Statistical maps of small‐scale electric field variability in the high‐latitude ionosphere

Abstract

Statistical maps of small‐scale electric field variability in the high‐latitude ionosphere are derived for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres using 48 months of data from the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN). Maps of variability magnitude (from scales of 45–450 km and 2–20 min) are derived for a range of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientations and dipole tilt angles (the angle between the best fit dipole axis and the plane perpendicular to the Sun‐Earth line). It is found that the observed spatial distribution of average variability is significantly modified as the IMF and dipole tilt conditions change. Under negative (winter‐like) and neutral (equinox‐like) dipole tilt angles, variability is concentrated in the auroral and dayside cusp regions, and the spatial distributions of variability appear to be correlated to those of large‐ and small‐scale field‐aligned currents (FACs). Additionally, variability on the nightside is found to be more enhanced in the downward FAC region than it is in the upward FAC region. Under positive (summer‐like) dipole tilt angles, the average variability magnitudes across the high‐latitude regions are smaller than those observed under negative dipole tilt angles, and the spatial distributions are more uniform. These dipole tilt effects suggest that scale‐size‐ and conductivity‐dependent field‐aligned potential drops and conductivity‐dependent changes in the processes that generate variability are possible factors that impact the observed small‐scale electric field variability. In general, Southern Hemisphere maps appear very similar to Northern Hemisphere maps, although some minor differences are observed that may result from interhemispheric asymmetries in the geomagnetic field.