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Ann. Geophys., 16, 1343-1354, 1998
www.ann-geophys.net/16/1343/1998/
© European Geosciences Union 1998

Ionospheric response to variable electric fields in small-scale auroral structures

B. S. Lanchester¹, M. H. Rees¹, K. J. F. Sedgemore¹, J. R. Palmer¹, H. U. Frey^2,*, and K. U. Kaila^3
1Department of Physics, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
Fax: +44 1703 593910; e-mail: bsl@phys.soton.ac.uk
²Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestische Physik, D-85740 Garching, Germany
³Department of Physics, University of Oulu, FIN-90570 Oulu, Finland
^*Present address: Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley

Abstract. High time and space resolution optical and radar measurements have revealed the influence of electric fields on E-region electron density profiles in small-scale auroral structures. Large electric fields are present adjacent to auroral filaments produced by monoenergetic electron fluxes. The ionisation profiles measured within and beside the auroral filaments show the effects of plasma convection due to electric fields as well as the consequences of the response time to large and dynamic fluxes of energetic electrons. Without high-resolution optical measurements, the interpretation of the radar data is limited.

Key words. Auroral ionosphere · Ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions · EISCAT

Full Article (PDF, 3045 KB)

Citation: Lanchester, B. S., Rees, M. H., Sedgemore, K. J. F., Palmer, J. R., Frey, H. U., and Kaila, K. U.: Ionospheric response to variable electric fields in small-scale auroral structures, Ann. Geophys., 16, 1343-1354, 1998.   Bibtex   EndNote   Reference Manager