Journal article
In Situ Evidence of Ionospheric Feedback Instability Adjacent to a Quiescent Auroral Arc
Geophysical research letters, Vol.52(3), e2024GL110479
02/16/2025
DOI: 10.1029/2024GL110479
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
Abstract
The ACES‐II Low sounding rocket, which launched from Andøya Space Center in Andenes, Norway, on 20 November 2022, made low altitude observations consistent with characteristics of the Ionosphere Feedback Instability (IFI) as it traversed a quiet, discrete auroral arc. Small scale Alfvénic signatures are observed in regions of depleted ionospheric plasma density, large perpendicular ionospheric electric fields, and matched Pedersen and Alfvén conductivities—all observational preconditions required for the formation of the IFI. These signatures are consistent with those of standing Alfvén wave modes in the ionospheric resonant cavity driven by the IFI. The observed Alfvénic structures are correlated with small scale perturbations in the background plasma density. The observed features are similar to the predictions of recent numerical simulations of resonant Alfvén waves generated by the IFI. These observations suggest that the IFI mechanism plays a role in the formation and structuring of this discrete auroral arc.
The ACES‐II‐Low rocket experiment was launched into the northern lights on 20 November 2022, from Andenes, Norway. It measured small scale changes in the upper atmosphere's density and electric and magnetic fields on the edges of the northern lights. These features are consistent with a model of northern lights by which the changes in upper atmosphere play a role in creating these small‐scale features. We hope that these measurements will help to understand how the upper atmosphere helps to create these features.
Small scale Alfvén wave structures are observed on the equatorward and poleward edges of a quiet, discrete auroral arc These structures coincide with perturbations in plasma density in the lower ionosphere These observations are consistent with signatures of the ionosphere Alfvén resonator driven by the ionosphere feedback instability
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- In Situ Evidence of Ionospheric Feedback Instability Adjacent to a Quiescent Auroral Arc
- Creators
- Kenton Greene - University of IowaDavid M. Miles - University of IowaScott R. Bounds - University of Iowa, Physics and AstronomyJohn W. Bonnell - University of California, BerkeleyConnor Feltman - University of IowaRoger Roglans - University of California, BerkeleyAnatoly Streltsov - Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Geophysical research letters, Vol.52(3), e2024GL110479
- Publisher
- Wiley
- DOI
- 10.1029/2024GL110479
- ISSN
- 0094-8276
- eISSN
- 1944-8007
- Grant note
- Goddard Space Flight Center: 80NSSC19K0491, 80GSFC18C0008 National Aeronautics and Space Administration: 80NSSC19K0740 NASAUniversity of Oslo
This material is based upon work supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant 80NSSC19K0491 issued through the Science Mission Directorate and Contract 80GSFC18C0008 administered by Goddard Space Flight Center as well as the NASA Grant 80NSSC19K0740. Authors K. Greene, D. Miles, S. Bounds, J. Bonnell, C. Feltman, and R. Roglans were supported by these grants. The authors would like to express our sincere gratitude to Robert Broadfoot for his excellent work with magnetometer calibration and data processing. The authors would also like to thank the entire ACES-II science team, especially Johnathan Burchill from University of Calgary, Jesper Gjerloev from the Applied Physics Laboratory and Marc Lessard from the University of New Hampshire for their support over the course of the mission. We would also like to thank Lasse Clausen from the University of Oslo for their support in providing and processing AllSky imager data, and Antonio Washington, Amanda Lasko and Samuel Hisel from the University of Iowa for their technical expertise.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/16/2025
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984786308302771
Metrics
8 Record Views