SA44A-08
Deformation of Polar Cap Patches During Substorms
Thursday, 17 December 2015: 17:33
2016 (Moscone West)
Shasha Zou1, Aaron J Ridley1, Michael J Nicolls2, Anthea J Coster3, Evan G Thomas4, J. Michael Ruohoniemi5 and Donald Hampton6, (1)University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, (2)SRI International Menlo Park, Menlo Park, CA, United States, (3)MIT Haystack Observatory, Westford, MA, United States, (4)Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States, (5)Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States, (6)University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute, Fairbanks, AK, United States
Abstract:
Polar cap patches refer to the islands of high F-region plasma density within the polar cap. Their formation on the dayside and deformation on the nightside are not well understood. The F-layer ionosphere density is strongly influenced by electric field, thermospheric wind as well as soft particle precipitation. This study combines observations from multiple instruments, including Poker Flat incoherent scatter radar, GPS TEC and optical instruments, as well as the Global Ionosphere and Thermosphere Model (GITM), to investigate the effects of highly structured electric fields and winds on the deformation of polar cap patches during substorms. We will also discuss variations of the auroral emissions associated with the patch evolution.
