Observation and Modeling of Ion Upwelling Above Aurora
Abstract
Auroral electron precipition heats the ionospheric plasma. Especially at F-region altitudes, this leads to increased plasma pressure and a pressure gradient force that accelerates plasma away from the heated region. The resulting upward ion velocities have been observed by the incoherent scatter radar at Poker Flat (PFISR). The upward moving ions cause an increased ion density well above typical auroral ionization altitudes. N2+ ions that are lifted to altitudes above the shadowheight will resonantly scatter sunlight. This is observed by coincident overflights of the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) on the Coriolis satellite, looking up from 840 km altitude. We will present a study that combines modeling and observations by PFISR and SMEI to illustrate and explain this process.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008AGUFMSA21B1542L
- Keywords:
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- 0310 Airglow and aurora;
- 0355 Thermosphere: composition and chemistry;
- 0358 Thermosphere: energy deposition (3369);
- 2407 Auroral ionosphere (2704)