On the diurnal variability in F2-region plasma density above the EISCAT Svalbard radar

Two long runs of EISCAT Svalbard Radar (ESR), in February 2001 and October 2002, have been analysed with respect to variability in the F2 region peak density and altitude. The diurnal variation in the F2 peak density exhibits one maximum around 12:00 MLT and another around 23:00 MLT, consistent with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annales Geophysicae
Main Authors: J. Moen, X. C. Qiu, H. C. Carlson, R. Fujii, I. W. McCrea
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2008
Subjects:
Science
Q
Physics
QC1-999
Geophysics. Cosmic physics
QC801-809
Svalbard
EISCAT
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-26-2427-2008
https://doaj.org/article/498cbab0001a41adaed4afb7ad07cd5e
Description
Summary:Two long runs of EISCAT Svalbard Radar (ESR), in February 2001 and October 2002, have been analysed with respect to variability in the F2 region peak density and altitude. The diurnal variation in the F2 peak density exhibits one maximum around 12:00 MLT and another around 23:00 MLT, consistent with solar wind controlled transport of EUV ionized plasma across the polar cap from day to night. High density plasma patch material is drawn in through the cusp inflow region independent of IMF B Y . There is no apparent IMF B Y asymmetry on the intake of high density plasma, but the trajectory of its motion is strongly B Y dependent. Comparison with the international reference ionosphere model (IRI2001) clearly demonstrates that the model does not take account of the cross-polar transport of F2-region plasma, and hence has limited applicability in polar cap regions.

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