Dynamic variability in F-region ionospheric composition at auroral arc boundaries
The work presents a data-model synthesis examining the response of the auroral F-region ion temperature, composition, and density to short time scale (<1 min) electric field disturbances associated with auroral arcs. Ion temperature profiles recorded by the Sondrestrom incoherent scatter r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2010-02-01
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| Series: | Annales Geophysicae |
| Online Access: | https://www.ann-geophys.net/28/651/2010/angeo-28-651-2010.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819264789164064768 |
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| author | M. Zettergren M. Zettergren J. Semeter B. Burnett W. Oliver C. Heinselman P.-L. Blelly M. Diaz |
| author_facet | M. Zettergren M. Zettergren J. Semeter B. Burnett W. Oliver C. Heinselman P.-L. Blelly M. Diaz |
| author_sort | M. Zettergren |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The work presents a data-model synthesis examining the response of the
auroral F-region ion temperature, composition, and density to short time
scale (<1 min) electric field disturbances associated with auroral arcs.
Ion temperature profiles recorded by the Sondrestrom incoherent scatter radar
(ISR) are critically analyzed with the aid of theoretical calculations to
infer ion composition variability. The analyses presented include a partial
accounting for the effects of neutral winds on frictional heating and show
promise as the groundwork for future attempts to address ion temperature-mass
ambiguities in short-integration ISR data sets. Results indicate that large
NO<sup>+</sup> enchancements in the F-region can occur in as little as 20 s in
response to impulsive changes in ion frictional heating. Enhancements in
molecular ion density result in recombination and a depletion in plasma,
which is shown to occur on time scales of several minutes. This depletion
process, thus, appears to be of comparable importance to electrodynamic evacuation
processes in producing auroral arc-related plasma depletions. Furthermore,
the potential of ionospheric composition in regulating the amounts and types
of ions supplied to the magnetosphere is outlined. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T20:35:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3ea12b31ccf4485ba492e61ef9cf4f0e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0992-7689 1432-0576 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T20:35:04Z |
| publishDate | 2010-02-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annales Geophysicae |
| spelling | doaj.art-3ea12b31ccf4485ba492e61ef9cf4f0e2022-12-21T17:32:06ZengCopernicus PublicationsAnnales Geophysicae0992-76891432-05762010-02-012865166410.5194/angeo-28-651-2010Dynamic variability in F-region ionospheric composition at auroral arc boundariesM. Zettergren0M. Zettergren1J. Semeter2B. Burnett3W. Oliver4C. Heinselman5P.-L. Blelly6M. Diaz7Physical Sciences Department, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL, USAformerly at: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Center for Space Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Center for Space Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Center for Space Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USADepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Center for Space Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USASRI International, Menlo Park, CA, USACESR, Toulouse, FranceElectrical Engineering Dept., College of Engineering, University of Chile, Santiago, ChileThe work presents a data-model synthesis examining the response of the auroral F-region ion temperature, composition, and density to short time scale (<1 min) electric field disturbances associated with auroral arcs. Ion temperature profiles recorded by the Sondrestrom incoherent scatter radar (ISR) are critically analyzed with the aid of theoretical calculations to infer ion composition variability. The analyses presented include a partial accounting for the effects of neutral winds on frictional heating and show promise as the groundwork for future attempts to address ion temperature-mass ambiguities in short-integration ISR data sets. Results indicate that large NO<sup>+</sup> enchancements in the F-region can occur in as little as 20 s in response to impulsive changes in ion frictional heating. Enhancements in molecular ion density result in recombination and a depletion in plasma, which is shown to occur on time scales of several minutes. This depletion process, thus, appears to be of comparable importance to electrodynamic evacuation processes in producing auroral arc-related plasma depletions. Furthermore, the potential of ionospheric composition in regulating the amounts and types of ions supplied to the magnetosphere is outlined.https://www.ann-geophys.net/28/651/2010/angeo-28-651-2010.pdf |
| spellingShingle | M. Zettergren M. Zettergren J. Semeter B. Burnett W. Oliver C. Heinselman P.-L. Blelly M. Diaz Dynamic variability in F-region ionospheric composition at auroral arc boundaries Annales Geophysicae |
| title | Dynamic variability in F-region ionospheric composition at auroral arc boundaries |
| title_full | Dynamic variability in F-region ionospheric composition at auroral arc boundaries |
| title_fullStr | Dynamic variability in F-region ionospheric composition at auroral arc boundaries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dynamic variability in F-region ionospheric composition at auroral arc boundaries |
| title_short | Dynamic variability in F-region ionospheric composition at auroral arc boundaries |
| title_sort | dynamic variability in f region ionospheric composition at auroral arc boundaries |
| url | https://www.ann-geophys.net/28/651/2010/angeo-28-651-2010.pdf |
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