Direct Observations of the Evolution of Polar Cap Ionization Patches

Patches of ionization are common in the polar ionosphere, where their motion and associated density gradients give variable disturbances to high-frequency (HF) radio communications, over-the-horizon radar location errors, and disruption and errors to satellite navigation and communication. Their for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2013-03, Vol.339 (6127), p.1597-1600
Main Authors: Zhang, Qing-He, Zhang, Bei-Chen, Lockwood, Michael, Hu, Hong-Qiao, Moen, Jøran, Ruohoniemi, J. Michael, Thomas, Evan G., Zhang, Shun-Rong, Yang, Hui-Gen, Liu, Rui-Yuan, McWilliams, Kathryn A., Baker, Joseph B. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aeronomy
Convection
Coronal mass ejection
Disturbances
Electric potential
Ellipses
Evolution
Ionization
Ionosphere
Ionospheres
Ionospherics
Ions
Magnetism
Magnetopause
Magnetospheres
Magnets
Plasma
Polar caps
Radio communications
Satellites
Scientific Concepts
Storms
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Summary:Patches of ionization are common in the polar ionosphere, where their motion and associated density gradients give variable disturbances to high-frequency (HF) radio communications, over-the-horizon radar location errors, and disruption and errors to satellite navigation and communication. Their formation and evolution are poorly understood, particularly under disturbed space weather conditions. We report direct observations of the full evolution of patches during a geomagnetic storm, including formation, polar cap entry, transpolar evolution, polar cap exit, and sunward return flow. Our observations show that modulation of nightside reconnection in the substorm cycle of the magnetosphere helps form the gaps between patches where steady convection would give a "tongue" of ionization (TOI).
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1231487