Local enhancements in the horizontal distribution of the electron density at heights of the topside ionosphere near the dayside polar cap boundary

Abstract

The structure of the electron density horizontal distribution at heights of the topside ionosphere in the Northern Hemisphere under quiet magnetic conditions in the polar peak region has been analyzed based on the measurements conducted on board the STSAT-1, DMSP F13, and DMSP F15 satellites during the period of moderate solar activity. The sector near 1000 MLT (magnetic local time) for the spring equinox season has been studied most thoroughly. It has been obtained that the polar peak consists of localized irregularities in the electron density of a specific form, inside which the electron density exceeds its background values by several tens of percent. The characteristic dimensions of the irregularities vary from a few degrees to several tens of degrees in the meridional and zonal directions, respectively. The irregularities are centered along the dayside boundary of the polar cap and coincide with the region of “soft” electron precipitation (with the average energy lower than 500 eV and with the flux density above 107 electrons cm−2 s−1 sr−1).