Effect of the day night ionospheric conductivity gradient on polar cap convective flow

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

14

Atmospheric Effects, Convective Flow, Diurnal Variations, Ionospheric Conductivity, Polar Caps, Auroral Zones, Convection Currents, Earth Magnetosphere, Electric Fields, Gradients, Interplanetary Magnetic Fields

Scientific paper

The electric field data in the polar cap do not display the expected mirror symmetry for positive and negative values of the solar magnetospheric y component of the interplanetary magnetic field, suggesting that an additional effect is squeezing the antisunward flow toward the dawnside of the polar cap. It is shown that a conductivity decrease toward the nightside will produce such an effect. Results are both for a model with a discontinuous decrease in density and for models with a smooth exponential decrease in conductivity with distance across the polar cap. Steeper conductivity gradients cause stronger squeezing of the flow toward the dawnside of the polar cap. Outside the polar cap the return flow towards the dayside spreads over a wider latitude range on the dawnside than on the duskside. This is a likely explanation of the observed asymmetry in the thickness of the auroral oval.

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

Effect of the day night ionospheric conductivity gradient on polar cap convective flow 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 Effect of the day night ionospheric conductivity gradient on polar cap convective flow, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Effect of the day night ionospheric conductivity gradient on polar cap convective flow will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1035489

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