Convection Electric Field Climatology

Abstract:

Statistical patterns of the convection electric field are useful for
understanding the climatology of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system and
can be derived using a variety of measurements and techniques. In this study,
data from the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) are used to
determine global-scale convection electric field patterns in the northern
hemisphere, where measurements extend from the pole to below 50 degrees
magnetic latitude. Inclusion of data from mid-latitude and polar radars
augment the standard high-latitude patterns and reveal important features
not present in these patterns, including stronger flows over the polarcap,
westward nightside convection at low latitudes and the sub-auroral
polarization stream. These features are well-correlated with geomagnetic
activity and are visible over a larger range of activity, made possible
with the expanded network. Particular attention is given to assessing the
impact of various geolocation algorithms to the large-scale convection in
order to better represent the underlying climatology.