A solar cycle of upper thermosphere density observations from the EISCAT Svalbard Radar

Vickers, Hannah; Kosch, M. J.; Sutton, E. K.; Bjoland, Lindis Merete; Ogawa, Y.; Hoz, C. La

doi:10.1002/2014ja019885

Cited by 19 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…ESR hmF2 was estimated for each profile in a way similar to Vickers et al (2014). Cubic spline interpolation was used to set a fixed distance of 10 km between each point in the profile.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An evaluation of International Reference Ionosphere electron density in the polar cap and cusp using EISCAT Svalbard radar measurements

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Incoherent scatter radar measurements are an important source for studies of ionospheric plasma parameters. In this paper the EISCAT Svalbard radar (ESR) long-term database is used to evaluate the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model. The ESR started operations in 1996, and the accumulated database up to 2012 thus covers 16 years, giving an overview of the ionosphere in the polar cap and cusp during more than one solar cycle. Data from ESR can be used to obtain information about primary plasma parameters: electron density, electron and ion temperature, and line-ofsight plasma velocity from an altitude of about 50 and up to 1600 km. Monthly averages of electron density and temperature and ion temperature and composition are also provided by the IRI model from an altitude of 50 to 2000 km. We have compared electron density data obtained from the ESR with the predicted electron density from the IRI-2016 model. Our results show that the IRI model in general fits the ESR data well around the F2 peak height. However, the model seems to underestimate the electron density at lower altitudes, particularly during winter months. During solar minimum the model is also less accurate at higher altitudes. The purpose of this study is to validate the IRI model at polar latitudes.

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“…ESR hmF2 was estimated for each profile in a way similar to Vickers et al (2014). Cubic spline interpolation was used to set a fixed distance of 10 km between each point in the profile.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An evaluation of International Reference Ionosphere electron density in the polar cap and cusp using EISCAT Svalbard radar measurements

et al. 2016

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“…In situ comparisons with the CHAMP satellite show good agreement. Vickers et al (2014) used this technique on the EIS-CAT Svalbard radar for the period 2000 to 2013 and showed that F10.7 solar irradiance is a very good proxy for thermospheric density variations with only a small seasonal dependence. In addition, the long-term trend of declining thermospheric density was observed.…”

Section: Upper Thermospherementioning

confidence: 99%

The geospace response to variable inputs from the lower atmosphere: a review of the progress made by Task Group 4 of CAWSES-II

Oberheide

Shiokawa

Gurubaran

et al. 2015

Prog. in Earth and Planet. Sci.

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The advent of new satellite missions, ground-based instrumentation networks, and the development of whole atmosphere models over the past decade resulted in a paradigm shift in understanding the variability of geospace, that is, the region of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and several thousand kilometers above ground where atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions occur. It has now been realized that conditions in geospace are linked strongly to terrestrial weather and climate below, contradicting previous textbook knowledge that the space weather of Earth's near space environment is driven by energy injections at high latitudes connected with magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling and solar radiation variation at extreme ultraviolet wavelengths alone. The primary mechanism through which energy and momentum are transferred from the lower atmosphere is through the generation, propagation, and dissipation of atmospheric waves over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales including electrodynamic coupling through dynamo processes and plasma bubble seeding. The main task of Task Group 4 of SCOSTEP's CAWSES-II program, 2009 to 2013, was to study the geospace response to waves generated by meteorological events, their interaction with the mean flow, and their impact on the ionosphere and their relation to competing thermospheric disturbances generated by energy inputs from above, such as auroral processes at high latitudes. This paper reviews the progress made during the CAWSES-II time period, emphasizing the role of gravity waves, planetary waves and tides, and their ionospheric impacts. Specific campaign contributions from Task Group 4 are highlighted, and future research directions are discussed.

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“…Neutral particle densities in the thermosphere, at the altitude of the F ‐region peak, are approximately 10 14 m −3 . At high latitudes, there is an approximately linear correlation between density of atomic oxygen, a major constituent of the neutral atmosphere at this altitude, and F 10.7 solar flux illumination (Vickers et al, ). Variations in thermosphere are strongly dependent on both solar illumination and activity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Statistical Modeling of the Coupled F‐Region Ionosphere‐Thermosphere at High Latitude During Polar Darkness

et al. 2019

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Statistical models have been developed for predicting the behavior of the coupled high‐latitude ionosphere‐thermosphere system. The modeled parameters were the F‐layer peak electron density, plasma structuring, ion temperature, neutral temperature, and the difference between these temperatures, which is a key term in the Joule heating equation. Ionospheric measurements from the European Incoherent Scatter Svalbard Radar and neutral atmosphere measurements from the colocated University College London Fabry‐Perot Interferometers have been made across a solar cycle. These data were all acquired during nighttime conditions as the observations with the Fabry‐Perot Interferometers are restricted to such times. Various geophysical proxies were tested to represent the processes that influence the modeled parameters. The dominant geophysical proxy for each modeled parameter was then determined. Multivariate models were also developed showing the combinations of parameters that best explained the observed variability. A comparison with climatology showed that the models give an improvement in every case with skill scores based on the mean square error of up to 0.88.

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A solar cycle of upper thermosphere density observations from the EISCAT Svalbard Radar

Cited by 19 publications

References 31 publications

An evaluation of International Reference Ionosphere electron density in the polar cap and cusp using EISCAT Svalbard radar measurements

An evaluation of International Reference Ionosphere electron density in the polar cap and cusp using EISCAT Svalbard radar measurements

The geospace response to variable inputs from the lower atmosphere: a review of the progress made by Task Group 4 of CAWSES-II

Statistical Modeling of the Coupled F‐Region Ionosphere‐Thermosphere at High Latitude During Polar Darkness

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