Van Allen Probes Bibliography is from August 2012 through September 2021 Notice:
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An examination of the source of decameter-scale irregularities in the geomagnetically disturbed mid-latitude ionosphere
Author | Thomas, Evan; Yan, Jingye; Zhang, Jiaojiao; Baker, Joseph; Ruohoniemi, Michael; Hoskawa, Keisuke; Erickson, Philip; Coster, Anthea; Foster, John; |
Keywords | Ionosphere; Plasmas; SUPERDARN; Van Allen Probes |
Abstract | We present first results from a study of the plasma instability mechanism responsible for the small-scale (\~10 m) ionospheric density irregularities commonly observed by the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) HF radars in the vicinity of Sub Auroral Polarization Streams (SAPS) during periods of geomagnetic disturbance. A focus is placed on the mid-latitude region of the ionosphere over North America where recent expansion of the SuperDARN network allows for extensive direct comparisons with total electron content (TEC) measurements from a dense network of ground-based GPS receivers. The TEC observations indicate that high-speed SAPS channels and the associated small-scale irregularities are typically located within the mid-latitude ionospheric trough. The Millstone Hill Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR), operating in campaign mode in support of the NASA Van Allen Probes mission, provided measurements of F region ion/electron density, velocity, and temperature suitable for identifying potential mechanisms of plasma instability during a SAPS event that extended over 12 hours of magnetic local time (MLT) on 2 February 2013. Previous work has indicated that the density gradients associated with the poleward wall of the mid-latitude trough can produce small-scale irregularities due to the gradient drift instability during quiet periods by cascade from larger-scale structures. In this study we demonstrate that the gradient drift instability is a viable source for the direct generation of the small-scale irregularities observed by SuperDARN radars in the mid-latitude ionosphere during geomagnetically disturbed conditions. |
Year of Publication | 2014 |
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Date Published | 08/2014 |
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URL | http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/lpdocs/epic03/wrapper.htm?arnumber=6929853 |
DOI | 10.1109/URSIGASS.2014.6929853 |