Multi-instrument observations of polar cap patches and traveling ionospheric disturbances generated by solar wind Alfven waves coupling to the dayside magnetosphere

• Published in: Annales Geophysicae
• Main Authors: Prikryl, Paul, Gillies, Robert G., Themens, David R., Weygand, James M., Thomas, Evan G., Chakraborty, Shibaji
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus 2022
• Subjects: Interplanetary magnetic-field; atmospheric gravity-waves; flux-transfer events; dissipative multiconstituent medium; high-latitude ionosphere; radar observations; interaction regions; global propagation; f-region; risr-c; Arctic; Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network; Resolute Bay
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10919/114765; https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-619-2022

During minor to moderate geomagnetic storms, caused by corotating interaction regions (CIRs) at the leading edge of high-speed streams (HSSs), solar wind Alfven waves modulated the magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause. The Resolute Bay Incoherent Scatter Radars (RISR-C and RISR-N), measuring plasma parameters in the cusp and polar cap, observed ionospheric signatures of flux transfer events (FTEs) that resulted in the formation of polar cap patches. The patches were observed as they moved over the RISR, and the Canadian High-Arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN) ionosondes and GPS receivers. The coupling process modulated the ionospheric convection and the intensity of ionospheric currents, including the auroral electrojets. The horizontal equivalent ionospheric currents (EICs) are estimated from ground-based magnetometer data using an inversion technique. Pulses of ionospheric currents that are a source of Joule heating in the lower thermosphere launched atmospheric gravity waves, causing traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) that propagated equatorward. The TIDs were observed in the SuperDual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) high-frequency (HF) radar ground scatter and the detrended total electron content (TEC) measured by globally distributed Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers. Canada Foundation for Innovation; New Brunswick Innovation Foundation; national scientific funding agency of Australia; national scientific funding agency of Canada; national scientific funding agency of China; national scientific funding agency of France; national scientific funding agency of Italy; national scientific funding agency of Japan; national scientific funding agency of Norway; national scientific funding agency of South Africa; national scientific funding agency of United Kingdom; national scientific funding agency of United States of America; NSF [AGS-1934997]; National Science Foundation [AGS-1935110]; Canadian Space Agency; Province of Saskatchewan; Canadian Space Agency/Geospace ...