Plasma flows, electric fields and currents in the Earth's ionosphere

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As the solar wind and the embedded interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) stream past the Earth, the charged-particle plasma in the Earth's magnetosphere (the magnetic field region surrounding the Earth) is driven into continuous motion. The magnetospheric voltage generated by such motion produces currents that flow along magnetic field lines to the ionosphere only ~100 km above the Earth. The current then flows horizontally in the ionosphere before returning upward to the magnetosphere. The currents, voltages, and high-energy particles accelerated from the magnetosphere into the ionosphere not only are hazardous to astronauts and satellite electronics such as GPS systems in space, but also cause power blackouts and lead to pipeline corrosion and rupture on the ground. ***The proposed research program is aimed at studying the voltage patterns and currents in space and on the ground. This will be done by careful analysis of data collected by: (a) the international Super Dual Auroral Radar Network of radars (SuperDARN); (b) the versatile and powerful incoherent scatter radar at Resolute Bay (including both the Canadian and US portions); (c) the ongoing international satellite missions with strong Canadian participation, e-POP and Swarm. Several key topics in space physics will be addressed: (1) the dependence of the ionospheric voltages upon variations in the solar wind and IMF conditions; (2) the patterns of plasma flows related to a special type of aurora borealis, namely polar cap arcs; (3) plasma density patches travelling across the polar regions from dayside to nightside; (4) the effects of voltages and currents on the operation of radio communication systems in the Canadian High Arctic. This research program focuses on training both undergraduate and graduate students for work in satellite, aerospace and related industries, as well as for agencies performing environmental monitoring and protection.**