A study of sporadic E at high latitudes.
Diurnal variation of sporadic E at high latitude as function of geomagnetic activity
DIURNAL VARIATION↗
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Magnetospheric Convection Patterns Inferred from High Latitude Activity
Magnetospheric convection patterns inferred from high latitude ionospheric currents - use and limitations of convection models
Heppner, J. P.↗
Observations made at a high-altitude high-latitude manned facility
Human performance observations at high altitude, high latitude manned facility in Arctic region
Holmstrom, F. M. G.↗
Some winter characteristics of the northern high-latitude ionosphere
Winter diurnal behavior of northern high latitude ionospheric electron density using temperature data from Langmuir probes
Brace, L. H.↗
On the nature of weak high latitude X-ray sources
The unidentified high latitude UHURU sources are shown to be consistent with an interpretation which does not require most of them to be extragalactic.
Holt, S. S.↗
Current-driven plasma instabilities at high latitudes
Earlier Ogo 5 discussions of high-latitude magnetospheric wave-particle interaction phenomena associated with field aligned current systems are extended by considering some September 7, 1968, out-bound measurements and corresponding March 11, 1969, observations, when the spacecraft was traversing auroral L shells in midafternoon. It is shown that during moderate magnetospheric disturbances the most intense waves and currents were detected near sharp boundaries in the density of polar cleft electrons, and it is possible that local wave-particle interactions produced anomalous resistivity. Some observed changes in the electron distribution functions might be explained in terms of local acceleration, but significant causal questions about the dynamics remain open if one can use only local data from a single spacecraft in this region.
Scarf, F. L.↗
Empirical models of high-latitude electric fields
Observational models of high-latitude dawn-dusk electric fields, quantitatively based on Ogo 6 measurements, are presented for the two Northern Hemisphere (summer) distributions that occur, respectively, when the interplanetary magnetic field is in the -Y or +Y hemisphere in solar ecliptic coordinates. Both models are representative of conditions which produce magnetic disturbance levels corresponding to Kp of approximately 3. Model cross sections are also given for two selected time periods when the fields were exceptionally weak or strong and were accompanied by magnetic conditions corresponding to Kp of zero or AE of about 1000, respectively. An attempt is made to construct convection patterns resembling the original idealizations of Axford and Hines (1961) in order to obtain convective continuity within the observed boundaries. Since the result is not realistic in representing observations near the Harang discontinuity in the nightside auroral belt, the pattern is modified to fit typical conditions near that discontinuity.
Heppner, J. P.↗
Double-peaked sodium layers at high latitudes
Na lidar observations indicate that at high latitudes in summer the neutral Na layer frequently attains a double-peaked structure. The main layer with a maximum near 90 km altitude is supplemented by a secondary, narrow layer near 95 km altitude. Results are presented concerning secondary sodium layers. It appears likely that the formation of secondary Na layers observed frequently above the lidar site is not solely a 'sodium phenomenon', but part of a more comprehensive layering process for metal atoms and ions. Na(+)/Na density ratios close to 0.5 near the peaks of both the main and secondary layers are derived.
Von Zahn, U.↗
High-Latitude Filtering in a Global Grid-Point Model Using Model Normal Modes
The aim of high-latitude filtering in the vicinity of the poles is to avoid the excessively short time steps imposed on an explicit time-differencing scheme by linear stability due to fast moving inertia-gravity waves near the poles. The model normal mode expansion toward the problem of high-latitude filtering in a global shallow water model using the same philosophy as that used by Daley for the problem for large timesteps in P.E. models with explicit time integration schemes was applied.
Takacs, L. L.↗
Effect of diffusion-thermal processes on the high-latitude topside ionosphere
The extent to which diffusion-thermal heat flow affects H(+) temperatures in the high-latitude topside ionosphere is studied. Such a heat flow occurs whenever there are H(+)-O(+) relative drifts. From our study we have found that at high-latitudes, where H(+) flows up and out of the topside ionosphere, diffusion-thermal heat flow acts to reduce H(+) temperatures by 500-600 K at altitudes above about 900 km.
Schunk, R. W.↗
AO/NAO Response to Climate Change: Relative Importance of Low- and High-Latitude Temperature Changes - 2
Using a variety of GCM experiments with various versions of the GISS model, we investigate how different aspects of tropospheric climate changes affect the extratropical Arctic Oscillation (AO)/North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) circulation indices. The results show that low altitude changes in the extratropical latitudinal temperature gradient can have a strong impact on eddy forcing of the extratropical zonal wind, in the sense that when this latitudinal temperature gradient increases, it helps force a more negative AO/NAO phase. In addition, local conditions at high latitudes can stabilize/destabilize the atmosphere, inducing negative/positive phase changes. To the extent that there is not a large temperature change in the tropical upper troposphere (either through reduced tropical sensitivity at the surface, or limited transport of this change to high levels), the changes in the low level temperature gradient can provide the dominate influence on the extratropical circulation, so that planetary wave meridional refraction and eddy angular momentum transport changes become uncorrelated with potential vorticity transports. In particular, the climate change that produces the most positive NAO phase change would have substantial warming in the tropical upper troposphere over the Pacific Ocean, with high latitude warming in the North Atlantic. An increase in positive phase of these circulation indices is still more likely than not, but it will depend on the degree of tropical and high latitude temperature response and the transport of low level warming into the upper troposphere. These are aspects that currently differ among the models used for predicting the effects of global warning, contributing to the lack of consensus of future changes in the AO/NAO.
