Direct observations of the role of convection electric field in the formation of a polar tongue of ionization from storm enhanced density

Simple item page
dc.contributorVirginia Techen
dc.contributor.authorThomas, E. G.en
dc.contributor.authorBaker, Joseph B. H.en
dc.contributor.authorRuohoniemi, J. Michaelen
dc.contributor.authorClausen, Lasse B. N.en
dc.contributor.authorCoster, A. J.en
dc.contributor.authorFoster, J. C.en
dc.contributor.authorErickson, P. J.en
dc.contributor.departmentElectrical and Computer Engineeringen
dc.date.accessed2014-01-31en
dc.date.accessioned2014-02-05T14:20:25Zen
dc.date.available2014-02-05T14:20:25Zen
dc.date.issued2013-03-01en
dc.description.abstractWe examine the relationship of convection electric fields to the formation of a polar cap tongue of ionization (TOI) from midlatitude plumes of storm enhanced density (SED). Observations from the geomagnetic storm on 26-27 September 2011 are presented for two distinct SED events. During an hour-long period of geomagnetic activity driven by a coronal mass ejection, a channel of high-density F region plasma was transported from the dayside subauroral ionosphere and into the polar cap by enhanced convection electric fields extending to middle latitudes. This TOI feature was associated with enhanced HF backscatter, indicating that it was the seat of active formation of small-scale irregularities. After the solar wind interplanetary magnetic field conditions quieted and the dayside convection electric fields retreated to higher latitudes, an SED plume was observed extending to, but not entering, the dayside cusp region. This prominent feature in the distribution of total electron content (TEC) persisted for several hours and elongated in magnetic local time with the rotation of the Earth. No ionospheric scatter from SuperDARN radars was observed within this SED region. The source mechanism (enhanced electric fields) previously drawing the plasma from midlatitudes and into the polar cap as a TOI was no longer active, resulting in a fossil feature. We thus demonstrate the controlling role exercised by the convection electric field in generating a TOI from midlatitude SED.en
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Science Foundation 0946900, 0838219, 0856093en
dc.description.sponsorshipVirginia Space Grant Consortiumen
dc.description.sponsorshipDeutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- and Raumfahrt 50OC1102, 50OC1001en
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationThomas, E. G., J. B. H. Baker, J. M. Ruohoniemi, L. B. N. Clausen, A. J. Coster, J. C. Foster, and P. J. Erickson (2013), Direct observations of the role of convection electric field in the formation of a polar tongue of ionization from storm enhanced density, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics, 118, 1180-1189, doi:10.1002/jgra.50116.en
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1002/jgra.50116en
dc.identifier.issn0148-0227en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/25321en
dc.identifier.urlhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jgra.50116/pdfen
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherAmerican Geophysical Unionen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectIonosphereen
dc.subjectRadaren
dc.titleDirect observations of the role of convection electric field in the formation of a polar tongue of ionization from storm enhanced densityen
dc.title.serialJournal of Geophysical Research-Space Physicsen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
jgra50116.pdf
Size:
3.14 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Main article
Download

Collections

Scholarly Works, Electrical and Computer Engineering