HR: 0800h
AN: SM21A-0352    [Abstracts]
TI: High Latitude Thermospheric Winds Drive F-region Patterns Dependent on the Sign of the Y-Component of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field.
AU: * Smith, R W
EM: roger.smith@gi.alaska.edu
AB: It has been known for more than 20 years that high latitude thermospheric winds reflect the sign of the Y component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMFBy). Although the response to change is slow, any period of persistent sign of IMFBy over a period of 30 minutes or more will establish a distinctive pattern of thermospheric circulation. Hence, the transport of active ionospheric species is also sensitive to conditions in the inner heliosphere. Ionospherically active molecules such as NO will also travel equatorward in patterns depending on IMFBy and the distribution of F-region densities should be expected to reflect the same patterns. This paper will review the evidence for thermospheric winds to be sensitive to inner heliospheric conditions and examine the evidence for corresponding F-region patterns of electron density.
DE: 0355 Thermosphere: composition and chemistry
DE: 0358 Thermosphere: energy deposition (3369)
SC: SPA-Magnetospheric Physics [SM]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005