Logo image
Back
Validating an Energy Flux Inversion Method with Satellite Data (Invited)
Conference proceeding

Validating an Energy Flux Inversion Method with Satellite Data (Invited)

Jodie McLennan, Allison Jaynes, Riley Troyer, Stephen Kaeppler and Mykhaylo Shumko
2025 URSI Asia-Pacific Radio Science Meeting (AP-RASC), pp.1-4
08/17/2025
DOI: 10.46620/URSIAPRASC25/YWNE9813

View Online

Abstract

Pulsating aurora is a common and long-lasting type of aurora composed of precipitating electrons with energies up to 100s keV to MeV. Since it is more energetic it can deposit energy into the D region and below, and accounts for a large amount of energy transferred from the magnetosphere into the ionosphere. To understand the effects of pulsating aurora on the ionosphere/atmosphere we seek to understand its precipitating energy flux spectra. One method to do this is to use an inversion method outlined by Semeter and Kamalabadi [1], that uses an electron density vs altitude profile from an Incoherent Scatter Radar to find the precipitating energy flux. This method uses both an atmospheric chemistry model, that finds the recombination coefficient, and an ionization rate model. In this study we seek to validate a selection of these models by comparing the resulting energy flux to spacecraft data. We use the ELFIN bounce loss cone electron flux during conjunctions with the Poker Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar (PFISR). Since ELFIN's electron energy range is from 50 keV to 5 MeV it overlaps with PFISR's inverted flux range of 1 keV to 500 keV, and as a low earth orbiting spacecraft, its bounce loss cone flux will give the precipitating fluxes. While not a new method, this is the first time this inversion method has been validated with spacecraft data.
 Atmospheric modeling Chemistry Electrons Extraterrestrial measurements Ion radiation effects Ionization Magnetosphere Space vehicles Spaceborne radar Time measurement

Details

Metrics

4 Record Views
Logo image