| 1. |
- Amm, O., et al.
(författare)
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Towards understanding the electrodynamics of the 3-dimensional high-latitude ionosphere : present and future
- 2008
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Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 26:12, s. 3913-3932
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Traditionally, due to observational constraints, ionospheric modelling and data analysis techniques have been devised either in one dimension (e. g. along a single radar beam), or in two dimensions (e. g. over a network of magnetometers). With new upcoming missions like the Swarm ionospheric multi-satellite project, or the EISCAT 3-D project, the time has come to take into account variations in all three dimensions simultaneously, as they occur in the real ionosphere. The link between ionospheric electrodynamics and the neutral atmosphere circulation which has gained increasing interest in the recent years also intrinsically requires a truly 3-dimensional (3-D) description. In this paper, we identify five major science questions that need to be addressed by 3-D ionospheric modelling and data analysis. We briefly review what proceedings in the young field of 3-D ionospheric electrodynamics have been made in the past to address these selected question, and we outline how these issues can be addressed in the future with additional observations and/or improved data analysis and simulation techniques. Throughout the paper, we limit the discussion to high-latitude and mesoscale ionospheric electrodynamics, and to directly data-driven (not statistical) data analysis.
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| 2. |
- Goodwin, L. V., et al.
(författare)
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Swarm in situ observations of F region polar cap patches created by cusp precipitation
- 2015
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 42:4, s. 996-1003
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High-resolution in situ measurements from the three Swarm spacecraft, in a string-of-pearls configuration, provide new insights about the combined role of flow channel events and particle impact ionization in creating F region electron density structures in the northern Scandinavian dayside cusp. We present a case of polar cap patch formation where a reconnection-driven low-density relative westward flow channel is eroding the dayside solar-ionized plasma but where particle impact ionization in the cusp dominates the initial plasma structuring. In the cusp, density features are observed which are twice as dense as the solar-ionized background. These features then follow the polar cap convection and become less structured and lower in amplitude. These are the first in situ observations tracking polar cap patch evolution from creation by plasma transport and enhancement by cusp precipitation, through entrainment in the polar cap flow and relaxation into smooth patches as they approach the nightside auroral oval.
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| 3. |
- André, Mats, et al.
(författare)
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Thin electron-scale layers at the magnetopause
- 2004
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 31, s. L03803-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Dreyer, Joshua, et al.
(författare)
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Constraining the Positive Ion Composition in Saturn's Lower Ionosphere with the Effective Recombination Coefficient
- 2021
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Ingår i: The Planetary Science Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2632-3338. ; 2:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The present study combines Radio and Plasma Wave Science/Langmuir Probe and Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer data from Cassini's last four orbits into Saturn's lower ionosphere to constrain the effective recombination coefficient α300 from measured number densities and electron temperatures at a reference electron temperature of 300 K. Previous studies have shown an influx of ring material causes a state of electron depletion due to grain charging, which will subsequently affect the ionospheric chemistry. The requirement to take grain charging into account limits the derivation of α300 to upper limits. Assuming photochemical equilibrium and using an established method to calculate the electron production rate, we derive upper limits for α300 of ≲ 3 × 10−7 cm3 s−1 for altitudes below 2000 km. This suggests that Saturn's ionospheric positive ions are dominated by species with low recombination rate coefficients like HCO+. An ionosphere dominated by water group ions or complex hydrocarbons, as previously suggested, is incompatible with this result, as these species have recombination rate coefficients > 5 × 10−7 cm3 s−1 at an electron temperature of 300 K.
