Storm Time Mesoscale Plasma Flows in the Nightside High-Latitude Ionosphere: A Statistical Survey of Characteristics

Gabrielse, Christine; Pinto, Victor; Nishimura, Yukitoshi; Lyons, Larry; Gallardo-Lacourt, Bea; Deng, Yue

Keywords: mesoscale, storm, CME, ionosphere flows, plasma flows, HSS

Abstract

Although much work has been done to characterize the global response of Earth's upper atmosphere to geomagnetic storms, much is unknown regarding the response on mesoscales (~30–500 km). In order to understand how the nightside, high-latitude ionosphere responds on these scales during storms, we have characterized widths, velocities, and occurrence rates of equatorward and poleward mesoscale flows. We characterized them according to main phase versus recovery phase as well as coronal mass ejection (CME) versus high-speed stream (HSS) storms. Some results include the following: Mesoscale flows are faster during the main phase of the storms. Faster flows >400 m/s are more frequent and probable during CME storms as compared to HSS storms, but more flows occur during HSS storms. Polar cap flows are wider during CMEs than during HSSs. There is a postmidnight preference for polar cap mesoscale flows during storms, especially during recovery phase and during HSSs.

Más información

Título de la Revista: GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
Volumen: 46
Número: 8
Editorial: AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION
Fecha de publicación: 2019
Página de inicio: 4079
Página final: 4088
Idioma: English
URL: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2018GL081539
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL081539

Notas: WOS Core Collection ISI