Interhemispheric Differences in High-Latitude Flows and Poynting Flux Observed by Swarm

Abstract:

The three Swarm satellites were launched into nearly-polar, circular orbits in November 2013. Following an initial, pearls-on-a-string configuration, the constellation was brought to its current arrangement with two satellites flying side by side side at an altitude of 460 km, with the third orbiting at 510 km. These orbits are ideal for studying interhemsispheric differences in the topside ionosphere. Each satellite carries two Thermal Ion Imagers to measure ion flows and temperatures, two Langmuir Probes to measure electron densities and temperatures, and vector and scalar magnetometers. This talk will provide an overview of interhemispheric differences seen by Swarm as manifested in several quantities including intense flow channels detected near the poleward boundary, ionospheric upflow, and quasi-static Poynting flux.