HR: 0830h
AN: SA21B-0067    [PDF]
TI: Variability of High-Latitude Vertical Plasma Flux using DMSP Measurements
AU: * Coley, W R
EM: coley@utdallas.edu
AF: William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences University of Texas at Dallas, P.O. Box 830688, MS FO22, Richardson, TX 75083 United States
AU: Heelis, R A
EM: heelis@utdallas.edu
AF: William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences University of Texas at Dallas, P.O. Box 830688, MS FO22, Richardson, TX 75083 United States
AB: We have examined characteristics of the vertical ion flux in the topside high-latitude ionosphere from measurements of the vertical ion drift and ion number density made by the DMSP F13 satellite. In the polar cap the vertical ion flux is uniformly downward at all locations. However, in the auroral zone the ion flux is highly structured and a net upward flux is produced only by spatially and temporally confined events containing upward fluxes in excess of 10$^{9}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$ that have no downward counterparts. The distribution of the plasma's vertical flux varies by both season and solar cycle with wider variability occurring during winter and at lower levels of solar activity. We also look at variations of the upward flux events as a function of geomagnetic activity.
DE: 2407 Auroral ionosphere (2704)
DE: 2431 Ionosphere/magnetosphere interactions (2736)
DE: 2475 Polar cap ionosphere
DE: 2481 Topside ionosphere
SC: SPA - Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting