SuperDARN Observations of the Two Component Model of Ionospheric Convection
We use a 20 years database of Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) observations to investigate the two component model of ionospheric convection. A convection pattern is included in the database if it is derived from at least 250 radar vectors and has a distribution of electric potential consistent with Dungey‐cycle twin vortex flow (a negative potential peak in the dusk cell and a positive potential peak in the dawn cell). We extract the locations of the foci of the convection cells from the SuperDARN convection patterns, and compare their dependencies on the north‐south component of the interplanetary magnetic field, IMF BZ, and the SuperMAG auroral electrojet index, SML. We use these parameters to define intervals of expected dayside or nightside dominated reconnection. Our results show that, under conditions favorable for dominant dayside reconnection, the dawn and dusk foci are shifted toward the dayside and that, under conditions favorable for dominant nightside reconnection, the dawn and dusk foci are shifted toward the nightside.
Funding
Predicting the upper atmospheric response to extremes of space weather forcing
Natural Environment Research Council
Find out more...Space Weather Instrumentation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk: Thermosphere (SWIMMR-T)
UK Research and Innovation
Find out more...A Consolidated Grant Proposal for Solar and Planetary Science at the University of Leicester, 2022 - 2025
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Find out more...History
Author affiliation
College of Science & Engineering Physics & AstronomyVersion
- VoR (Version of Record)