Direct observations of the evolution of polar cap ionization patches

Zhang, Q.-H., Zhang, B.-C., Lockwood, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7397-2172, Hu, H.-Q., Moen, J. I., Ruohoniemi, J. M., Thomas, E.G., Zhang, S.-R., Yang, H.-G., Lui, R. Y., McWilliams, K. A. and Baker, J. B. H. (2013) Direct observations of the evolution of polar cap ionization patches. Science, 339 (6127). pp. 1597-1600. ISSN 1095-9203 doi: 10.1126/science.1231487

Abstract/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).

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/32004
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Publisher	American Association for the Advancement of Science
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