| 1. |
- de Jong, R. S., et al.
(author)
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4MOST : Project overview and information for the First Call for Proposals
- 2019
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In: The Messenger. - : European Southern Observatory. - 0722-6691. ; 175, s. 3-11
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- We introduce the 4-metre Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope (4MOST), a new high-multiplex, wide-field spectroscopic survey facility under development for the four-metre-class Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) at Paranal. Its key specifications are: a large field of view (FoV) of 4.2 square degrees and a high multiplex capability, with 1624 fibres feeding two low-resolution spectrographs (R = λ/Δλ ~ 6500), and 812 fibres transferring light to the high-resolution spectrograph (R ~ 20 000). After a description of the instrument and its expected performance, a short overview is given of its operational scheme and planned 4MOST Consortium science; these aspects are covered in more detail in other articles in this edition of The Messenger. Finally, the processes, schedules, and policies concerning the selection of ESO Community Surveys are presented, commencing with a singular opportunity to submit Letters of Intent for Public Surveys during the first five years of 4MOST operations.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Abdalla, E., et al.
(author)
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Cosmology intertwined : A review of the particle physics, astrophysics, and cosmology associated with the cosmological tensions and anomalies
- 2022
-
In: Journal of High Energy Astrophysics. - : Elsevier BV. - 2214-4048 .- 2214-4056. ; 34, s. 49-211
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The standard Λ Cold Dark Matter (ΛCDM) cosmological model provides a good description of a wide range of astrophysical and cosmological data. However, there are a few big open questions that make the standard model look like an approximation to a more realistic scenario yet to be found. In this paper, we list a few important goals that need to be addressed in the next decade, taking into account the current discordances between the different cosmological probes, such as the disagreement in the value of the Hubble constant H0, the σ8–S8 tension, and other less statistically significant anomalies. While these discordances can still be in part the result of systematic errors, their persistence after several years of accurate analysis strongly hints at cracks in the standard cosmological scenario and the necessity for new physics or generalisations beyond the standard model. In this paper, we focus on the 5.0σ tension between the Planck CMB estimate of the Hubble constant H0 and the SH0ES collaboration measurements. After showing the H0 evaluations made from different teams using different methods and geometric calibrations, we list a few interesting new physics models that could alleviate this tension and discuss how the next decade's experiments will be crucial. Moreover, we focus on the tension of the Planck CMB data with weak lensing measurements and redshift surveys, about the value of the matter energy density Ωm, and the amplitude or rate of the growth of structure (σ8,fσ8). We list a few interesting models proposed for alleviating this tension, and we discuss the importance of trying to fit a full array of data with a single model and not just one parameter at a time. Additionally, we present a wide range of other less discussed anomalies at a statistical significance level lower than the H0–S8 tensions which may also constitute hints towards new physics, and we discuss possible generic theoretical approaches that can collectively explain the non-standard nature of these signals. Finally, we give an overview of upgraded experiments and next-generation space missions and facilities on Earth that will be of crucial importance to address all these open questions.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Ågren, Karin, et al.
(author)
-
Detection of currents and associated electric fields in Titan's ionosphere from Cassini data
- 2011
-
In: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 116:4, s. A04313-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present observations from three Cassini flybys of Titan using data from the radio and plasma wave science, magnetometer and plasma spectrometer instruments. We combine magnetic field and cold plasma measurements with calculated conductivities and conclude that there are currents of the order of 10 to 100 nA m (2) flowing in the ionosphere of Titan. The currents below the exobase (similar to 1400 km) are principally field parallel and Hall in nature, while the Pedersen current is negligible in comparison. Associated with the currents are perpendicular electric fields ranging from 0.5 to 3 mu V m (1).
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| 6. |
- Amm, O., et al.
(author)
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Towards understanding the electrodynamics of the 3-dimensional high-latitude ionosphere : present and future
- 2008
-
In: Annales Geophysicae. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 26:12, s. 3913-3932
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)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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| 7. |
- Büchert, A., et al.
