Multi-Instrument Observation of Dynamics of the Ionospheric Trough During Substorms

该项目将使用各种地基和天基观测来研究磁亚暴期间电离层槽的动力学。高纬度和中纬度的电离层槽是等离子体密度异常低的区域。该项目将使用超级双极光雷达网络（SuperDARN）相干散射雷达、扑克平面非相干散射雷达（PFISR）以及为美国宇航局THEMIS任务设置的全天成像仪和磁力计阵列的观测结果。它将利用来自铱卫星网络（NSF支持的AMPERE项目）的场向电流（FACs）测量。将讨论三个具体的科学问题：(1)在亚暴期间中纬度槽是如何演变的？(2)高纬槽是如何形成的，为什么它通常位于哈朗不连续的正东？(3)电离层电导在哈朗倒转的电场和磁场差异中起什么作用？中高纬度等离子体密度的大尺度变化对影响通信和导航的小尺度等离子体不规则性的形成起着重要作用。该项目将研究在磁扰动时期产生大规模变化的驱动机制。这项工作将提高我们理解和预测重要空间天气现象的能力。

This project will use a variety of ground-based and space-based observations to examine the dynamics of the ionospheric trough during magnetic substorms. The high and mid-latitude, ionospheric troughs are regions of unusually low plasma density. The project will use observations from the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) coherent scatter radars, the Poker Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar (PFISR), and the all-sky imager and magnetometer arrays set up for NASA's THEMIS mission. It will utilize measurements of field-aligned currents (FACs) derived from the Iridium satellite network (the NSF supported AMPERE project). Three specific scientific topics will be addressed: (1) How does the mid-latitude trough evolve during substorms? (2) How is the high-latitude trough formed and why is it typically located immediately eastward of the Harang discontinuity? (3) What role do ionospheric conductances play in the discrepancy between the electric field and magnetic field Harang reversals.The large-scale variations in the plasma density at mid and high-latitudes play an important role in the formation of smaller-scale plasma irregularities that affect communications and navigation. This project will examine the driving mechanisms that produce the large-scale variations during magnetically disturbed times. The work will improve our ability to understand and predict important space weather phenomena.