noon sector, identified by both red- and green-line
emissions measured by a meridional scanning photometer. The features lie within
a very narrow latitudinal band on <i>L</i>-shells where the satellite detectors
observed electron precipitation classified as from the boundary plasma sheet
(BPS). The harder particles are identified with an E-region structure, while
further north the precipitation is softer, resulting in a localised F-layer blob
and 630.0 nm emissions. A steep gradient in plasma density represent a signature
in the ionosphere of the central plasma sheet (CPS)/BPS boundary. A transition
to a less-structured F-layer is found on crossing the convection reversal
boundary..<br><br><b>Key words.</b> Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere;
ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions; polar ionosphere) |
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| ISSN: | 0992-7689 1432-0576 |