(author)
-
Dioxin contamination in food : Bayreuth, Germany, from September 28 to October 1, 2000
- 2001
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In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. - : Ecomed Publishers. - 0944-1344 .- 1614-7499. ; 8:2, s. 84-88
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dioxin and PCB monitoring programs for food and feeding stuff in most countries of the world, including many European Countries are currently inadequate. Better control of food production lines and food processing procedures is needed to minimize entry of dioxin to the food chain and will help to avoid dioxin contamination accidents. This would also improve the ability to trace back a possible contamination to its source. European guidelines for monitoring programs should be established to ensure comparable and meaningful results. These guidelines should define the minimum requirements for the design of monitoring programs, analytical methods, and quality assurance.Though data from Northern Europe shows that the general population exposure to dioxin and PCB has decreased during the last ten years these compounds continue to be a risk of accidental contamination of the food chain. The most prominent recent example is the Belgian dioxin contamination of feeding stuff in 1999. The Belgian dioxin contamination was not detected due to dioxin monitoring programs but by their direct biological effects seen in animals. Four other cases of dioxin contamination have been detected in Europe since 1997 due to local monitoring programs. One of them (citrus pulp pellets 1998) was in a much larger scale than the Belgian dioxin contamination.The general population's exposure to dioxins and PCBs is still in the same range (1-4 pg WHO-TEQ/kg body weight and day) as the recently revised WHO tolerable daily intake (TDI). There is concern that short-term high level exposure to dioxins, furans, and PCB may cause biological effects on the human fetal development and further research is required.Further actions to control sources building on considerable advances already made in many countries may need to be supplemented by measures to prevent direct contamination of feeding stuff or food to reduce general population exposure further.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Buchert, Stephan, et al.
(author)
-
The Pedersen current carried by electrons : a non-linear response of the ionosphere to magnetospheric forcing
- 2008
-
In: Annales Geophysicae. - 0992-7689 .- 1432-0576. ; 26:9, s. 2837-2844
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Observations by the EISCAT Svalbard radar show that electron temperatures T-e in the cusp electrojet reach up to about 4000 K. The heat is tapped and converted from plasma convection in the near Earth space by a Pedersen current that is carried by electrons due to the presence of irregularities and their demagnetising effect. The heat is transfered to the neutral gas by collisions. In order to enhance T-e to such high temperatures the maximally possible dissipation at 50% demagnetisation must nearly be reached. The effective Pedersen conductances are found to be enhanced by up to 60% compared to classical values. Conductivities and conductances respond significantly to variations of the electric field strength E, and "Ohm's law" for the ionosphere becomes non-linear for large E.
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| 10. |
- Buchert, T., et al.
(author)
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Is there proof that backreaction of inhomogeneities is irrelevant in cosmology?
- 2015
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In: Classical and quantum gravity. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0264-9381 .- 1361-6382. ; 32:21
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- No. In a number of papers, Green and Wald argue that the standard FLRW model approximates our Universe extremely well on all scales, except close to strong-field astrophysical objects. In particular, they argue that the effect of inhomogeneities on average properties of the Universe (backreaction) is irrelevant. We show that this latter claim is not valid. Specifically, we demonstrate, referring to their recent review paper, that (i) their two-dimensional example used to illustrate the fitting problem differs from the actual problem in important respects, and it assumes what is to be proven; (ii) the proof of the trace-free property of backreaction is unphysical and the theorem about it fails to be a mathematically general statement; (iii) the scheme that underlies the trace-free theorem does not involve averaging and therefore does not capture crucial non-local effects; (iv) their arguments are to a large extent coordinate-dependent, and (v) many of their criticisms of backreaction frameworks do not apply to the published definitions of these frameworks. It is therefore incorrect to infer that Green and Wald have proven a general result that addresses the essential physical questions of backreaction in cosmology.
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| 11. |
- Nagatsuma, T., Nozawa, S., Buchert, S.C. and Fujii, R.
(author)
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High latitude Pi3 pulsations observed by the EISCAT VHF radar.
- 2001
-
In: Advances in Space Research. ; 28:7, s. 1093-1096
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Long period irregular magnetic pulsations, Pi3, are found from EISCAT/VHF radar observations at the high latitude in the dawn sector on Sept. 29, 1996. From the comparison between the radar and ground magnetometer data, it is suggested that the meandering
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| 12. |
- Ogawa, Y., et al.
(author)
-
Characteristics of ion upflow and downflow observed with the European Incoherent Scatter Svalbard radar
- 2009
-
In: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 114:5, s. A05305-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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| 13. |
- Ogawa, Y., et al.
(author)
-
Coordinated EISCAT Svalbard radar and Reimei satellite observations of ion upflows and suprathermal ions
- 2008
-
In: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 113:A5, s. A05306-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The relationship between bulk ion upflows and suprathermal ions was investigated using data simultaneously obtained from the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) Svalbard radar (ESR) and the Reimei satellite. Simultaneous observations were conducted in November 2005 and August 2006, and 14 conjunction data sets have been obtained at approximately 630 km in the dayside ionosphere. Suprathermal ions with energies of a few eV were present in the dayside cusp region, and the ion velocity distribution changed from an isotropic Maxwellian near the cusp region to tail heating at energies above a few eV in the cusp region. The velocity distribution of the suprathermal ions has a peak perpendicular or oblique to the geomagnetic field, and the temperature of the suprathermal ions was 0.9-1.4 eV. An increase in the phase space density (PSD) of the suprathermal ions, measured with the Reimei, was correlated with bulk ion upflow observed at the same altitude using EISCAT, and with the energy flux of precipitating electrons with energies of 50-500 eV. The PSD also has a good correlation with the electron temperature, which was increased by precipitation, but not with the ion temperature (0.1-0.3 eV) at the same altitude measured with EISCAT. These results suggest that plasma waves such as broadband extremely low frequency (BBELF) wavefields associated with precipitation are connected to the bulk ion upflows in the cusp and effectively cause the heating of suprathermal ions. The heating of suprathermal ions disagrees with anisotropic heating due to O+-O resonant charge exchange.
