Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008agufmsm11b1632z&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2008, abstract #SM11B-1632
Physics
2407 Auroral Ionosphere (2704), 2411 Electric Fields (2712), 2419 Ion Chemistry And Composition (0335), 2431 Ionosphere/Magnetosphere Interactions (2736), 6969 Remote Sensing
Scientific paper
Incoherent scatter radar (ISR) is a powerful remote sensing tool for probing the high-latitude ionosphere. Spectral analysis of radio waves scattered from the ionosphere allows for the simultaneous determination of several important plasma state parameters as a function of range. In almost all cases, the relative concentrations of molecular and atomic ions must be assumed in order to extract ion and electron temperatures from the spectra. However, theoretical models have shown that strong electric fields change ion composition dramatically in the F-layer due to enhanced frictional heating which affects chemical reaction rates. Thus, assumptions made in ISR spectral analysis are readily violated in regions where electric fields are strong, as is expected in the vicinity of auroral arcs. This study investigates the magnitude and occurrence frequency of inaccuracies in ISR analysis resulting from incorrect assumptions about ion composition. Basic spatial and temporal characteristics of ion composition changes induced by electric fields are first reviewed using a physics-based ionospheric model. This model is then used in tandem with data from the Sondrestrom ISR to infer cases of inconsistency in the observed ion temperature profiles and electric fields. It is demonstrated that this inconsistency may be mostly resolved by adopting the modeled composition in the ISR spectral analysis. A determination of the relative importance of these severe composition changes is evaluated from multiple ISR data sets and model simulations. The significance of this work is that it provides some quantitative information about a systematic source of error in ISR data analysis and provides some initial results towards a solution to the issue of variable ion composition in ISR data analysis.
Blelly P.
Díaz Marco
Heinselman Craig
Semeter Joshua
Zettergren M.
No associations
LandOfFree
ISR spectral analysis in regions of highly variable ion composition 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 ISR spectral analysis in regions of highly variable ion composition, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and ISR spectral analysis in regions of highly variable ion composition will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1092334