Validation of Swarm Langmuir Probes by Incoherent Scatter Radars at High Latitudes

• Published in: Ritið
• Main Authors: Hayden Fast, Alexander Koustov, Robert Gillies
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2023
• Subjects: swarm satellites; incoherent scatter radars; electron density; topside ionosphere; polar cap; auroral zone; Science; Q; Langmuir; Resolute Bay
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15071846; https://doaj.org/article/3d91ee24f162421ca8e0043cd929e9d3

Electron density measured at high latitudes by the Swarm satellites was compared with measurements by the incoherent scatter radars at Resolute Bay and Poker Flat. Overall, the ratio of Swarm-based electron density to that measured by the radars was about 0.5–0.6. Smaller ratios were observed at larger electron densities, usually during the daytime. At low electron densities less than 3 × 10 10 m −3 , the ratios were typically above 1, indicating an overestimation effect. The overestimation effect was stronger at night and for Swarm B. It was more evident at lower solar activity when the electron densities in the topside ionosphere were lower.