Average characteristics and activity dependence of the subauroral polarization stream
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Foster_et_al-2002-Journal_of_Geophysical_Research%3A_Space_Physics_%281978-2012%29.pdf
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Author(s)
Foster, John C
Vo, H. B.
Date Issued
December 2002
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Citation
Foster, J. C., and H. B. Vo. “Average Characteristics and Activity Dependence of the Subauroral Polarization Stream.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 107, A12 (December 2002): 1475 © 2002 American Geophysical Union
Version
Final published version
Abstract
[1] Data from the Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar taken over two solar cycles (1979–2000) are examined to determine the average characteristics of the disturbance convection electric field in the midlatitude ionosphere. Radar azimuth scans provide a regular database of ionospheric plasma convection observations spanning auroral and subauroral latitudes, and these scans have been examined for all local times and activity conditions.We examine the occurrence and characteristics of a persistent secondary westward convection peak which lies equatorward of the auroral two‐cell convection. Individual scans and average patterns of plasma flow identify and characterize this latitudinally broad and persistent subauroral polarization stream (SAPS), which spans the nightside from dusk to the early morning sector for all Kp greater than 4. Premidnight, the SAPS westward convection lies equatorward of L = 4 (60° invariant latitude, Λ), spans 3°–5° of latitude, and has an average peak amplitude of >900 m/s. In the predawn sector, SAPS is seen as a region of antisunward convection equatorward of L = 3 (55° Λ), spanning ∼3° of latitude, with an average peak amplitude of 400 m/s.
MIT Department
Haystack Observatory
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Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JA009409