Rind, D.↗
Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Nitric Oxide Production at High Latitudes During an ICME-driven Storm on Dec. 14, 2006
During geomagnetic storms driven by interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs), Earth’s upper atmosphere neutral mass density is directly driven by the geomagnetic storm cycle from intense driving and subsequent recovery. The neutral density heating and cooling times are shorter for stronger storms and longer for weaker storms. The influx of energy (Joule Heating and precipitation) into Earth’s upper atmosphere during the storm main phase allows for the enhanced production of nitric oxide (NO) at high latitudes, which in turn cools the thermosphere by radiating away excess energy. As a result, greater NO production results in quicker thermospheric cooling. Yet while the production of NO on a global scale has been examined in detail, the space and time evolution of NO is not well-known. In this study, we investigate the effects of a particular ICME-driven storm, which occurred on Dec. 14th, 2006, on the production of NO at high latitudes. We compare NO measurements from the Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere Dynamics (TIMED) spacecraft to neutral mass density measurements from the Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) spacecraft and find that the impact of the shock prior to the storm, not just the onset of the storm itself, is responsible for an increase in NO production. We also observe a dawn-dusk asymmetry in high-latitude NO production and discuss how the geometry of the solar wind driver may play a role in creating this asymmetry. Finally, we discuss how the improved hemispheric and local time coverage provided by the GDC and DYNAMIC missions will enable more robust studies of the spatiotemporal evolution of NO during storms. Since NO is an important factor in regulating the neutral density of the thermosphere, such studies will be relevant for more accurate orbital drag calculations.
Kevin Delano↗
DIRECT OBSERVATIONS OF DUMPING OF ELECTRONS AT 1000 KM ALTITUDE AND HIGH LATITUDES
Dumping of electrons at high altitudes and latitudes, direct observations
INJUN I SATELLITE↗
The First in situ Observation of Kelvin-Helmholtz Waves at High-Latitude Magnetopause during Strongly Dawnward Interplanetary Magnetic Field Conditions
We report the first in situ observation of high-latitude magnetopause (near the northern duskward cusp) Kelvin-Helmholtz waves (KHW) by Cluster on January 12, 2003, under strongly dawnward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions. The fluctuations unstable to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) are found to propagate mostly tailward, i.e., along the direction almost 90 deg. to both the magnetosheath and geomagnetic fields, which lowers the threshold of the KHI. The magnetic configuration across the boundary layer near the northern duskward cusp region during dawnward IMF is similar to that in the low-latitude boundary layer under northward IMF, in that (1) both magnetosheath and magnetospheric fields across the local boundary layer constitute the lowest magnetic shear and (2) the tailward propagation of the KHW is perpendicular to both fields. Approximately 3-hour-long periods of the KHW during dawnward IMF are followed by the rapid expansion of the dayside magnetosphere associated with the passage of an IMF discontinuity that characterizes an abrupt change in IMF cone angle, Phi = acos (B(sub x) / absolute value of Beta), from approx. 90 to approx. 10. Cluster, which was on its outbound trajectory, continued observing the boundary waves at the northern evening-side magnetopause during sunward IMF conditions following the passage of the IMF discontinuity. By comparing the signatures of boundary fluctuations before and after the IMF discontinuity, we report that the frequencies of the most unstable KH modes increased after the discontinuity passed. This result demonstrates that differences in IMF orientations (especially in f) are associated with the properties of KHW at the high-latitude magnetopause due to variations in thickness of the boundary layer, and/or width of the KH-unstable band on the surface of the dayside magnetopause.
solar wind↗
High latitude minor ion enhancements: A clue for studies of magnetosphere-atmosphere coupling
Unexpectedly abrupt and pronounced distributions of the thermal molecular ions NO(+), O2(+) and N2(+) were observed at mid and high latitudes by the OGO-6 ion mass spectrometer. These minor ions may reach concentration levels exceeding 1000 ions/cu cm at altitudes as great as 1000 km, suggestive of scale heights well in excess of those inferred from low and mid-latitude measurements, under relatively undisturbed conditions. The high latitude ion enhancements were observed to be narrowly defined in time and space, with molecular ion concentrations changing by as much as an order of magnitude between successive orbits.
Taylor, H. A., Jr.↗
NO/+/ and O/+/ in the high latitude F-region
From an analysis of ionic reactions, it is deduced that NO(+) should be an important constituent of the high-latitude F-region. Owing to the rapid increase of the reaction O(+) + N2 yields NO(+) + N with ion velocity and temperature, high latitude electric fields and consequent E x B drifts act to deplete O(+) in favor of NO(+). As a consequence of this and the reduced rate of NO(+) dissociative recombination arising from high electron temperatures, it seems that NO(+) can, at times, replace O(+) as the major F2-region ion in the vicinity of the auroral ovals. The same processes should also be effective in creating nighttime electron density troughs composed primarily of NO(+) in regions equatorward of the auroral ovals where large electric fields are often present.
Banks, P. M.↗
Scaling laws for the spectrum of interchange instabilities in the high-latitude ionosphere
The scaling laws associated with the nonlinear spectrum of the E x B interchange instability as it may occur in the high-latitude ionosphere-magnetosphere coupled system were derived, together with its constraints, using the NRL high-latitude ionosphere-magnetosphere mesoscale coupling model. It is shown that the bounds on the spectral indices determined by this approach are consistent with experimental observations.
Keskinen, M. J.↗
Energy sources of the high latitude upper atmosphere
Electrodynamic (Joule) dissipation and plasma wave heating are reviewed as sources of energy for the upper atmosphere at high latitudes. Electrodynamic heating in the thermosphere is described by a generalized energy balance equation taking into account a variety of inelastic processes and energy losses, and the use of height-integrated values of the Joule heating rate to estimate the importance of electrodynamic heating at high latitudes is discussed. Observations of electrons between 95 and 115 km altitude that are up to 1000 K hotter than the neutral atmosphere is presented as evidence for atmospheric heating due to unstable plasma waves arising from the Farley-Buneman modified two-stream instability.
Banks, P. M.↗