Polar cap hot patches: Enhanced density structures different from the classical patches in the ionosphere

Q. H. Zhang*, Y. Z. Ma, P. T. Jayachandran, J. Moen, M. Lockwood, Y. L. Zhang, J. C. Foster, S. R. Zhang, Y. Wang, D. R. Themens, B. C. Zhang, Z. Y. Xing

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Based on in situ and ground-based observations, a new type of “polar cap hot patch” has been identified that is different from the classical polar cap enhanced density structure (cold patches). Comparing with the classical polar cap patches, which are transported from the dayside sunlit region with dense and cold plasma, the polar cap hot patches are associated with particle precipitations (therefore field-aligned currents), ion upflows, and flow shears. The hot patches may have the same order of density enhancement as classical patches in the topside ionosphere, suggesting that the hot patches may be produced by transported photoionization plasma into flow channels. Within the flow channels, the hot patches have low-energy particle precipitation and/or ion upflows associated with field-aligned currents and flow shears. Corresponding Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal scintillation measurements indicate that hot patches may produce slightly stronger radio signal scintillation in the polar cap region than classical patches. A new type of polar cap patches, “polar cap hot patches,” is identified to differentiate enhanced density structures from classical patches. Hot patches are associated with particle precipitations, ion upflows, field-aligned currents, and shear flows in the polar cap. Hot patches may lead to slightly stronger ionospheric scintillations of GNSS signals in the polar cap region than classical patches.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8159-8167
Number of pages9
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume44
Issue number16
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Aug 2017

Keywords

  • classical polar cap patches
  • ion upflows
  • ionospheric scintillations
  • particle precipitations
  • polar cap hot patches
  • polar cap ionosphere

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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