Electrojet Currents Research Articles

Analysis of time-of-arrival observations performed during ELF/VLF wave generation experiments at HAARP

[1] Modulated high frequency (HF) heating of the lower ionosphere in the presence of auroral electrojet currents has become an important method for generating electromagnetic waves in the extremely-low frequency (ELF) and very-low frequency (VLF) bands. Recent research efforts focus on improving the efficiency of ELF/VLF wave generation. One method to do so involves the spatial mapping of modulated currents that result from HF heating for comparison with HF heating models. As a first step toward providing a spatial map of the modulated ionospheric currents, we introduce time-of-arrival (TOA) observations performed during a series of experimental research campaigns conducted at the High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) in Gakona, Alaska. The TOA method provides a measurement of the ELF/VLF amplitude and phase detected at a ground-based receiver as a function of time, and this information may be used to estimate the distribution of ELF/VLF source currents within the HF heated region. In an effort to test and improve the TOA method, the University of Florida conducted ELF/VLF wave generation experiments using the HAARP HF transmitter under varying ionospheric conditions and using various transmission formats. In this paper, we summarize our experimental results and compare observations with the predictions of a theoretical model.

On the occurrence of ground observations of ELF/VLF magnetospheric amplification induced by the HAARP facility

[1] The ionospheric heating facility of the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) has been used extensively in the last 3 years for injection of ELF/VLF waves into the magnetosphere via modulated heating of the overhead auroral electrojet currents. Of particular interest are waves that are observed to be nonlinearly amplified after interaction with hot plasma electrons in the Earth's radiation belts. Past results have shown HAARP to be an effective platform for controlled studies of wave particle interactions in the Earth's magnetosphere. A summary of the experimental results is provided in the context of dependencies on geomagnetic conditions and transmitter parameters. It is deduced that the primary variable that is associated with successful ground observations of HAARP-induced magnetospheric amplification is availability of magnetospheric wave guiding structures. Such structures are found to be most prevalent under quiet geomagnetic conditions following a disturbance when the plasmapause extends to the latitude of the HAARP facility or higher. Strong electrojet currents and high amplitudes of generated ELF/VLF signals observed on the ground are poor indicators of observation probability on a day to day basis although variation of these variables can be important on minute and second timescales. Frequency-time formats with continuously increasing ELF/VLF frequency show preferential amplification as predicted by nonlinear theory of electron trapping. Amplification of signals is also found to be possible for signals with noncoherent bandwidths of up to 30 Hz.

Remote auroral activity detection and modeling using low frequency transmitter signal reception at a midlatitude site

Abstract. The low frequency propagation conditions along the path from Iceland to Germany (52° N 8° E) using the NRK/TFK 37.5 kHz transmitter (63.9° N 22.5° W) prove as an easy to monitor and reliable proxy for north auroral activity. Signal processing using wavelet decomposition allows for quantitative activity level estimations. Calibration is based upon NOAA POES auroral activity data. Using an auroral oval model for the local intensity distribution of solar energetic particle precipitation and a wave propagation model ionospheric D-layer height decreases along the path can be derived. This in turn gives a hint to the low latitude extension and intensity of the auroral electrojet currents that can be responsible for communication and power systems failures.

Lunar‐dependent equatorial ionospheric electrodynamic effects during sudden stratospheric warmings

We have used plasma drift and magnetic field measurements during the 2001–2009 December solstices to study, for the first time, the longitudinal dependence of equatorial ionospheric electrodynamic perturbations during sudden stratospheric warmings. Jicamarca radar measurements during these events show large dayside downward drift (westward electric field) perturbations followed by large morning upward and afternoon downward drifts that systematically shift to later local times. Ground‐based magnetometer measurements in the American, Indian, and Pacific equatorial regions show strongly enhanced electrojet currents in the morning sector and large reversed currents (i.e., counterelectrojets) in the afternoon sector with onsets near new and full moons during northern winter warming periods. CHAMP satellite and ground‐based magnetic field observations indicate that the onset of these equatorial afternoon counterelectrojets is longitude dependent. Our results indicate that these large electrodynamic perturbations during stratospheric warming periods are due to strongly enhanced semidiurnal lunar wave effects. The results of our study can be used for forecasting the occurrence and evolution of these electrodynamic perturbations during arctic winter warmings.

