A statistical study of the location and motion of the HF radar cusp
T. K. Yeoman
P. G. Hanlon
K. A. McWilliams
2381/39283
https://figshare.le.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/A_statistical_study_of_the_location_and_motion_of_the_HF_radar_cusp/10149545
The large-scale and continuous monitoring of the ionospheric cusp region offered by HF radars has been exploited in order to examine the statistical location and motion of the equatorward edge of the HF radar cusp as a function of the upstream IMF BZ component. Although a considerable scatter is seen, both parameters have a clear influence from the north-south component of the IMF. Excellent agreement is achieved with previous observations from low altitude spacecraft data. The HF radar cusp region is seen to migrate equatorward at a rate of 0.02° min-1 nT-1 under IMF BZ south conditions, but remains static for IMF BZ north. The motion of the cusp implies an addition of magnetic flux of ~ 2 × 104 Wbs-1 nT-1 under IMF BZ south conditions, equivalent to a reconnection voltage of 20 kV nT-1, which is consistent with previous estimates from case studies on both the dayside and nightside regions.
2017-01-24 11:29:18
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Geology
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
METEOROLOGY & ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
ionosphere
auroral ionosphere
magnetospheric physics
magnetosphere-ionosphere interaction
solar wind magnetosphere interactions
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC-FIELD
LATITUDE BOUNDARY-LAYER
FLUX-TRANSFER
CONVECTION
MAGNETOPAUSE
IONOSPHERE
CUTLASS
SIGNATURES
ALTITUDE
BACKSCATTER