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| 14. |
- Ogawa, Y., et al.
(author)
-
On the source of the polar wind in the polar topside ionosphere : First results from the EISCAT Svalbard radar
- 2009
-
In: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 36:24, s. L24103-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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| 15. |
- Ogawa, Y., et al.
(author)
-
On the statistical relation between ion upflow and naturally enhanced ion-acoustic lines observed with the EISCAT Svalbard radar
- 2011
-
In: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 116, s. A03313-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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| 16. |
- Ogawa, Y., et al.
(author)
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Relationship between auroral substorm and ion upflow in the nightside polar ionosphere
- 2013
-
In: J GEOPHYS RES-SPACE. - 2169-9380. ; 118:11, s. 7426-7437
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We investigated ionospheric ion upflow during an auroral substorm using simultaneous European Incoherent Scatter radar and IMAGE satellite data. Approximately 6 min after an initial brightening identified with data from the IMAGE wideband imaging camera instrument, ion upflow was seen and the electron temperature became enhanced, too. The ion upflow, with a velocity of about 150 m/s, and the electron temperature enhancement lasted for about 25 min. During the poleward expansion phase, surges of large upward ion velocity and flux, and high ion and electron temperatures occurred over Longyearbyen. The upward ion flux reached 2x10(14) m(-2)s(-1). Naturally enhanced ion-acoustic lines (NEIALs) were seen near the poleward edge of the expanded auroral oval both near the end of expansion phase 17 min after onset and also later in the recovery phase. The NEIALs seemed to be accompanied by another type of enhanced echoes, obliquely to the local geomagnetic field. Data from the Low Energy Neutral Atom instrument on the IMAGE satellite show that energetic neutral oxygen reaches the IMAGE satellite about 40 min after the initial brightening, and oxygen continues to get detected during the recovery phase. We propose that ion upflow at the poleward edge of the auroral oval during the expansion phase is related to ion/neutral outflow with energy below 18-27 eV, whereas during the recovery phase of a substorm upward ions are accelerated up to about 60 eV and flow out in the entire polar region.
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| 17. |
- Ogawa, Y., et al.
(author)
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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
-
In: Journal of Geophysical Research. - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202. ; 115, s. A07310-
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)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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| 18. |
- Oyama, S., Ishii, M., Murayama, Y., Shinagawa, H., Buchert, S., Fujii, R. and Kofman, W.
(author)
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Generation of atmospheric gravity waves associated with auroral activity in the polar F region
- 2001
-
In: Journal of Geophysical Research. ; 106, s. 18543-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Relations between auroral activities and the generation of neutral-wind oscillations in the polar F region (150-300 km) were investigated using data from the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) radar, the all-sky auroral camera, and the IMAGE (Internatio
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| 19. |
- Ozden, C., et al.
(author)
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FDG Uptake in the Basal Forebrain as Measured by Digital High-Resolution PET Is a Promising Marker of Basal Forebrain Degeneration in the Lewy Body Disease Spectrum A Pilot Study
- 2020
-
In: Clinical Nuclear Medicine. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0363-9762 .- 1536-0229. ; 45:4, s. 261-266
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose Cognitive decline in diseases of the Lewy body spectrum (LBS) is linked to dysfunction/degeneration of the basal forebrain (BF). Assessment of glucose metabolism in the BF by FDG PET is hampered by the small size of the BF and limited spatial resolution of conventional PET. This pilot study tested the feasibility of assessing BF glucose metabolism by high-resolution digital PET (dPET). Patients and Methods The retrospective study included 12 LBS patients (61-86 years, 5 demented). Whole-brain stereotactic normalization to anatomical standard space was followed by local stereotactic normalization of a 7 x 7 x 7-cm(3) box around the BF to a custom-made 1 x 1 x 1-mm(3) FDG dPET template. FDG uptake was scaled voxelwise to mean FDG uptake in the pons. Scaled FDG uptake in the BF was compared between demented and nondemented LBS patients and tested for correlation with cortical FDG uptake. Results Scaled FDG uptake in the BF was significantly lower in demented compared with nondemented patients (1.14 +/- 0.09 vs 1.25 +/- 0.06, P = 0.031). Brain-wide voxel-based testing for correlations with scaled FDG uptake in the BF revealed a large cluster comprising medial and ventrolateral frontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, insular cortex, and striatum as well as smaller clusters in motor cortex and occipital cortex (P < 0.001, uncorrected). Conclusions These results suggest that dementia-associated BF degeneration in LBS can be sensitively measured as reduced BF FDG uptake on dPET. More accurate delineation of the BF based on individual high-resolution MRI might be useful to make optimal use of improved spatial resolution of dPET and to correct for possible disease- and age-dependent partial volume effects.
