Premium
Modeling ionospheric absorption modified by anomalous heating during substorms
Author(s) -
Milikh G. M.,
Dimant Y. S.,
Shao X.,
Guzdar P. N.,
Sharma A. S.,
Papadopoulos K.,
Burns E. M.,
Goodrich C. C.,
Rosenberg T. J.,
Weatherwax A. T.,
Wiltberger M. J.,
Lyon J. G.,
Fedder J. A.
Publication year - 2001
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 - 10.1029/2000gl003823
Subject(s) - ionosphere , physics , geophysics , magnetohydrodynamics , magnetosphere , computational physics , electron , absorption (acoustics) , ionization , plasma , ionospheric absorption , atmospheric sciences , atomic physics , ion , optics , quantum mechanics
Riometers monitor the changes in ionospheric conductivity by measuring the absorption of very high frequency radio noise of galactic origin passing through the ionosphere. In this Letter the absorption of radio signals by a thin layer of ionospheric plasma, produced by ionization due to energetic precipitating electrons, is modeled by taking into account strong turbulent heating caused by instabilities. The precipitating electron population is obtained from a global MHD simulation of the magnetosphere, along with the electric fields which excite the Farley‐Buneman instability and lead to turbulent electron heating. A comparison, the first of its kind, of the data from polar and sub‐auroral riometers for the magnetic cloud event of January 10, 1997 shows good agreement. The ionospheric conductance modified by turbulent electron heating can be used to improve the magnetosphere — ionosphere coupling in the current global MHD models.