[1] Energetic electron precipitation (EEP) impacts the chemistry of the middle atmosphere with growing evidence of coupling to surface temperatures at high latitudes. To better understand this link, it is essential to have realistic observations to properly characterize precipitation and which can be incorporated into chemistry-climate models. The Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) detectors measure precipitating particles but only integral fluxes and only in a fraction of the bounce loss cone. Ground-based riometers respond to precipitation from the whole bounce loss cone; they measure the cosmic radio noise absorption (CNA), a qualitative proxy with scant direct information on the energy flux of EEP. POES observations should have a direct relationship with ΔCNA and comparing the two will clarify their utility in studies of atmospheric change. We determined ionospheric changes produced by the EEP measured by the POES spacecraft in~250 overpasses of an imaging riometer in northern Finland. The ΔCNA modeled from the POES data is 10-15 times less than the observed ΔCNA when the >30 keV flux is reported as <10 6 cm À2 s À1 sr À1. Above this level, there is relatively good agreement between the space-based and ground-based measurements. The discrepancy occurs mostly during periods of low geomagnetic activity, and we contend that weak diffusion is dominating the pitch angle scattering into the bounce loss cone at these times. A correction to the calculation using measurements of the trapped flux considerably reduces the discrepancy and provides further support to our hypothesis that weak diffusion leads to underestimates of the EEP.
[1] In order to make best use of the opportunities provided by space missions such as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes, we determine the response of complementary subionospheric radiowave propagation measurements (VLF), riometer absorption measurements, cosmic noise absorption, and GPS-produced total electron content (vTEC) to different energetic electron precipitation (EEP). We model the relative sensitivity and responses of these instruments to idealized monoenergetic beams of precipitating electrons, and more realistic EEP spectra chosen to represent radiation belts and substorm precipitation. In the monoenergetic beam case, we find riometers are more sensitive to the same EEP event occurring during the day than during the night, while subionospheric VLF shows the opposite relationship, and the change in vTEC is independent. In general, the subionospheric VLF measurements are much more sensitive than the other two techniques for EEP over 200 keV, responding to flux magnitudes two-three orders of magnitude smaller than detectable by a riometer. Detectable TEC changes only occur for extreme monoenergetic fluxes. For the radiation belt EEP case, clearly detectable subionospheric VLF responses are produced by daytime fluxes that are $10 times lower than required for riometers, while nighttime fluxes can be 10,000 times lower. Riometers are likely to respond only to radiation belt fluxes during the largest EEP events and vTEC is unlikely to be significantly disturbed by radiation belt EEP. For the substorm EEP case both the riometer absorption and the subionospheric VLF technique respond significantly, as does the change in vTEC, which is likely to be detectable at $3-4 total electron content units.Citation: Rodger, C. J., M. A. Clilverd, A. J. Kavanagh, C. E. J. Watt, P. T. Verronen, and T. Raita (2012), Contrasting the responses of three different ground-based instruments to energetic electron precipitation,
[1] Geosynchronous Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL-97A) satellite particle data, riometer data, and radio wave data recorded at high geomagnetic latitudes in the region south of Australia and New Zealand are used to perform the first complete modeling study of the effect of substorm electron precipitation fluxes on low-frequency radio wave propagation conditions associated with dispersionless substorm injection events. We find that the precipitated electron energy spectrum is consistent with an e-folding energy of 50 keV for energies <400 keV but also contains higher fluxes of electrons from 400 to 2000 keV. To reproduce the peak subionospheric radio wave absorption signatures seen at Casey (Australian Antarctic Division), and the peak riometer absorption observed at Macquarie Island, requires the precipitation of 50-90% of the peak fluxes observed by LANL-97A. Additionally, there is a concurrent and previously unreported substorm signature at L < 2.8, observed as a substorm-associated phase advance on radio waves propagating between Australia and New Zealand. Two mechanisms are discussed to explain the phase advances. We find that the most likely mechanism is the triggering of wave-induced electron precipitation caused by waves enhanced in the plasmasphere during the substorm and that either plasmaspheric hiss waves or electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves are a potential source capable of precipitating the type of high-energy electron spectrum required. However, the presence of these waves at such low L shells has not been confirmed in this study.Citation: Clilverd, M. A., et al. (2008), Energetic electron precipitation during substorm injection events: High-latitude fluxes and an unexpected midlatitude signature,
It has been long established that high‐power O‐mode HF pumping of the ionosphere can produce artificial optical emissions. 630 nm O(1D) photons are produced by pump‐accelerated electrons colliding with the F‐layer neutral oxygen. However, the mechanism for artificial electron acceleration remains unclear. Competing theories include Langmuir and upper‐hybrid turbulence. Pump‐induced HF coherent radar backscatter power is closely linked with upper‐hybrid turbulence, both of which are known to reduce when pumping on an electron gyro‐harmonic frequency. On 3 November 2000, the EISCAT HF facility was systematically stepped in frequency through the 3rd gyro‐harmonic. A significant reduction in the artificial optical intensity coincides with that of CUTLASS radar backscatter power. This is conclusive proof that upper‐hybrid turbulence is intimately linked to the mechanism for high‐latitude pump‐induced aurora, at least for 630 nm photons and the steady state.
[1] We present an epoch analysis of energetic (>30 keV) electron precipitation during 173 high speed solar wind streams (HSS) using riometer observations of cosmic noise absorption (CNA) as a proxy for the precipitation. The arrival of the co-rotating interaction region (CIR) prior to stream onset, elevates the precipitation which then peaks some 12 h after stream arrival. Precipitation continues for several days following the HSS arrival. The MLT distribution of CNA is generally consistent with the statistical pattern explained via the substorm process, though the statistical deep minimum of CNA/precipitation does change during the HSS suggesting increased precipitation in the 15-20 MLT sector. The level of precipitation is strongly controlled by the average state of the IMF B Z component on the day prior to the arrival of the stream interface. An average negative IMF B Z will produce higher CNA across all L-shells and MLT, up to 100% higher than an average positive IMF B Z .Citation: Kavanagh, A. J., F. Honary, E. F. Donovan, T. Ulich, and M. H. Denton (2012), Key features of >30 keV electron precipitation during high speed solar wind streams: A superposed epoch analysis,
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