Identification

Title

High-latitude ionospheric conductivity variability in three dimensions

Abstract

We perform the first ever global-scale, altitude-dependent analysis of polar ionospheric conductivity variability using spectrally resolved in situ satellite particle measurements. With an empirical orthogonal function analysis we identify three primary modes of three-dimensional variability related to ionospheric footprints of the quiet and disturbed geospace environment: (1) perturbation of the quasi-permanent auroral oval, (2) differing projections of electron precipitation during southward and northward interplanetary magnetic field, and (3) a likely imprint of variation in Alfvenic Poynting flux deposition. Together, these modes account for >50% of the total conductivity variability throughout the E region ionosphere. Our results show that height-integrated conductance and height-dependent conductivities are distinctly different, underscoring the importance of studying the ionosphere in three dimensions. We provide the framework for future three-dimensional global analysis of ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling.

Resource type

document

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

http://n2t.net/ark:/85065/d7f191dq

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

geoscientificInformation

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Text

originating controlled vocabulary

title

Resource Type

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2016-01-01T00:00:00Z

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

East bounding longitude

North bounding latitude

South bounding latitude

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

End position

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2016-08-16T00:00:00Z

Frequency of update

Quality and validity

Lineage

Conformity

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Limitations on public access

None

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

OpenSky Support

organisation name

UCAR/NCAR - Library

full postal address

PO Box 3000

Boulder

80307-3000

email address

opensky@ucar.edu

web address

http://opensky.ucar.edu/

name: homepage

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact