On the importance of high-altitude low-frequency electric fluctuations for the escape of ionospheric ions

Details On the importance of high-altitude low-frequency electric fluctuations for the escape of ionospheric ions On the importance of high-altitude low-frequency electric fluctuations for the escape of ionospheric ions

May 1990

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1990jgr....95.5905l&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research (ISSN 0148-0227), vol. 95, May 1, 1990, p. 5905-5919. Research supported by the Swedish Board fo

Physics

72

Electric Fields, Ion Cyclotron Radiation, Ionospheric Ion Density, Low Frequencies, Viking Spacecraft, Electron Acceleration, Frequency Ranges, Ion Beams, Power Spectra, Satellite Observation, Vertical Distribution

Scientific paper

Simultaneous measurements of electric fields and upward moving ionospheric ions from the Viking satellite show that upward escape of ionospheric ions in the tens of eV to tens of keV energy range occurs together with low-frequency electric fluctuations (LEFs). Upward flowing ions are observed when the electric field fluctuations are sufficiently strong in the altitude range of about 2000-13,500 km covered by Viking. Furthermore, the temperature of the upflowing ions is found to be well correlated with the power spectral density (PSD) of the LEFs. This suggests a conversion of electric field energy into ion thermal energy. A good correlation between the ion temperature and the wave power in the electrostatic ion cyclotron (EIC) frequency range is also found. However, the heating/acceleration and the corresponding escape of ionospheric ions is believed to be primarily caused by LEFs, first because of the much higher power in the LEFs than the power in the EIC frequency range and second because the PSD clearly peaks below about 1 Hz, while the frequency range of the EIC mostly appears as a monotonic tail or 'background' of an overall PSD increase at low frequencies. Electric fluctuations, and the associated escape of ionospheric ions, are mainly observed inside or above the acceleration region. Below the acceleration region, predominantly downward accelerated electrons are observed.

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