Multi-Scale Observations of Plasma Conditions and Features in the Coupled Mid-Latitude Ionosphere and Plasmasphere

Energy input to the terrestrial ionosphere, magnetosphere, and plasmasphere during disturbed intervals manifests itself on subauroral field lines in a complex interplay between induced and feedback Region 2 associated currents, large and small scale plasma transport, embedded plasma irregularities, and enhanced ionospheric recombination processes. Particularly dramatic examples of tight magnetosphere-ionosphere-plasmasphere coupling mechanisms include storm enhanced density plumes feeding significant electron density content into high latitude convection, and fast westward/poleward transport within the sub-auroral polarization stream. The advent of modern enhanced distributed observation networks at mid-latitudes in the American longitude sector provides an opportunity to investigate these mid-latitude associated coupling processes and phenomena in a targeted, more optimized manner. We will discuss plans and initial results from using these capabilities for focused observations, applying simultaneous GPS total electron content maps, mid-latitude SuperDARN HF radar backscatter, and Millstone Hill UHF incoherent scatter radar observations. In particular, we use the multi-hour magnetic local time coverage and continuous monitoring of the mid-latitude SuperDARN network, along with predictive capabilities, as a prompt trigger for regional ionospheric plasma diagnostics with the wide coverage Millstone Hill system. The resulting observational set advances studies of plasma conditions and drivers before and during the emergence of sub-auroral polarization stream events and related phenomena.