Sondrestrom radar measurements of the reconnection electric field

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

45

Electric Fields, Energy Transfer, Ionospheric Drift, Plasma Drift, Radar Measurement, Solar Wind, Incoherent Scatter Radar, Ionospheric Electron Density, Polar Caps

Scientific paper

The possibility of using Sondrestrom incoherent radar scatter to estimate the rate of solar-wind energy transfer is examined by using plasma-velocity measurements in the separatrix reference frame. The separatrix is the boundary between open and closed field lines, and its orientation is deduced from all-sky images. The radar observations are used to determine the separatrix location and the ionospheric plasma drift. Measurements of the reconnection electric field in the midnight sector for one night are taken, revealing that the field is less than 15 mV/m during the time of local polar-cap extension. During polar-cap contraction the field range is 30-40 mV/m, and these periods correspond to substorm expansive phases. The limitations associated with measuring ionospheric plasma drift, the boundary orientation, and boundary location are enumerated. The measurements in the experimental case demonstrate the possibility of plasma transfer from closed to open field lines.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Sondrestrom radar measurements of the reconnection electric field does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Sondrestrom radar measurements of the reconnection electric field, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Sondrestrom radar measurements of the reconnection electric field will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1739316

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.