Analysis of the ionospheric cross polar cap potential drop using DMSP data during the National Space Weather Program study period

Abstract

During the National Space Weather Program (NSWP) event study period of November 2–11, 1993 there were three operational DMSP meteorological satellites (F8, F10, and F11) in orbit, each carrying the Special Sensor for Ions, Electrons, and Scintillation (SSIES) plasma instrument package. Ion flow data from these instruments are used to determine the electrostatic potential drop across both the northern and southern polar caps. The magnitude and distribution of the potential are used to characterize the convection patterns present in the polar ionospheres. The results from all three satellites ate presented to show an overall observational history of the potential drop and the convection pattern during the study period. These observational parameters provide crucial inputs and checks to several ionospheric and magnetospheric models being used in this study. Evidence is presented of an unambiguous difference in the cross polar cap potential drop between the two hemispheres for an extended period of time.