C/NOFS observations of plasma density and electric field irregularities at post‐midnight local times

We report on plasma densities and electric fields measured by the C/NOFS satellite between 10 and 20 June 2008. Midway through the interval, geomagnetic conditions changed from quiescent to disturbed as a high speed stream (HSS) in the solar wind passed Earth. During the HSS passage C/NOFS encountered post‐midnight irregularities that ranged from strong equatorial plasma bubbles to longitudinally broad depletions. At the leading edge of the HSS the interplanetary magnetic field rapidly intensified and rotated causing auroral electrojet currents to rise and fall within a few hours. As the electrojet relaxed, C/NOFS witnessed a rapid transition from a weakly to a strongly disturbed equatorial ionosphere that lasted ∼10 hours. Eastward polarization electric fields intensified within locally depleted flux tubes. We discuss relative contributions of gravity‐driven currents, overshielding electric fields and disturbance dynamos as drivers of post‐midnight depletions.

Cross modulation of whistler mode and HF waves above the HAARP ionospheric heater

[1] The HF facility of the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) is employed to generate ELF/VLF radiation by modulation of overhead auroral electrojet currents for magnetospheric wave injection and propagation in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. HAARP induced ducted magnetospherically amplified whistler mode signals are observed to return to the vicinity of the HF facility and experience cross modulation with simultaneous HF transmissions. The cross modulation effect results from modification of the attenuation properties of the ionospheric medium by HAARP HF waves in the daytime ionosphere. The cross modulation concept is subsequently investigated as a new method for ELF/VLF wave generation with the HAARP heating facility using two co-located HF beams. The new generation method is observed to generate radiation from 630 Hz–37 kHz. Observed amplitudes are an order of magnitude lower than fundamental frequencies generated using conventional AM, but of the same order as AM second harmonics.

Timing and location of substorm onsets from THEMIS satellite and ground based observations

Abstract. The unprecedented coverage of the THEMIS GBO station network coupled with high temporal and spatial resolution allowed us to determine the various stages of the global scale developments of the optical aurora at substorm onsets. We identified several steps of the substorm onset auroral phenomena and we suggest that the most rapid development is the starting of the Substorm Poleward Expansion (SPE) and it is most useful for accurate timing of the substorm onset. The physical significance of this step is the start of the large scale substorm energy dissipation in the atmosphere due to particle precipitation and auroral electrojet currents. We also recognized several pre-cursor features. We also measured the time of arrival of magnetic impulses associated with the same substorms at the THEMIS satellites. We used these times and a simple model with assumed iono-acoustic speeds in the range of 300–800 km/s to calculate the location and time of the origin of the magnetic impulses propagating from substorm onset. The assumption was made that the substorm occurred between two THEMIS satellites and the impulses propagated away from a singular starting point in and out along the magneto tail GSM-x axis. This technique is only useful in cases where the ground based signature of the substorm is very close in local time (or longitude) to the foot of the field lines of the THEMIS satellites. The x distance of the calculated origins were naturally highly dependent on the assumed propagation velocity model and the associated magneto-sonic speed. The resulting x distances of the starting point for the three events ranged between 11 and 17.6 RE. denoting a starting region that requires highly stretched field lines to map to the auroral onset latitude but which is generally considered to be too close for neutral line formation. The corresponding start times were in the range of 0 to 170 s prior SPE depending strongly on the assumed propagation speed.

Asymmetries in the equatorial electrojet around N-E Brazil sector

Abstract. The paper examines the data of geographic northward (X), eastward (Y) and vertical (Z) components of the magnetic field from a dense array of 26 vector magnetometers operated in N-NE Brazil from November 1990 to March 1991. As expected, the daily variation of X showed a minor maximum around 03:00–04:00 LT and a major maximum around 12:00 LT. The daily range of ΔY showed a strong minimum around noon at all stations. The combined ΔY and ΔX indicated the direction of the equatorial electrojet currents to be flowing along 25° north of east at the centre and 20° north of east at the edges of the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) belt. The centre of the EEJ as defined by the zero intercept of the Z versus latitude was found to be near 1.0° S dip latitude. The electrojet current was stronger in the northern half than in the southern half of the electrojet belt. These anomalies are suggested to be due to the abnormal distribution of the mean magnetic field in this region.

