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1993

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Utah State University

F-region patches

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Full-Text Articles in Physics

Modeling Polar Cap F-Region Patches Using Time Varying Convection, Jan Josef Sojka, M. D. Bowline, Robert W. Schunk, D. T. Decker, Cesar E. Valladares, R. Sheehand, D. N. Anders, R. A. Heelis Jan 1993

Modeling Polar Cap F-Region Patches Using Time Varying Convection, Jan Josef Sojka, M. D. Bowline, Robert W. Schunk, D. T. Decker, Cesar E. Valladares, R. Sheehand, D. N. Anders, R. A. Heelis

All Physics Faculty Publications

Creation of polar cap F‐region patches are simulated for the first time using two independent physical models of the high latitude ionosphere. The patch formation is achieved by temporally varying the magnetospheric electric field (ionospheric convection) input to the models. The imposed convection variations are comparable to changes in the convection that result from changes in the By IMF component for southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Solar maximum‐winter simulations show that simple changes in the convection pattern lead to significant changes in the polar cap plasma structuring. Specifically, in winter, as enhanced dayside plasma convects into the polar …