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| 20. |
- Park, Jaeheung, et al.
(author)
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A dayside plasma depletion observed at midlatitudes during quiet geomagnetic conditions
- 2015
-
In: Geophysical Research Letters. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 42:4, s. 967-974
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this study we investigate a dayside, midlatitude plasma depletion (DMLPD) encountered on 22 May 2014 by the Swarm and GRACE satellites, as well as ground-based instruments. The DMLPD was observed near Puerto Rico by Swarm near 10 LT under quiet geomagnetic conditions at altitudes of 475-520 km and magnetic latitudes of similar to 25 degrees-30 degrees. The DMLPD was also revealed in total electron content observations by the Saint Croix station and by the GRACE satellites (430 km) near 16 LT and near the same geographic location. The unique Swarm constellation enables the horizontal tilt of the DMLPD to be measured (35 degrees clockwise from the geomagnetic east-west direction). Ground-based airglow images at Arecibo showed no evidence for plasma density depletions during the night prior to this dayside event. The C/NOFS equatorial satellite showed evidence for very modest plasma density depletions that had rotated into the morningside from nightside. However, the equatorial depletions do not appear related to the DMLPD, for which the magnetic apex height is about 2500 km. The origins of the DMLPD are unknown, but may be related to gravity waves.
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| 21. |
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| 22. |
- Sarris, Theodoros E., et al.
(author)
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Daedalus : a low-flying spacecraft for in situ exploration of the lower thermosphere-ionosphere
- 2020
-
In: Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems. - : COPERNICUS GESELLSCHAFT MBH. - 2193-0856 .- 2193-0864. ; 9:1, s. 153-191
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Daedalus mission has been proposed to the European Space Agency (ESA) in response to the call for ideas for the Earth Observation program's 10th Earth Explorer. It was selected in 2018 as one of three candidates for a phase-0 feasibility study. The goal of the mission is to quantify the key electrodynamic processes that determine the structure and composition of the upper atmosphere, the gateway between the Earth's atmosphere and space. An innovative preliminary mission design allows Daedalus to access electrodynamics processes down to altitudes of 150 km and below. Daedalus will perform in situ measurements of plasma density and temperature, ion drift, neutral density and wind, ion and neutral composition, electric and magnetic fields, and precipitating particles. These measurements will unambiguously quantify the amount of energy deposited in the upper atmosphere during active and quiet geomagnetic times via Joule heating and energetic particle precipitation, estimates of which currently vary by orders of magnitude between models and observation methods. An innovation of the Daedalus preliminary mission concept is that it includes the release of subsatellites at low altitudes: combined with the main spacecraft, these subsatellites will provide multipoint measurements throughout the lower thermosphereionosphere (LTI) region, down to altitudes below 120 km, in the heart of the most under-explored region in the Earth's atmosphere. This paper describes Daedalus as originally proposed to the ESA.
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| 23. |
- Zou, Ying, et al.
(author)
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Localized field-aligned currents in the polar cap associated with airglow patches
- 2016
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In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 121:10, s. 10172-10189
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Airglow patches have been recently associated with channels of enhanced antisunward ionospheric flows propagating across the polar cap from the dayside to nightside auroral ovals. However, how these flows maintain their localized nature without diffusing away remains unsolved. We examine whether patches and collocated flows are associated with localized field-aligned currents (FACs) in the polar cap by using coordinated observations of the Swarm spacecraft, a polar cap all-sky imager, and Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) radars. We commonly (66% of cases) identify substantial FAC enhancements around patches, particularly near the patches' leading edge and center, in contrast to what is seen in the otherwise quiet polar cap. These FACs have densities of 0.1-0.2 mu A/m(-2) and have a distribution of width peaking at similar to 75 km. They can be approximated as infinite current sheets that are orientated roughly parallel to patches. They usually exhibit a Region 1 sense, i.e., a downward FAC lying eastward of an upward FAC. With the addition of Resolute Bay Incoherent Scatter radar data, we find that the FACs can close through Pedersen currents in the ionosphere, consistent with the locally enhanced dawn-dusk electric field across the patch. Our results suggest that ionospheric polar cap flow channels are imposed by structures in the magnetospheric lobe via FACs, and thus manifest mesoscale magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling embedded in large-scale convection.
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