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Full-Text Articles in Physics
Anomalous F Region Response To Moderate Solar Flares, C. G. Smithtro, Jan Josef Sojka, T. Berkey, Donald C. Thompson, Robert W. Schunk
Anomalous F Region Response To Moderate Solar Flares, C. G. Smithtro, Jan Josef Sojka, T. Berkey, Donald C. Thompson, Robert W. Schunk
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Ionograms recorded with a dynasonde at Bear Lake Observatory, Utah, during moderate solar x-ray flares exhibit characteristic enhancements to the E and F 1 region ionosphere. However, during these same flares, the peak electron density of the ionosphere (N m F 2) unexpectedly decreases, recovering after the flare ends. In order to reconcile this anomalous behavior with expected increases to the total electron content (TEC), we undertake a modeling effort using the Time-Dependent Ionospheric Model (TDIM) developed at Utah State University. For solar input, a simple flare time irradiance model is created, using measurements from the Solar EUV Experiment instrument …
Possible Evidence Of Gravity Wave Coupling Into The Mid-Latitude F Region Ionosphere During The Seek Campaign, Michael J. Taylor, J. M. Jahn, S. Fukao, A. Saito
Possible Evidence Of Gravity Wave Coupling Into The Mid-Latitude F Region Ionosphere During The Seek Campaign, Michael J. Taylor, J. M. Jahn, S. Fukao, A. Saito
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On five of eight observation nights during the 1996 SEEK (Sporadic E Experiment over Kyushu) campaign, Japan, unusual “wave‐like” structures were imaged in the 630 nm thermospheric nightglow emission. Four of these events were observed to travel towards the southwest, providing new evidence in support of recent theories describing the coupling of medium‐scale gravity waves into the mid‐latitude F region ionosphere. Available ionosonde data and the visual characteristics of the wave structures indicate no association with the occurrence of mid‐latitude spread F or F region upwellings. Instead, the data support the novel concept of feedback from the ionosphere into the …
Global Scale, Physical Models Of The F Region Ionosphere, Jan Josef Sojka
Global Scale, Physical Models Of The F Region Ionosphere, Jan Josef Sojka
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During the last decade, ionospheric F region modeling has reached an accurate climatological level. We now have global computer models of the F region which simulate the interactions between physical processes in the ionosphere. Because of their complexity, these climatological models are confined to modern day supercomputers. This review focuses on the development and verification of these physical ionospheric models. Such models are distinct from local models, steady state models, and empirical models of the ionosphere, which are, by their conception, unable to represent physically the range of F region variability or storm dynamics. This review examines the limitations of …
A Model Study Of How Electric Field Structures Affect The Polar Cap F Region, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
A Model Study Of How Electric Field Structures Affect The Polar Cap F Region, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
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A three-dimensional time-dependent ionospheric model was used to study how electric field structures affect the polar F region. The electric field structures are represented by elongated Volland two-cell models whose dimensions range from tens to 1000 km. These model structures are intended to represent the polar cap electric field for IMF Bz northward conditions. A statistical method is used to generate a set of these structures. Their electric field strength and polarity are varied in order to study the F region’s dependence on this magnetospheric input. For electric field structures whose size and electric field strengths are consistent with …
Theoretical Study Of Anomalously High F Region Peak Altitudes In The Polar Ionosphere, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
Theoretical Study Of Anomalously High F Region Peak Altitudes In The Polar Ionosphere, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
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During the last solar maximum period several observations of anomalously high F region peak altitudes have been made by the high latitude incoherent scatter radars. The observations indicate that there are several distinctive features associated with these high hmF2 ionospheric profiles: (1) they are observed near midnight with the plasma flowing out of the polar cap, (2) NmF2 ranges from 105 to 106 cm−3, (3) hmF2 ranges from 400 to 500 km, (4) below 300 km the profile is devoid of ionization, and (5) the observations are for solar maximum conditions. …
A Theoretical F Region Study Of Ion Compositional And Temperature Variations In Response To Magnetospheric Storm Inputs, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
A Theoretical F Region Study Of Ion Compositional And Temperature Variations In Response To Magnetospheric Storm Inputs, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
