Solar zenith angle dependence of plasma density and temperature in the polar cap ionosphere and low-altitude magnetosphere during geomagnetically quiet periods at solar maximum

0366444 - ÚFA 2012 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Kitamura, N. - Ogawa, Y. - Nishimura, Y. - Terada, N. - Ono, T. - Shinbori, A. - Kumamoto, A. - Truhlík, Vladimír - Šmilauer, Jan
Solar zenith angle dependence of plasma density and temperature in the polar cap ionosphere and low-altitude magnetosphere during geomagnetically quiet periods at solar maximum.
Journal of Geophysical Research. Roč. 116, - (2011), A08227/1-A08227/13. ISSN 0148-0227
R&D Projects: GA ČR GAP209/10/2086
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z30420517
Keywords : MASS-SPECTROMETER OBSERVATIONS * ELECTRON-TEMPERATURE * HIGH-LATITUDE * ION OUTFLOWS * F-REGION
Subject RIV: DG - Athmosphere Sciences, Meteorology
Impact factor: 3.021, year: 2011
http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2011/2011JA016631.shtml

We constructed an empirical model of the electron density profile with solar zenith angle (SZA) dependence in the polar cap during geomagnetically quiet periods using 63 months of Akebono satellite observations at solar maximum. The electron density profile exhibits a transition at similar to 2000 km altitude only under dark conditions. The electron density and scale height at low altitudes change drastically, by factors of 25 (at 2300 km altitude) and 2.0, respectively, as the SZA increases from 90 degrees to 120 degrees. The SZA dependence of the ion and electron temperatures is also investigated statistically on the basis of data obtained by the Intercosmos satellites and European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) Svalbard radar (ESR). A drastic change in the electron temperature occurs near the terminator, similarly to that in the electron density profile obtained by the Akebono satellite.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0201434