Articles | Volume 42, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-229-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-229-2024
Regular paper
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04 Jun 2024
Regular paper | Highlight paper |  | 04 Jun 2024

Does high-latitude ionospheric electrodynamics exhibit hemispheric mirror symmetry?

Spencer Mark Hatch, Heikki Vanhamäki, Karl Magnus Laundal, Jone Peter Reistad, Johnathan K. Burchill, Levan Lomidze, David J. Knudsen, Michael Madelaire, and Habtamu Tesfaw

Data sets

Swarm TII 2Hz cross-track dataset European Space Agency https://swarm-diss.eo.esa.int/#swarm/Advanced/Plasma_Data/2Hz_TII_Cross-track_Dataset

Penticton Solar Radio Flux at 10.7 cm National Research Council Canada https://lasp.colorado.edu/lisird/data/penticton_radio_flux

Model code and software

python implementation of the Swipe model (pySwipe) S. M. Hatch and K. M. Laundal https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10148940

Swarm Hi-C inversion toolkit S. M. Hatch and K. M. Laundal https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10245816

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Editor-in-chief
This paper presents a new set of empirical models for describing variations in ionosphere-thermosphere electrodynamics in both hemispheres, as a function of season as well as prevailing solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions. The models are based on combined measurements of magnetic field perturbations and ionospheric plasma drift made by the Swarm and CHAMP satellites. The chief advantage of these models is that they are the first empirical models of high-latitude ionospheric electrodynamics quantities in both hemispheres that are consistently derived. The model codes are open source and publicly available.
Short summary
In studies of the Earth's ionosphere, a hot topic is how to estimate ionospheric conductivity. This is hard to do for a variety of reasons that mostly amount to a lack of measurements. In this study we use satellite measurements to estimate electromagnetic work and ionospheric conductances in both hemispheres. We identify where our model estimates are inconsistent with laws of physics, which partially solves a previous problem with unrealistic predictions of ionospheric conductances.