Articles | Volume 38, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-297-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-297-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Regular paper
| 
06 Mar 2020
Regular paper |
| 06 Mar 2020
| 06 Mar 2020
Electron heating by HF pumping of high-latitude ionospheric F-region plasma near magnetic zenith
Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala, Sweden
Björn Gustavsson
Institute for Physics and Technology, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
Theresa Rexer
Institute for Physics and Technology, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
Michael T. Rietveld
EISCAT Scientific Association, Ramfjordmoen, Norway
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Thomas B. Leyser, Tima Sergienko, Urban Brändström, Björn Gustavsson, and Michael T. Rietveld
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Powerful radio waves transmitted into the ionosphere from the ground were used to study electron energization in the pumped ionospheric plasma turbulence, by detecting optical emissions from atomic oxygen. Our results obtained with the EISCAT (European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association) facilities in northern Norway and optical detection with the ALIS (Auroral Large Imaging System) in northern Sweden suggest that long-wavelength upper hybrid waves are important in accelerating electrons.
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Transmission of powerful radio waves into the overhead ionosphere is used to study plasma turbulence processes. It is well known that the ionospheric response to radio waves is the strongest in the direction of the geomagnetic field. We have found evidence that the transmitted radio wave can propagate in a mode that enables the wave to propagate much higher in altitude and deeper into the ionosphere than what is usually expected, which may account for the strong plasma response observed.
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We present a second-level calibration method for electron density measurements from multi-beam incoherent scatter radars. It is based on the well-known Flat field correction method used in imaging and photography. The methods improve data quality and useability as they account for unaccounted, and unpredictable variations in the radar system. This is valuable for studies where inter-beam calibration is important such as studies of polar cap patches, plasma irregularities and turbulence.
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Temperatures at 85 km around Earth's poles in summer can be so cold that small ice particles form. These can become charged, and, combined with turbulence at these altitudes, they can influence the many electrons present. This can cause large radar echoes called polar mesospheric summer echoes. We use radio waves to heat these echoes on and off when the sun is close to or below the horizon. This allows us to gain some insight into these ice particles and how the sun influences the echoes.
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Ann. Geophys., 41, 55–67, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-55-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-55-2023, 2023
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The study of some ionospheric events benefit from the knowledge of how the physics varies over a volume and over time. Examples are studies of aurora or energy deposition. With EISCAT3D, measurements of ion velocity vectors in a volume will be possible for the first time. We present a technique that uses a set of such measurements to estimate electric field and neutral wind. The technique relies on adding restrictions to the estimates. We successfully consider restrictions based on physics.
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Ann. Geophys., 41, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-1-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-1-2023, 2023
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We measured the height of green and blue aurorae using thousands of camera images recorded over a 7-year period. Both colours are typically brightest at about 114 km altitude. When they peak at higher altitudes the blue aurora is usually higher than the green aurora. This information will help other studies which need an estimate of the auroral height. We used a computer model to explain our observations and to investigate how the green aurora is produced.
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The pulsating auroral generation mechanism has been investigated by observing precipitating electrons using rockets or satellites. However, it is difficult for such observations to distinguish temporal changes from spatial ones. In this study, we reconstructed the horizontal 2-D distribution of precipitating electrons using only auroral images. The 3-D aurora structure was also reconstructed. We found that there were both spatial and temporal changes in the precipitating electron energy.
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Measurements of the electric field and neutral wind in the ionosphere are important for understanding energy flows or electric currents. With incoherent scatter radars (ISRs), we can measure the velocity of the ions, which depends on both the electrical field and the neutral wind. In this paper, we investigate methods to use ISR data to find reasonable values for both parameters. We find that electric field can be well measured down to 125 km height and neutral wind below this height.
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Sam Tuttle, Betty Lanchester, Björn Gustavsson, Daniel Whiter, Nickolay Ivchenko, Robert Fear, and Mark Lester
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Electric fields in the atmosphere near dynamic aurora are important in the physics of the electric circuit within the Earth's magnetic field. Oxygen ions emit light as they move under the influence of these electric fields; the flow of this emission is used to find the electric field at high temporal resolution. The solution needs two other simultaneous measurements of auroral emissions to give key parameters such as the auroral energy. The electric fields increase with brightness of the aurora.
Jun Wu, Jian Wu, Michael T. Rietveld, Ingemar Haggstrom, Haisheng Zhao, Tong Xu, and Zhengwen Xu
Ann. Geophys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-2019-23, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-2019-23, 2019
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Thomas B. Leyser, H. Gordon James, Björn Gustavsson, and Michael T. Rietveld
Ann. Geophys., 36, 243–251, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-243-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-243-2018, 2018
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Transmission of powerful radio waves into the overhead ionosphere is used to study plasma turbulence processes. It is well known that the ionospheric response to radio waves is the strongest in the direction of the geomagnetic field. We have found evidence that the transmitted radio wave can propagate in a mode that enables the wave to propagate much higher in altitude and deeper into the ionosphere than what is usually expected, which may account for the strong plasma response observed.
H. Y. Fu, W. A. Scales, P. A. Bernhardt, S. J. Briczinski, M. J. Kosch, A. Senior, M. T. Rietveld, T. K. Yeoman, and J. M. Ruohoniemi
Ann. Geophys., 33, 983–990, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-983-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-983-2015, 2015
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This paper reports the first experimental observation of stimulated Brillouin scattering near the third electron gyro-harmonic induced by high-frequency, high-power radio waves at EISCAT. The stimulated Brillouin scattering has also been correlated with simultaneous observations of the
field-aligned irregularities and electron temperature. The observed stimulated Brillouin scattering becomes enhanced for pumping near electron gyro-harmonics.
O. Havnes, H. Pinedo, C. La Hoz, A. Senior, T. W. Hartquist, M. T. Rietveld, and M. J. Kosch
Ann. Geophys., 33, 737–747, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-737-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-737-2015, 2015
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Noctilucent clouds were observed by two radars at different wavelengths. Artificial electron heating was applied. As predicted by modelling, there is a general difference between the observations by the two radars. However, for some heater cycles we observed an exceptionally strong, rapid and similar increase in backscatter for both radars when the heater was on. Models predict a considerable difference in reaction. Our observation indicate that the charging models may not be complete.
N. M. Schlatter, N. Ivchenko, B. Gustavsson, T. Leyser, and M. Rietveld
Ann. Geophys., 31, 1103–1108, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1103-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1103-2013, 2013
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Short summary
Powerful radio waves transmitted into the ionosphere give the strongest turbulence effects in geomagnetic zenith, antiparallel to the magnetic field in the Northern Hemisphere. Our results obtained with the EISCAT (European Incoherent SCATter association) Heating facility in Norway and the EISCAT UHF incoherent scatter radar together with modelling suggest that the pump wave propagates in the L mode, rather than in the O mode that is usually assumed to be involved in such experiments.
Powerful radio waves transmitted into the ionosphere give the strongest turbulence effects in...
