Articles | Volume 44, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-44-149-2026
© Author(s) 2026. 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-44-149-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Regular paper
| Highlight paper
| 
26 Feb 2026
Regular paper | Highlight paper |
| 26 Feb 2026
| 26 Feb 2026
A source or a sink? How the altitude of particle precipitation influence high-latitude electrodynamics
Magnus F. Ivarsen
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
The European Space Agency Centre for Earth Observation, Frascati, Italy
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Editor-in-chief
The paper addresses, with a philosophical approach, an important question related to the origin of ionospheric irregularities in the cusp and auroral ionosphere, in clear and precise writing.
The paper addresses, with a philosophical approach, an important question related to the origin...
Short summary
When energetic particles rain into Earth’s lower ionosphere, they ionize the gas, creating a highly conductive base layer. Using a large database of observations from four orbiting space weather satellites, we demonstrate that this plasma foundation acts as a giant electrical short-circuit: it actively neutralizes the electric fields that would otherwise power plasma turbulence higher up. Without this conductive base to drain the energy, topside turbulence freely grows and persists.
When energetic particles rain into Earth’s lower ionosphere, they ionize the gas, creating a...
