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Electrodynamics of the high‐latitude trough: Its relationship with convection flows and field‐aligned currents
Author(s) -
Zou Shasha,
Moldwin Mark B.,
Nicolls Michael J.,
Ridley Aaron J.,
Coster Anthea J.,
Yizengaw Endawoke,
Lyons Larry R.,
Donovan Eric F.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1002/jgra.50120
Subject(s) - substorm , trough (economics) , ionosphere , geophysics , geology , f region , latitude , convection , high latitude , electric field , low latitude , atmospheric sciences , geodesy , physics , magnetic field , magnetosphere , meteorology , quantum mechanics , economics , macroeconomics
We present a detailed case study of the electrodynamics of a high‐latitude trough observed at ~ 12 UT (~1 MLT) on 8 March 2008 using multiple instruments, including incoherent scattering radar (ISR), GPS total electron content (TEC), magnetometers, and auroral imager. The electron density within the trough dropped as much as 80% within 6 minutes. This trough was collocated with a counterclockwise convection flow vortex, indicating divergent horizontal electric fields and currents. Together with a collocated dark area shown in auroral images, the observations provide strong evidence for an existence of downward field‐aligned currents (FACs) collocated with the high‐latitude trough. This is further supported by assimilative mapping of ionospheric electrodynamics results. In addition, the downward FACs formed at about the same time as a substorm onset and east of the Harang reversal, suggesting it is part of the substorm current wedge. It has long been a puzzle why this type of high‐latitude trough predominantly occurs just east of the Harang reversal in the postmidnight sector. We suggest that the high‐latitude trough is associated with the formation of downward FACs of the substorm current system, which usually occur just east of the Harang reversal. In addition, we find that the ionospheric electron temperature within the high latitude trough decreases in the F region while increasing in the E region. We discuss possible mechanisms responsible for the complex change in electron temperature, such as ion composition change and/or presence of downward FACs.