Auroral E-region electron density height profile modificationby electric field driven vertical plasma transport:some evidence in EISCAT CP-1 data statistics
A model developed several years ago by Huuskonen et al. (1984) predicted that vertical transport of ions in the nocturnal auroral E-region ionosphere can shift the electron density profiles in altitude during times of sufficiently large electric fields. If the vertical plasma transport...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2004-03-01
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| Series: | Annales Geophysicae |
| Online Access: | https://www.ann-geophys.net/22/901/2004/angeo-22-901-2004.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811232667717337088 |
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| author | T. Bösinger G. C. Hussey C. Haldoupis K. Schlegel |
| author_facet | T. Bösinger G. C. Hussey C. Haldoupis K. Schlegel |
| author_sort | T. Bösinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A model developed several years ago by Huuskonen et al. (1984)
predicted that vertical transport of ions in the nocturnal
auroral E-region ionosphere can shift the electron density
profiles in altitude during times of sufficiently large electric
fields. If the vertical plasma transport effect was to operate
over a sufficiently long enough time, then the real height of the
E-region electron maximum should be shifted some km upwards
(downwards) in the eastward (westward) auroral electrojet,
respectively, when the electric field is strong, exceeding, say, 50 mV/m.
Motivated by these predictions and the lack of any
experimental verification so far, we made use of the large database
of the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) radar to
investigate if the anticipated vertical plasma transport is at
work in the auroral E-region ionosphere and thus to test the
Huuskonen et al. (1984) model. For this purpose a new type of
EISCAT data display was developed which enabled us to order a
large number of electron density height profiles, collected over
16 years of EISCAT operation, according to the electric field
magnitude and direction as measured at the same time at the
radar's magnetic field line in the F-region. Our analysis shows
some signatures in tune with a vertical plasma transport in the
auroral E-region of the type predicted by the Huuskonen et al. model.
The evidence brought forward is, however, not unambiguous
and requires more rigorous analysis.<br><br>
<b>Key words.</b> Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; plasma convection;
electric fields and currents) |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:08:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9151c7a68b5a41e0afa9a9c0cd4eff0a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0992-7689 1432-0576 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:08:02Z |
| publishDate | 2004-03-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annales Geophysicae |
| spelling | doaj.art-9151c7a68b5a41e0afa9a9c0cd4eff0a2022-12-22T03:35:42ZengCopernicus PublicationsAnnales Geophysicae0992-76891432-05762004-03-012290191010.5194/angeo-22-901-2004Auroral E-region electron density height profile modificationby electric field driven vertical plasma transport:some evidence in EISCAT CP-1 data statisticsT. Bösinger0G. C. Hussey1C. Haldoupis2K. Schlegel3Department of Physical Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu, FinlandInstitute of Space and Atmospheric Studies, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, CanadaPhysics Department, University of Crete, Iraklion, Crete, GreeceMax-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie, Katlenburg-Lindau, GermanyA model developed several years ago by Huuskonen et al. (1984) predicted that vertical transport of ions in the nocturnal auroral E-region ionosphere can shift the electron density profiles in altitude during times of sufficiently large electric fields. If the vertical plasma transport effect was to operate over a sufficiently long enough time, then the real height of the E-region electron maximum should be shifted some km upwards (downwards) in the eastward (westward) auroral electrojet, respectively, when the electric field is strong, exceeding, say, 50 mV/m. Motivated by these predictions and the lack of any experimental verification so far, we made use of the large database of the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) radar to investigate if the anticipated vertical plasma transport is at work in the auroral E-region ionosphere and thus to test the Huuskonen et al. (1984) model. For this purpose a new type of EISCAT data display was developed which enabled us to order a large number of electron density height profiles, collected over 16 years of EISCAT operation, according to the electric field magnitude and direction as measured at the same time at the radar's magnetic field line in the F-region. Our analysis shows some signatures in tune with a vertical plasma transport in the auroral E-region of the type predicted by the Huuskonen et al. model. The evidence brought forward is, however, not unambiguous and requires more rigorous analysis.<br><br> <b>Key words.</b> Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; plasma convection; electric fields and currents)https://www.ann-geophys.net/22/901/2004/angeo-22-901-2004.pdf |
| spellingShingle | T. Bösinger G. C. Hussey C. Haldoupis K. Schlegel Auroral E-region electron density height profile modificationby electric field driven vertical plasma transport:some evidence in EISCAT CP-1 data statistics Annales Geophysicae |
| title | Auroral E-region electron density height profile modificationby electric field driven vertical plasma transport:some evidence in EISCAT CP-1 data statistics |
| title_full | Auroral E-region electron density height profile modificationby electric field driven vertical plasma transport:some evidence in EISCAT CP-1 data statistics |
| title_fullStr | Auroral E-region electron density height profile modificationby electric field driven vertical plasma transport:some evidence in EISCAT CP-1 data statistics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Auroral E-region electron density height profile modificationby electric field driven vertical plasma transport:some evidence in EISCAT CP-1 data statistics |
| title_short | Auroral E-region electron density height profile modificationby electric field driven vertical plasma transport:some evidence in EISCAT CP-1 data statistics |
| title_sort | auroral e region electron density height profile modificationby electric field driven vertical plasma transport some evidence in eiscat cp 1 data statistics |
| url | https://www.ann-geophys.net/22/901/2004/angeo-22-901-2004.pdf |
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