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| 7. |
- Hamrin, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Geomagnetic activity effects on plasma sheet energy conversion
- 2010
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Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 28, s. 1813-1825
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this article we use three years (2001, 2002, and 2004) of Cluster plasma sheet data to investigate what happens to localized energy conversion regions (ECRs) in the plasma sheet during times of high magnetospheric activity. By examining variations in the power density, E·J, where E is the electric field and J is the current density obtained by Cluster, we have studied the influence on Concentrated Load Regions (CLRs) and Concentrated Generator Regions (CGRs) from variations in the geomagnetic disturbance level as expressed by the Kp, the AE, and the Dst indices. We find that the ECR occurrence frequency increases during higher magnetospheric activities, and that the ECRs become stronger. This is true both for CLRs and for CGRs, and the localized energy conversion therefore concerns energy conversion in both directions between the particles and the fields in the plasma sheet. A higher geomagnetic activity hence increases the general level of energy conversion in the plasma sheet. Moreover, we have shown that CLRs live longer during magnetically disturbed times, hence converting more electromagnetic energy. The CGR lifetime, on the other hand, seems to be unaffected by the geomagnetic activity level. The evidence for increased energy conversion during geomagnetically disturbed times is most clear for Kp and for AE, but there are also some indications that energy conversion increases during large negative Dst. This is consistent with the plasma sheet magnetically mapping to the auroral zone, and therefore being more tightly coupled to auroral activities and variations in the AE and Kp indices, than to variations in the ring current region as described by the Dst index.
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| 8. |
- Hamrin, Maria, 1972-, et al.
(författare)
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Occurrence and location of concentrated load and generator regions observed by Cluster in the plasma sheet
- 2009
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Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 27:11, s. 4131-4146
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Here, and in a companion paper by Hamrin et al. (2009) [Scale size and life time of energy conversion regions observed by Cluster in the plasma sheet], we investigate localized energy conversion regions (ECRs) in the Earth's plasma sheet. In total we have studied 151 ECRs within 660 h of plasma sheet data from the summer and fall of 2001 when Cluster was close to apogee at an altitude of about 15-20RE. Cluster offers appropriate conditions for the investigation of energy conversion by the evaluation of the power density, E.J, where E is the electric field and J the current density. From the sign of the power density, we have identified more than three times as many Concentrated Load Regions (CLRs) as Concentrated Generator Regions (CGRs). We also note that the CLRs appear to be stronger. To our knowledge, these are the first in situ observations confirming the general notion of the plasma sheet, on the average, behaving as a load. At the same time the plasma sheet appears to be highly structured, with energy conversion occurring in both directions between the fields and the particles. From our data we also find that the CLRs appear to be located closer to the neutral sheet, while CGRs prefer locations towards the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL). For both CLRs and CGRs, E and J in the GSM y (cross-tail) direction dominate the total power density, even though the z contribution occasionally can be significant. The prevalence of the y-direction seems to be weaker for the CGRs, possibly related to a higher fluctuation level near the PSBL.
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| 9. |
- Leyser, Thomas B., et al.
(författare)
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Plasma angular momentum effects and twisted incoherent scatter radar beams
- 2012
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Ingår i: Radio Science. - 0048-6604 .- 1944-799X. ; 47, s. RS5004-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Phased arrays provide new possibilities for remote sensing with radars. By imposing an azimuthal phase variation, electromagnetic beams that carry orbital angular momentum can be formed. Such beams have a phase structure that appears twisted and as a result an intensity null in the center of the beam cross section. Here we numerically investigate twisted beams for incoherent scatter radars that are used to study the ionosphere. We discuss the possibility of utilizing such radar beams to probe twisted beams of plasma waves and flows transverse to the beam axis, such as associated with auroral arcs. Transverse plasma flows may give rise to a rotational frequency shift of the scatter from a twisted beam and Doppler broadening due to the beam divergence, the latter also occurring with regular beams. Although the angular momentum effects of the considered large scale flows are generally small, sheared and vortical flows transverse to the beam axis can in principle be discriminated from unidirectional flows with beams carrying orbital angular momentum.
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| 10. |
- Ogawa, Y., et al.
(författare)
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Characteristics of ion upflow and downflow observed with the European Incoherent Scatter Svalbard radar
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 114:5, s. A05305-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have investigated how geomagnetic activity, the solar wind (SW), and the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) influence the occurrence of the F-region/topside ionospheric ion upflow and downflow. Occurrence of dayside ion upflow observed with the European Incoherent Scatter Svalbard radar (ESR) at 75.2 degrees magnetic latitude is highly correlated with the SW density, as well as with the strength of the IMF By component. We suggest that this correlation exists because the region where ion upflow occurs is enlarged owing to SW density and IMF By magnitude, but it does not move significantly in geomagnetic latitude. The occurrence frequency of dayside ion upflow displays peaks versus the geomagnetic activity index (Kp), SW velocity, and negative IMF Bz component; that is, ion upflow is less frequently seen at the highest values of these parameters. Dayside ion downflow in the F-region/topside ionosphere occurs only when the Kp index and/or SW velocity are high or when IMF Bz is largely negative. The ion downflow is likely due to ballistic return of the ion upflow. We suggest that the region of ion upflow not only becomes larger but also moves equatorward with increasing Kp, SW velocity, and negative IMF Bz. The ESR can so be poleward of the upflow region and observe ions convecting poleward and returning ballistically downward.