On the relationship between auroral absorption, electrojet currents and plasma convection

Abstract. In this study, the relationship between auroral absorption, electrojet currents, and ionospheric plasma convection velocity is investigated using a series of new methods where temporal correlations are calculated and analysed for different events and MLT sectors. We employ cosmic noise absorption (CNA) observations obtained by the Imaging Riometer for Ionospheric Studies (IRIS) system in Kilpisjärvi, Finland, plasma convection measurements by the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) radar, and estimates of the electrojet currents derived from the Tromsø magnetometer data. The IRIS absorption and EISCAT plasma convection measurements are used as a proxy for the particle precipitation component of the Hall conductance and ionospheric electric field, respectively. It is shown that the electrojet currents are affected by both enhanced conductance and electric field but with the relative importance of these two factors varying with magnetic local time (MLT). The correlation between the current and electric field (absorption) is the highest at 12:00–15:00 MLT (00:00–03:00 MLT). It is demonstrated that the electric-field-dominant region is asymmetric with respect to magnetic-noon-midnight meridian extending from 09:00 to 21:00 MLT. This may be related to the recently reported absence of mirror-symmetry between the effects of positive and negative IMF By on the high-latitude plasma convection pattern. The conductivity-dominant region is somewhat wider than previously thought extending from 21:00 to 09:00 MLT with correlation slowly declining from midnight towards the morning, which is interpreted as being in part due to high-energy electron clouds gradually depleting and drifting from midnight towards the morning sector. The conductivity-dominant region is further investigated using the extensive IRIS riometer and Tromsø magnetometer datasets with results showing a distinct seasonal dependence. The region of high current-absorption correlation extends from 21:00 to 06:00 MLT near both equinoxes, however, it is narrower and rotated towards the morning (02:00–07:00 MLT) in summer, while in winter the correlation shows much greater variability with MLT. During periods of high current-electric-field correlation, the relationship between electric field and absorption can be described as an inverse proportionality, which can be explained by limitation of the electrojet current by the magnetospheric generator. Possible cases of electron heating absorption are also investigated with absorption showing no obvious dependence on the ion velocity or electron temperature.

Magnetospheric amplification and emission triggering by ELF/VLF waves injected by the 3.6 MW HAARP ionospheric heater

The HF dipole array of the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) in Gakona, Alaska, was recently upgraded to 180 elements, facilitating operations at a total radiated power level of 3.6 MW and an effective radiated power of ∼575 MW. In the first experiments at the new power level, the HAARP array is used for magnetospheric wave injection. Modulated heating of auroral electrojet currents in the ionosphere yields radiation in the ELF/VLF frequency range. The HAARP‐generated signals are injected into the magnetosphere, where they propagate in the whistler mode in field‐aligned “ducts,” allowing them to be observed at the conjugate point on a ship‐borne receiver and on autonomous buoy platforms. The observation of the 1‐hop signals is accompanied by the observation of associated 2‐hop components in the northern hemisphere, which have reflected from the ionospheric boundary in the southern hemisphere. The observed signals are accompanied by triggered emissions and exhibit temporal amplification of 15–25 dB/s and bandwidth broadening to ∼50 Hz. Amplification occurs at injected signal frequencies selected in near real time on the basis of observations of natural emission activity, and only certain components of the frequency‐time formats transmitted are amplified. Observations at multiple sites and dispersion analysis show that the signals are injected into the magnetosphere directly above the HF heater. The duration of echo observation and the prevalence of 1‐hop observations are consistent with statistics from 1986 Siple Station experiments. The particle‐trapping wave amplitude near the magnetic equator is estimated in the range 0.1–0.4 pT and gyroresonance with 10 keV–100 keV electrons.

