Solar illumination control of ionospheric outflow above polar cap arcs
We measure the flux density, composition, and energy of outflowing ions above the polar cap, accelerated by quasi-static electric fields parallel to the magnetic field and associated with polar cap arcs, using Cluster. Mapping the spacecraft position to its ionospheric foot point, we analyze the dependence of these parameters on the solar zenith angle (SZA). We find a clear transition at SZA between \~94\textdegree and \~107\textdegree, with the O+ flux higher above the sunlit ionosphere. This dependence on the ...
Maes, L.; Maggiolo, R.; De Keyser, J.; Dandouras, I.; Fear, R.; Fontaine, D.; Haaland, S.;
Published by: Geophysical Research Letters Published on: 03/2015
YEAR: 2015   DOI: 10.1002/2014GL062972
cold ion outflow; ion upflow; polar cap arc; polar ionosphere; polar wind; solar illumination
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