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| 11. |
- Ogawa, Y., et al.
(författare)
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On the source of the polar wind in the polar topside ionosphere : First results from the EISCAT Svalbard radar
- 2009
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 36:24, s. L24103-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present quantitative radar observations of both hydrogen ion (H+) and oxygen ion (O+) upflow in the topside polar ionosphere using measurements that were recently carried out with the EISCAT Svalbard Radar and the Reimei satellite. H+ upflow was clearly observed equatorward of the cusp above 500 km altitude. Within the cusp the H+ density was very low, and the upflow was dominated by O+ ions, but on closed field lines the H+ became the larger contributor to the upward flux above about 550 km. The total flux seemed to be conserved, and so below 550 km altitude O+ (with a small upward velocity of similar to 50 m s(-1)) appeared to determine the upward flux which was then maintained by H+! in the topside ionosphere. We also found that the H+ density in the topside polar ionosphere was several times higher than current predictions of ionospheric models like IRI2001.
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| 12. |
- Ogawa, Y., et al.
(författare)
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On the statistical relation between ion upflow and naturally enhanced ion-acoustic lines observed with the EISCAT Svalbard radar
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 116, s. A03313-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have investigated characteristics of ion upflow and naturally enhanced ion-acoustic lines (NEIALs) based on the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) Svalbard radar (ESR) data continuously obtained between March 2007 and February 2008. For the ion upflow study we have used approximately 78,000 field-aligned profiles obtained with the ESR. For the NEIAL study we have identified approximately 1500 NEIALs in the ESR data at altitudes between 100 and 500 km. The occurrence frequency of ion upflow shows two peaks, at about 0800 and 1300 magnetic local time (MLT), while only one strong peak is seen around 0900 MLT for NEIALs. The upward ion flux also has only one peak around 1100-1300 MLT. The occurrence frequency of ion upflow varies strongly over season. It is higher in winter than in summer, whereas NEIALs are more frequent in summer than in winter. NEIALs frequently occur under high geomagnetic activity and also high solar activity conditions. Approximately 10% of NEIALs in the F region ionosphere were accompanied by NEIALs in the E region (occurred at altitudes below 200 km). About half of the E region enhanced echoes did not have an F region counterpart. Upshifted NEIALs dominate in the E region whereas downshifted NEIALs are usually stronger above an altitude of 300 km. The high occurrence frequency of NEIALs in the prenoon region (0800-1000 MLT) might be associated with acceleration of thermal ions to suprathermal ones. At the same MLT and geomagnetic latitude suprathermal ions and broadband extremely low frequency (BBELF) wave activity have been observed, according to previous studies.
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| 13. |
- Ogawa, Y., et al.
(författare)
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Solar activity dependence of ion upflow in the polar ionosphere observed with the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) Tromso UHF radar
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 115, s. A07310-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The influence of solar activity upon ion upflow in the polar ionosphere was investigated using data obtained by the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) Tromso UHF radar between 1984 and 2008. In agreement with other work we find that the upward ion flux is generally higher when solar activity is high than when it is low. Ion upflow events and also the upward velocity behave the opposite: they are more frequently seen and higher, respectively, at times of low solar activity. In any year about 30-40% ion upflow is accompanied by similar to 500 K higher electron temperature than the background temperature at 400 km altitude. Electron and ion heating in connection with upflow is nearly twice as prevalent during high solar activity as it is at low activity. The acceleration of ions by pressure gradients and ambipolar electric field becomes larger when solar activity is low than when it is high. This variation of the average acceleration is caused by the different shapes of electron density profiles for low and high solar activities. Ions start to flow up at above 450 km altitude when solar activity was high, and lower, at 300-500 km altitude, at low solar activity. It is suggested that the solar activity influences long-term variations of the ion upflow occurrence because it modulates the density of neutral particles, the formation of the F2 density peak, and ion-neutral collision frequencies in the thermosphere and ionosphere.
