Sondrestrom Radar Observations of Plasma Processes on Polar Cusp and Discrete ARC Field Lines

提出了使用非相干散射雷达的实验 格陵兰Sondre Stromfjord的设施，并研究血浆 与昼侧极光有关的磁力线上的过程 椭圆形和离散弧在晚上部门。 最近升级到 雷达已经使几种新的工作模式成为可能， 能够测量电离层特性，如垂直和 水平离子漂移、电子密度以及离子和电子 大大提高了时间和空间分辨率的温度。 将进行一项精心计划的实验计划， 利用这些新功能以及其他 来自其他地面仪器和卫星的数据。 的 目的是（1）研究的空间和时间变化， 电离层性质在白昼极光椭圆，（2）， 表征离子的源区域，所述离子从 日侧椭圆形填充磁层，（3）发展 高空观测等离子体特性的雷达方法 与极光弧相连的场线 白昼观测 将被用来定义初始条件的理论 向上离子通量及其对磁层影响的模拟 近地等离子体片的压力平衡 高海拔 极光场线的测量将用于确定 来自等离子体湍流的相干回波的存在， 极光加速区 这些实验的结果 将建立一个坚实的观测框架， 极光降水的研究，并将有重要的 对我们理解磁层/电离层的影响 昼侧的耦合及其与极光亚暴的关系 流程.

Experiments are proposed using the incoherent scatter radar facility at Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland, and to study plasma processes on magnetic field lines connected to the dayside auroral oval and discrete arcs in the evening sector. Recent upgrades to the radar have made several new operating modes possible that will enable measurements of ionospheric properties such as vertical and horizontal ion drift, electron densities, and ion and electron temperatures with greatly improved temporal and spatial resolution. A carefully planned experimental program will be conducted that takes advantage of these new capabilities as well as additional data from other ground-based instruments and satellites. The objectives are (1) to study the spatial and temporal variations of ionospheric properties in the dayside auroral oval, (2) to characterize the source region for ions that are transported from the dayside oval to populate the magnetosphere, and (3) to develop radar methods for observing plasma properties at high altitudes on field lines connected to auroral arcs. The dayside observations will be used to define the initial conditions for theoretical modeling of upward ion fluxes and their effects on magnetospheric pressure balance in the near-Earth plasma sheet. The high altitude measurements on auroral field lines will be used to determine the presence of coherent echoes from plasma turbulence associated with the auroral acceleration region. The results of these experiments will establish a firm observational framework for ground-based studies of auroral precipitation and will have important implications for our understanding of magnetosphere/ionosphere coupling on the dayside and how it relates to auroral substorm processes.