VLF wave generation by amplitude-modulated HF heater waves at Gakona, Alaska

[1] Experiments conducted at Gakona, Alaska, using the intensity-modulated HF heating waves to interact with electrojet currents for the generation of VLF waves, are reported. An unexpected large increasing rate from 4 to 8 kHz in the frequency dependency of the VLF radiation intensity was observed. The peak value at 8 kHz was intense (about 7.5 dB above that of the 2 kHz signal used as a marker) and the wave intensity from 5 to 17 kHz appeared to be abnormally high (i.e., stronger than that at 2 kHz). In the experiments, we also observed the enhancement of spread-E irregularities at electrojet current altitudes due to the amplitude-modulated heater wave. These results and theoretical analyses suggest that temporally modulated electrojet currents mix with heater wave-excited density irregularities to form whistler mode currents, which generate VLF whistler waves directly with much larger intensities and better directivity than a Hertzian dipole can.

Radiation of ELF/VLF waves by harmonically varying currents into a stratified ionosphere with application to radiation by a modulated electrojet

We use a full‐wave finite element approach inspired by the mode calculation method of Wait (1970) to calculate electromagnetic fields in a horizontally stratified ionosphere treated as a magnetized plasma. The source currents can have arbitrary vertical and horizontal distributions. The electromagnetic field is calculated both in the Earth‐ionosphere waveguide (at arbitrary horizontal distance and direction) and in the ionosphere (as an upward propagating whistler mode wave). This method requires less computational resources than traditional FDFD and FDTD methods, while providing results with similar accuracy. The model is applied to the radiation of ELF/VLF waves from modulated HF‐heated electrojet currents, and the calculated values are compared to ground and satellite observations.

Modeling the meteoric dust effect on the equatorial electrojet

Dust particles of meteoric origin in the lower E-region can affect the conductivity parameters by varying the effective collision frequency and by causing electron bite outs through the capture of ambient electrons. In magnetized plasma, neutral dust particles can alter the effective collision frequency parameters and thus affect the Pedersen and Hall conductivities in the electrojet region. The Cowling conductivity profile is determined by the height profiles of the Hall and Pedersen conductivities. The collision parameters altered by the neutral dust particles can be considerably different from those estimated from atmospheric models, in the lower E-region heights where dust particles of meteoric origin are known to exist in large numbers. A significant fraction of these dust particles may capture free electrons from the ambient medium and get charged negatively. This can result in reduction in the number density of free electrons especially below the electrojet peak where the dust particles can be present in large numbers, at least on days of large meteor showers. This, in turn, can once again alter the vertical profile of the east–west Hall current driven by the vertical Hall polarization field and under favorable conditions, can even account for the reversal of the electrojet currents below the current peak. Assuming a realistic model for the distribution of neutral dust particles, the conductivity parameters are estimated here. Conditions under which the dust particles can cause partial reversals in the electrojet currents are critically examined here.

Ionospheric responses to the October 2003 superstorm: Longitude/local time effects over equatorial low and middle latitudes

Ionospheric responses to the major magnetic storm disturbances of October 2003 are investigated using database selected in the Brazilian and Japanese‐Asian longitude sectors. Data obtained from latitudinally spaced digisondes in the equatorial and low‐latitude sites in Brazil and from the Asian and Japanese ionosonde network, the total electron content data from the extensive Japanese GPS receiver chain, and magnetometer data from the Pacific equatorial electrojet stations are analyzed during the period 28–31 October. Prompt penetrating (PP) dawn‐dusk polar cap electric fields produce large F region plasma uplift on the dayside and eveningside, while the associated westward electric field on the nightside produces large downdraft of the F region plasma, and causes development of westward electrojet current, observed for the first time. Episodes of PP electric field effects appear to be of larger intensity over Brazil than over Asian longitudes. Equatorial anomaly, development due to undershielding as well as overshielding electric fields, was observed in the Brazilian and in the Asian sectors. Disturbance dynamo electric field causes large nighttime F layer uplifts that are modulated by strong meridional winds in both sectors. The disturbance electric field local time variation patterns are compared with the results of recent global model (MTIEGCM) simulation by Richmond et al. (2003) and validated in some cases. Transients of transequatorial winds, flipping direction from southward to northward, in the widely separated longitude sectors, were diagnosed to be present toward the final recovery phase of the storm. These results are presented and discussed in this paper.

