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Relation Between Magnetospheric State Parameters and the Occurrence of Plasma Depletion Events in the Nighttime Midlatitude F RegionStudies using all-sky imagers have revealed the presence of various ionospheric irregularities in the nighttime midlatitude F region. The most prevalent and well known of these are the medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) that usually occur when the geomagnetic activity is low and midlatitude spread F plumes that are often observed when the geomagnetic activity is high. The inverse and direct relations between geomagnetic activity and the occurrence rate of MSTIDs and midlatitude plumes, respectively, have been observed by several studies using different instruments; however, most of them focus on MSTIDs only and use only Kp to characterize geomagnetic activity. In order to understand the underlying causes of these two relations and to distinguish between MSTIDs and plumes, it is illuminating to better characterize the occurrence of MSTIDs and plumes using multiple magnetospheric state parameters. Here we statistically compare multiple geomagnetic driver and response parameters (such as Kp, AE, Dst, and solar wind parameters) with the occurrence rates of nighttime MSTIDs and plumes observed using an all ]sky imager at Arecibo Observatory (AO) between 2003 and 2008. We also present seasonal and annual variations of MSTIDs and plumes at AO. The results not only allow us to better distinguish MSTIDs and plumes, but also to shed further light on the generation mechanism and electrodynamics of these two different phenomena occurring at nighttime in the midlatitude F region.
Document ID
20120012564
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Seker, Ilgin
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Fung, Shing F.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Mathews, John D.
(Pennsylvania State Univ. University Park, PA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 26, 2013
Publication Date
April 30, 2011
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 116
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA.01220.2012
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM 07-21613
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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