Sounding rocket observations of precipitation and effects on the ionosphere and model comparisons
Location
Yosemite National Park
Start Date
2-11-2014 5:55 PM
End Date
2-11-2014 6:10 PM
Description
Auroral precipitation results in multiple effects on the ionosphere, including the heating of ambient ionospheric electrons and the phenomenon of ionospheric feedback. Data and conclusions from several sounding rocket missions and comparisons with models have recently yielded further insight into these effects. A new study shows data from multiple sounding rockets, both on the dayside and nightside and at different altitudes, and compares these observations to modeling predictions. The results provide more understanding if and how heating of ambient electrons in regions of auroral precipitation plays a fundamental role in ion outflow and, possibly, neutral upwelling processes. We also show data from the ACES rocket mission, which obtained the first in situ measurements indicative of the observational characteristics associated with the ionospheric feedback instability (IFI) as it flew through an auroral arc and its associated return current region. These observations are compared to existing models of IFI and used to develop a new model that decouples the upward and downward current regions and produced results very similar to the ACES observations.
Sounding rocket observations of precipitation and effects on the ionosphere and model comparisons
Yosemite National Park
Auroral precipitation results in multiple effects on the ionosphere, including the heating of ambient ionospheric electrons and the phenomenon of ionospheric feedback. Data and conclusions from several sounding rocket missions and comparisons with models have recently yielded further insight into these effects. A new study shows data from multiple sounding rockets, both on the dayside and nightside and at different altitudes, and compares these observations to modeling predictions. The results provide more understanding if and how heating of ambient electrons in regions of auroral precipitation plays a fundamental role in ion outflow and, possibly, neutral upwelling processes. We also show data from the ACES rocket mission, which obtained the first in situ measurements indicative of the observational characteristics associated with the ionospheric feedback instability (IFI) as it flew through an auroral arc and its associated return current region. These observations are compared to existing models of IFI and used to develop a new model that decouples the upward and downward current regions and produced results very similar to the ACES observations.