Determination of the height of the modulated electrojet region generating ELF radiation

A virtual ionospheric antenna to generate ELF (extremely low frequency) waves is achievable by using amplitude modulated HF (high frequency) wave to modulate the electrojet current. The results of the numerical analysis show that the radiation intensities of ELF waves produced by modulated electrojet vary with the modulation frequency. Moreover, a ratio of two radiation intensities at two frequencies is height dependent. Thus, with the aid of the numerical results, the experimental measurements on the ratios of the radiation intensities of the ELF waves can provide unambiguous information on the height of the electrojet contributing to the ELF radiation. An experiment using the HAARP heating facility has been performed in 2005. The experimental results of three independent intensity ratios (25 Hz/205 Hz, 25 Hz/325 Hz, and 25 Hz/625 Hz) are used to demonstrate this new diagnostic technique. The height of the source region, where the modulated electrojet radiates most effectively, is determined to be between 94 Km and 97 Km.

Local time dependant response of Indian equatorial ionosphere to the moderate geomagnetic storms

The electrodynamics and neutral dynamics of the equatorial ionosphere undergo significant changes during geo-magnetically disturbed periods as a result of the high and low latitude electro-dynamical coupling. These changes may sometimes trigger the plasma instabilities that lead to the onset of spread-F and scintillations even at the L-band frequencies. The response of the equatorial ionosphere–thermosphere system over the Indian sector to moderate geomagnetic storms of 11th Feb 2004 and 9th Mar 2004 has been studied using the ground based measurements from the Indian equatorial and low latitude region. A large vertical drift of the equatorial F-layer followed by nearly simultaneous onset of Spread-F on ionograms and scintillations at VHF (244 MHz) and L-band (1.5 GHz) frequencies, have been observed during the early evening periods that correspond to the time of rapid decrease (−25 to −30 nT/h) in Sym-H index due to prompt penetration of eastward electric fields into equatorial and low latitudes. The Spread-F and scintillations continued to exist for longer durations up to post-midnight to pre-dawn hours, possibly due to the combined action of prompt penetration and long-lived Disturbance Dynamo electric fields. Due to prolonged geomagnetic activity during the subsequent days (morning-to-noon hours), strong reversal in the Equatorial ElectroJet current is observed and the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) is significantly suppressed under the influence of westward disturbance dynamo electric fields. The post-sunset enhancements in the vertical drift of the equatorial F-layer are also reduced significantly from their quiet day patterns and the subsequent occurrence of Spread-F and scintillations is inhibited.

On the height variation of the E-region cowling conductivity – effect of charged dust particles

Abstract. Height profiles of the Cowling conductivity in the electrojet region, estimated using the atmospheric parameters given by the existing models like CIRA or MSIS and measured electron density profiles, consistently show the heights of the electrojet current intensity peak to be more than 3 km below those estimated from in-situ measurements using magnetometers on board sounding rockets. Kulkarni and Muralikrishna (2005) attempted to explain this to be due to the effect of neutral dust particles. They reported that neutral dust particles, when they exist in sufficient numbers, can modify the collision parameters, especially in the lower E-region, where dust particles of meteoric origin are known to exist in large numbers, and thereby can modify the Cowling conductivity profile in the electrojet region. This work is extended here to include the effect of charged dust particles. Dust particles can become charged negatively by the attachment of ambient free electrons, and can thus reduce the number density of free electrons especially below the electrojet peak. This can alter the vertical profile of the east-west Hall current driven by the vertical Hall polarization field, thereby causing a net reduction in the electrojet current. Such a decrease in the electrojet current may be observed on the ground magnetograms. This mechanism, as proposed here, can operate only during periods of strong meteor shower activity, when the dust particle density at the assumed deposit height of 103 km can reach extreme values (for example, 5×104 cm−3 of 1-µm diameter dust particles). Such a dense dust layer may even cause a reversal in the normally upward vertical Hall polarization field, within the dust layer, causing a reversal of the electrojet currents below the current peak.

