ICON Investigations of Ionospheric Electrodynamics
Abstract
The Ionospheric Connections (ICON) Explorer mission is designed to investigate the influence of dynamo driven currents on the motion of the plasma near and above the F-peak of the ionosphere. An integral part of this investigation involves a description of the plasma motions parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field that will be provided by the Ion Velocity Meter (IVM). The performance of this instrument has been extensively modeled to insure a sensitivity to small changes in the plasma drift that we expect to be associated with local variations in the neutral atmosphere, as well as an accuracy sufficient to resolve plasma drifts resulting from the dynamo action of neutral winds in the lower thermosphere. A description of the IVM and its performance will be given in addition to a description of the application of the measurements to a specification of the local wind system, the dynamo currents driven at lower altitudes on the same magnetic flux tubes and the distribution of the F-region plasma density.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFMSA21A3161S
- Keywords:
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- 0355 Thermosphere: composition and chemistry;
- ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTUREDE: 2427 Ionosphere/atmosphere interactions;
- IONOSPHEREDE: 7894 Instruments and techniques;
- SPACE PLASMA PHYSICSDE: 7959 Models;
- SPACE WEATHER