Interhemispheric Differences in the Upper Atmosphere

Abstract:

The structuring of the magnetic field controls many different aspects of the coupling between the ionosphere and thermosphere. Because the magnetic field in the northern and southern hemisphere are quite different, large asymmetries can exist in the background thermosphere and ionosphere. Further, the reaction to energy input can differ between the hemispheres due to the structuring of the magnetic field. In this presentation, three examples are detailed: (1) the total electron content in the polar ionosphere is shown to have different behaviours between the poles; (2) the thermospheric winds are structured differently when comparing the northern and southern polar regions; and (3) the response to energy input is dependent on the universal time of the input, with a 12 hour phase shift between the different poles. Examples of each, including data and modeling, will be presented.