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Earth's ion upflow associated with polar cap patches: Global and in situ observations
Author(s) -
Zhang QingHe,
Zong QiuGang,
Lockwood Michael,
Heelis Roderick A.,
Hairston Marc,
Liang Jun,
McCrea Ian,
Zhang BeiChen,
Moen Jøran,
Zhang ShunRong,
Zhang YongLiang,
Ruohoniemi J. Michael,
Lester Mark,
Thomas Evan G.,
Liu RuiYuan,
Dunlop Malcolm W.,
Liu Yong C.M.,
Ma YuZhang
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl067897
Subject(s) - ionosphere , magnetosphere , geophysics , polar , geomagnetic storm , earth's magnetic field , ion , satellite , upwelling , in situ , physics , atmospheric sciences , geology , plasma , environmental science , meteorology , magnetic field , astronomy , oceanography , quantum mechanics
Abstract We report simultaneous global monitoring of a patch of ionization and in situ observation of ion upflow at the center of the polar cap region during a geomagnetic storm. Our observations indicate strong fluxes of upwelling O + ions originating from frictional heating produced by rapid antisunward flow of the plasma patch. The statistical results from the crossings of the central polar cap region by Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F16–F18 from 2010 to 2013 confirm that the field‐aligned flow can turn upward when rapid antisunward flows appear, with consequent significant frictional heating of the ions, which overcomes the gravity effect. We suggest that such rapidly moving patches can provide an important source of upwelling ions in a region where downward flows are usually expected. These observations give new insight into the processes of ionosphere‐magnetosphere coupling.