Topside Ion Composition Irregularities Relevant to Studies of Trough-Plasmapause Coupling
Location
Yosemite National Park
Start Date
2-6-1974 12:00 PM
End Date
2-6-1974 12:15 PM
Description
Several types of irregularities are observed in the topside ion composition which bear on magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. Just equatorward of the light ion trough, abrupt depletions in H+ and He+ appear to be consistent with the concept of taillike distortions of the plasmasphere, resulting from the combined effects of convection and co-rotation. At higher latitudes another abrupt ion depletion is observed, accompanied by abrupt enhancements in the concentrations of the molecular ions N2+ , NO+ , and O2+ . The identification of these separate but perhaps related phenomena may explain the dayside poleward shift originally observed by Muldrew in the electron density trough and may also provide a basis for evaluating electron and light ion trough characteristics relative to lower atmosphere effects, as well as magnetospheric processes.
Topside Ion Composition Irregularities Relevant to Studies of Trough-Plasmapause Coupling
Yosemite National Park
Several types of irregularities are observed in the topside ion composition which bear on magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. Just equatorward of the light ion trough, abrupt depletions in H+ and He+ appear to be consistent with the concept of taillike distortions of the plasmasphere, resulting from the combined effects of convection and co-rotation. At higher latitudes another abrupt ion depletion is observed, accompanied by abrupt enhancements in the concentrations of the molecular ions N2+ , NO+ , and O2+ . The identification of these separate but perhaps related phenomena may explain the dayside poleward shift originally observed by Muldrew in the electron density trough and may also provide a basis for evaluating electron and light ion trough characteristics relative to lower atmosphere effects, as well as magnetospheric processes.