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The response of the polar ionosphere to magnetospheric storm inputs was modeled. During the “storm,” the spatial extent of the auroral oval, the intensity of the precipitating auroral electron energy flux, and the plasma convection pattern were varied with time. The convection pattern changed from a symmetric two-cell pattern with a 20-kV cross-tail potential to an asymmetric two-cell pattern with enhanced plasma flow in the dusk sector and a total cross-tail potential of 90 kV. During the storm there were significant changes in the ion temperature, ion composition, and molecular/atomic ion transition height. The storm time asymmetric convection pattern produced …
A Theoretical Study Of The High Latitude F Region’S Response To Magnetospheric Storm Inputs, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
A Theoretical Study Of The High Latitude F Region’S Response To Magnetospheric Storm Inputs, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
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The response of the polar ionosphere to magnetospheric storm inputs was modeled. During the storm the two major processes that couple the F region to the magnetosphere, namely the electric field distribution and the particle precipitation from the magnetosphere, undergo drastic modification on relatively short F region time scales. These time-dependent changes are not simply related to the F region storm time dependent changes. The lower F region responds on a time scale of only minutes to the storm associated changes in the auroral precipitating electron flux, owing to the dominance of chemistry production-loss mechanisms over transport processes. At higher …
Ion Temperature Variations In The Daytime High-Latitude F Region, Robert W. Schunk, Jan Josef Sojka
Ion Temperature Variations In The Daytime High-Latitude F Region, Robert W. Schunk, Jan Josef Sojka
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We improved our high-latitude ionospheric model by including thermal conduction and diffusion-thermal heat flow terms in the ion energy equation so that we could study the ion temperature variations in the daytime high-latitude F layer in a region poleward of the auroral oval for steady state conditions at local noon. From our study we found that (1) The variation of Ti with solar cycle, season, and geomagnetic activity closely follows the Tn variation. The general trend is for higher temperatures in summer than in winter, at solar maximum than at solar minimum, and for active magnetic conditions than for quiet …
Seasonal Variations Of The High-Latitude F Region For Strong Convection, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk, W. John Raitt
Seasonal Variations Of The High-Latitude F Region For Strong Convection, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk, W. John Raitt
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We combined a plasma convection model with an ionospheric-atmospheric composition model in order to study the seasonal variations of the high-latitude F region for strong convection. Our numerical study produced time-dependent, three-dimensional, ion density distributions for the ions NO+, O2 +, N2 +, O+, N+, and He+. We covered the high-latitude ionosphere above 42°N magnetic latitude and at altitudes between 160 and 800 km for a time period of one complete day. From our study we found the following: (1) For strong convection, the high-latitude ionosphere exhibits a significant UT variation both during winter and summer. (2) In general, the …
Observations Of The Diurnal Dependence Of The High-Latitude F Region Ion Density By Dmsp Satellites, Jan Josef Sojka, W. John Raitt, Robert W. Schunk, F. J. Rich, R. C. Sagalyn
Observations Of The Diurnal Dependence Of The High-Latitude F Region Ion Density By Dmsp Satellites, Jan Josef Sojka, W. John Raitt, Robert W. Schunk, F. J. Rich, R. C. Sagalyn
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Data from the DMSP F2 and F4 satellites for the period December 5-10, 1979, have been used to study the diurnal dependence of the high-latitude ion density at 800-km altitude. A 24-hour periodicity in the minimum orbital density (MOD) during a crossing of the high-latitude region is observed in both the winter and summer hemispheres. The phase of the variation in MOD is such that it has a minimum during the 24-hour period between 0700 and 0900 UT. Both the long term variation of the high-latitude ion density on a time scale of days, and the orbit by orbit variations …
Plasma Density Features Associated With Strong Convection In The Winter High-Latitude F Region, Jan Josef Sojka, W. John Raitt, Robert W. Schunk
Plasma Density Features Associated With Strong Convection In The Winter High-Latitude F Region, Jan Josef Sojka, W. John Raitt, Robert W. Schunk
All Physics Faculty Publications
We combined a simple plasma convection model with an ionospheric-atmospheric composition model in order to study the plasma density features associated with strong convection in the winter high-latitude F region. Our numerical study produced time-dependent, three-dimensional, ion density distributions for the ions NO+, O2 +, N2 +, O+, N+, and He+. We covered the high-latitude ionosphere above 42° N magnetic latitude and at altitudes between 160 and 800 km for a time period of one complete day. From our study, we found the following: (1) For strong convection, the electron density exhibits a significant variation with altitude, latitude, longitude, and …