Physics Commons^™

Comparison Of Model High-Latitude Electron Densities With Millstone Hill Observations, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk, J. V. Evans, J. M. Holt, R. H. Wand

All Physics Faculty Publications

Model predictions of the diurnal variations of plasma convection velocities and electron densities in the high-latitude ionosphere were compared with Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar observations for an equinox day on which there was moderate magnetic activity. On the observation day, three major morphological features were evident at 500 km, including a dayside high density region, a nightside mid-latitude trough, and a region of slightly enhanced densities in the auroral zone. Although the dayside high density region was due to solar EUV radiation, it was not symmetrical about local noon (1000-1900 LT sector) owing to the effect of horizontal transport. …