Modeling of the electron density depletion in the storm-time trough on April 20, 1985
✍ Scribed by Michael N. Vlasov; Michael C. Kelley
- Book ID
- 104407459
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 2003
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 507 KB
- Volume
- 65
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1364-6826
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Multi-instrument experimental data are analyzed to determine the main processes forming a deep trough in the electron density at F-peak altitudes during a strong magnetic storm (Kp ¿ 5). Previous attempts to explain the observations were not successful. The model we use to interpret the data includes production of vibrationally excited N2 in the region poleward of the trough and its transport into the trough region by a southward wind. The main source of the vibrationally excited N2 is secondary electrons created by precipitating electrons. Joule heating and dissipation of precipitating electron energy create a pressure gradient and induce the southward wind. According to the model calculations, such a system of processes can cause the very strong electron density depletion observed by the Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar on April 20, 1985. An important additional condition for such a deep trough is a decrease in the [O]=[N2] ratio. The total energy ux and average energy of precipitating electrons just poleward of the trough is also a factor.