Using DMSP and AMISR for studying ionospheric flow channels and density structures due to magnetic reconnection

Magnetic re-connection can be considered the main driver of fast ionospheric flows channels that become part of the convection cells, which in turn can generate F region patches that move across the polar cap. By using satellite data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), such events can be studied using energy flux, velocity, density and temperature measurements to obtain an approximate boundary for the polar cap, flow movement at the ionosphere, and temperature enhancements or depletions. DMSP is ideal for spatial measurements over the polar caps given its low earth, and the always dawn to dusk orbit. The inclusion of measurements from Incoherent Scatter Radars (ISR) such as Poker Flat (PFISR) and Resolute Bay (RISR), which can acquire spatial and temporal information together with coverage, resolution, and uncertainty defined by the experimental mode, add an extra layer of understanding by looking at conjugated points with DMSP passes over or close to the beams of the electronically steerable radars. These two types of measurement have very different space-time sampling rates, resolutions, and uncertainties. Ionospheric flow channels and F region patches coming down due to high latitude re-connection caused by the slightly northward IMF of January 24th, 2012, are measured using both DMSP and RISR. Perpendicular flows from RISR can be obtained using several oblique beams to estimate the flow and data products. Conjunction points are presented to analyze the complementary relationship between the respective data sets to obtain new insights into the complex flow patterns excited by high-latitude magnetic re-connection events, including: large enhancements in density, dynamics of F region patches, changes on the ExB drift due to re-connection, and temperature variations with the prospect of a full Joule heating analysis for the future.