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| 14. |
- Ogawa, Y., et al.
(författare)
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Upper atmosphere cooling over the past 33 years
- 2014
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 41:15, s. 5629-5635
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Theoretical models and observations have suggested that the increasing greenhouse gas concentration in the troposphere causes the upper atmosphere to cool and contract. However, our understanding of the long-term trends in the upper atmosphere is still quite incomplete, due to a limited amount of available and well-calibrated data. The European Incoherent Scatter radar has gathered data in the polar ionosphere above TromsO for over 33years. Using this long-term data set, we have estimated the first significant trends of ion temperature at altitudes between 200 and 450km. The estimated trends indicate a cooling of 10-15K/decade near the F region peak (220-380km altitude), whereas above 400km the trend is nearly zero or even warming. The height profiles of the observed trends are close to those predicted by recent atmospheric general circulation models. Our results are the first quantitative confirmation of the simulations and of the qualitative expectations.
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| 15. |
- Park, J., et al.
(författare)
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Estimating along-track plasma drift speed from electron density measurements by the three Swarm satellites
- 2015
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Ingår i: Annales Geophysicae. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 33:7, s. 829-835
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plasma convection in the high-latitude ionosphere provides important information about magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere coupling. In this study we estimate the along-track component of plasma convection within and around the polar cap, using electron density profiles measured by the three Swarm satellites. The velocity values estimated from the two different satellite pairs agree with each other. In both hemispheres the estimated velocity is generally anti-sunward, especially for higher speeds. The obtained velocity is in qualitative agreement with Super Dual Auroral Radar Network data. Our method can supplement currently available instruments for ionospheric plasma velocity measurements, especially in cases where these traditional instruments suffer from their inherent limitations. Also, the method can be generalized to other satellite constellations carrying electron density probes.
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| 16. |
- Pitout, F., et al.
(författare)
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Swarm and ESR observations of the ionospheric response to a field-aligned current system in the high-latitude midnight sector
- 2015
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 42:11, s. 4270-4279
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a conjunction between the Swarm fleet and the European Incoherent Scatter Svalbard Radar (ESR) on 9 January 2014. The Swarm orbit in the early phase of the mission gives us the unique opportunity of sequencing the temporal evolution of the observed field-aligned current system in the nightside, near magnetic local midnight. These field-aligned currents are seen to move poleward through the radar field of view and to affect the observed ionosphere. The upward field-aligned current (FAC) is responsible, at least in part, for the heating of the ionospheric electrons. It is less clear whether the downward FAC cools the ionosphere. We use the TRANSCAR model of the ionosphere to quantify the thermoelectric effect that comes into play. Finally, we compare the plasma parameters measured by the Langmuir probe on board Swarm and the ESR and conclude on an agreement within the errors.
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| 17. |
- Spicher, A., et al.
(författare)
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Observation of polar cap patches and calculation of gradient drift instability growth times : A Swarm case study
- 2015
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 42:2, s. 201-206
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Swarm mission represents a strong new tool to survey polar cap patches and plasma structuring inside the polar cap. In the early commissioning phase, the three Swarm satellites were operated in a pearls-on-a-string configuration making noon-midnight transpolar passes. This provides an unparalleled opportunity to examine the potential role of the gradient drift instability (GDI) process on polar cap patches by systematically calculating GDI growth times during their transit across the pole from day to night. Steep kilometer-scale gradients appeared in this study as initial structures that persisted during the approximate 90 min it took a patch to cross the polar cap. The GDI growth times were calculated for a selection of the steep density gradients on both the dayside and the nightside. The values ranged from 23 s to 147 s, which is consistent with recent rocket measurements in the cusp auroral region and provides a template for future studies. Growth times of the order of 1 min found both on the dayside and on the nightside support the existing view that the GDI may play a dominant role in the generation of radio wave scintillation irregularities as the patches transit the polar cap from day to night.
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