Observations of the high latitude trough using EISCAT

Details Observations of the high latitude trough using EISCAT Observations of the high latitude trough using EISCAT

May 1986

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1986jatp...48..423w&link_type=abstract

Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics (ISSN 0021-9169), vol. 48, May 1986, p. 423-434. SERC-supported research.

Physics

20

Eiscat Radar System (Europe), Ionospheric Electron Density, Ionospheric Heating, Radar Measurement, Space Plasmas, Electron Energy, Ion Temperature, Polar Regions

Scientific paper

Data taken by EISCAT are presented as contours of electron density, ion and electron temperature, and plasma velocity versus invariant latitude and local magnetic time. Three nights near midsummer were studied, and in each case a trough in electron density occurred north of invariant latitude 64 deg shortly after local midnight (MLT 0200) and remained a prominent feature for about 3 h before moving poleward. The minimum in electron density was associated with a marked increase in ion temperature, but the electron temperature showed little change. In this respect the high latitude trough is clearly different from the midlatitude trough. Full velocity measurements were not available for all three nights, but it seems that the appearance of the trough followed the start of a strong eastward plasma velocity combined with a strong upward velocity along the magnetic field line. The sudden change in plasma velocity causes frictional heating, which explains the increase in ion temperature. Upward plasma velocity is a major factor in the formation of the trough, with enhanced recombination making a smaller contribution.

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