Wavelet analysis applied to magnetograms: Singularity detections related to geomagnetic storms

When the interplanetary magnetic field carried by the solar wind opposes to the Earth intrinsic magnetic field, a substantial transfer of energy into the terrestrial magnetosphere takes place. If this condition persists for several hours, the magnetosphere becomes very disturbed. As a result, at mid-to-low latitudes a ring current starts to develop and at high latitudes ionospheric currents (electrojet and field-aligned currents) dominate. The ring current provides the geomagnetic conditions for magnetic storms to settle down. Wavelet analysis is becoming an usual tool since they allow the decomposition of data, functions or operators into different frequency or scale components. Accordingly, wavelet transforms seem to be suited to analyze short-lived high-frequency phenomena such as discontinuities ( shocks) in signals and transient structures. In this work, the remarkable ability of wavelets to highlight the singularities associated with discontinuities present in the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field is explored. Magnetograms obtained at five magnetic stations for two geomagnetic storms have been analyzed by a Daubechies orthogonal wavelet transform. The wavelet coefficient magnitudes at three levels have been studied. In both cases, the physical discontinuities in the horizontal component of the geomagnetic field are clearly detected by means of these coefficients identifying the disturbed interval related to geomagnetic storms. Wavelet analysis has proved to be a useful tool in the identification of the geomagnetic storms using non-processed data.

Meridional motions of the afternoon radar aurora, auroral electrojets, and absorption patches under variable IMF conditions

Abstract. The meridional motions of the CUTLASS HF and STARE VHF coherent echoes, IMAGE equivalent electrojet currents, and IRIS absorption patches during the postnoon/early-evening event of 14 February 2000 are presented. The motions were found to be synchronous, to a first approximation, for all instruments. The temporal correlation between motions in the radar and magnetometer data was exceptionally good, although spatially the areas with the E-region backscatter and most intense equivalent currents were not coincident, with the HF (VHF) echoes being shifted 100–200km (20–50km) equatorward (poleward). The meridional motions of the radar echoes and electrojet currents appeared to be controlled by the IMF Bz changes; the meridional propagation direction was equatorward (poleward) during the intervals when the IMF was southward (northward), with one exception when the poleward progression continued after the IMF southward turning. We relate the observed meridional motion patterns to the polar cap expansion/contraction during variable IMF conditions and discuss the relative importance of two types of processes: the dayside reconnection and IMF-triggered substorms. We also investigate the irregularity Doppler velocity for the STARE (144MHz) and CUTLASS (12MHz) observations at large flow angles in the context of the eastward and westward electrojet systems. We show that the 144-MHz Doppler velocity is determined by a combination of two factors: the sense of electrojet currents and the aspect angle conditions within the STARE field of view. Finally, the behavior of small dayside enhancements of the IRIS absorption (up to 0.5dB at 38.2MHz) accompanying the radar echoes and electrojet currents is examined. Since the velocity of the meridional displacements was close to that of the poleward/equatorward progressing intense currents, it is suggested that the absorption patches observed during the event were related to the heating of the E-region plasma by the unstable plasma waves in the regions of enhanced electric fields. Key words. Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; electric fields and currents; plasma convection)

A modeling study of ionospheric conductivities in the high‐latitude electrojet regions

It is important to accurately determine the ionospheric conductivities for a better estimation of energy deposition in the upper atmosphere, particularly at high latitudes. It is a common practice to assume that enhancements in the conductivities are caused by solar radiation and particle precipitation, which can be regarded as external origins. However, little attention has been paid to effects caused by the presence of electrojet currents themselves. We call this effect an internal origin for influencing the ionospheric conductivities. The presence of electrojet current changes the conductivities, and, in turn, the already changed conductivities modify the current systems. That is, a feedback process is expected to take place in magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling current systems. We use a one‐dimensional high‐latitude ionospheric model in which the continuity equations, as well as momentum and energy equations, are solved self‐consistently to study the conductivities in auroral regions where electrojets exist. The heating effect from the Farley‐Buneman instability, which possibly occurs in the electrojet regions, is considered. Electrojet‐related joule heating and frictional heating are also taken into account. Thermal processes are analyzed in response to the electrojet current. As a result of changes in the thermal structure, we demonstrate the response of the conductivities due to changes in the chemical reaction rate, which results in a higher electron density. The response of altitude profiles of the conductivities is determined by changes in the collision frequency of ions and electrons with neutral components, while an enhancement in the conductance is mainly caused by the electron density. The results show that both the Hall and Pedersen conductances, i.e., the height‐integrated conductivities, increase significantly. The ratio between Hall and Pedersen conductances also changes considerably.