[1] We investigate the longitudinal distribution of the vertical E Â B drift velocity and ion density in the lowlatitude ionosphere using the first Republic of China Satellite (ROCSAT-1) data acquired during 1999 -2004. The ROCSAT-1 observations during daytime demonstrate the presence of the longitudinally periodic patterns of the vertical E Â B drift and plasma density on the topside F region (600 km). The four longitude sectors where the peaks in the plasma density are found are coincident with the peaks in the E Â B drift. This observation may indicate the association of the large-scale longitudinal density structure with the daytime E-region dynamo electric field. The density structure exists before the occurrence of the pre-reversal enhancement (PRE) and therefore the PRE is not directly related to this phenomenon. Citation:

Abstract. From geomagnetic field observations of CHAMP during [2001][2002][2003][2004][2005][2006][2007][2008][2009] we extracted characteristic signatures of inter-hemispheric field-aligned currents (IHFACs) in the equatorial ionosphere. The results are in general agreement with previous observations. Nighttime IHFACs are negligibly small. Solstitial IHFACs flow from the summer to winter (from winter to summer) hemisphere at dawn (around noon). Duskside IHFACs flow southbound irrespective of season. We have also found some new IHFAC properties, which may have been predicted by theories, but are not yet given observational support. IHFACs clearly exhibit a longitude dependence, which is modulated by the South Atlantic Anomaly, the offset between geographic and magnetic equators, and tidal waves. IHFACs show little dependence on the solar cycle. We provide a comprehensive assessment of the IHFAC modulation by non-migrating tides.

We present the general properties of the far-ultraviolet (FUV; 1370-1710 Å) continuum background over most of the sky, obtained with the Spectroscopy of Plasma Evolution from Astrophysical Radiation instrument (SPEAR, also known as FIMS), flown aboard the STSAT-1 satellite mission. We find that the diffuse FUV continuum intensity is well correlated with N HI , 100 µm, and Hα intensities but anti-correlated with soft X-ray intensity. The correlation of the diffuse background with the direct stellar flux is weaker than the correlation with other parameters. The continuum spectra are relatively flat. However, a weak softening of the FUV spectra toward some sight lines, mostly at high Galactic latitudes, is found not only in direct-stellar but also in diffuse background spectra. The diffuse background is relatively softer than the direct stellar spectrum. We also find that the diffuse FUV background averaged over the sky has a bit softer spectrum compared to direct stellar radiation. A map of the ratio of 1370-1520 Å to 1560-1710 Å band intensity shows that the sky is divided into roughly two parts. However, this map shows a lot of patchy structures on small scales. The spatial variation of the hardness ratio seems to be largely determined by the longitudinal distribution of OB-type stars in the Galactic plane. A correlation of the hardness ratio with the FUV intensity at high intensities is found but an anti-correlation at low intensities. We also find evidence that the FUV intensity distribution is log-normal in nature.

We present far-ultraviolet (FUV) spectral imaging observations of the Vela supernova remnant (SNR) obtained with the SPEAR/FIMS instrument. The Vela SNR extends ∼8Њ in the FUV, and its global spectra are dominated by shock-induced emission lines. We find that the global FUV line luminosities can exceed the 0.1-2.5 keV soft X-ray luminosity by an order of magnitude. The global O vi : C iii ratio shows that the Vela SNR has a relatively large fraction of slower shocks compared with the Cygnus Loop.

Abstract.The coupled, one-dimensional electron and ion energy equations, with a combination of small steady and fluctuating horizontal magnetic fields imposed, are solved for the Mars ionosphere, corresponding to conditions encountered during the Viking mission. A series of calculations with various boundary conditions and heat sources result in a range of electron and ion temperature profiles, which are compared with the results obtained by the RPA's carried aboard the Viking landers. It is shown that solar EUV heating alone does not lead to the observed temperature profiles and that assuming reasonable heat fluxes at the top result in good agreement. It is also found that the introduction of small steady and altitude dependent fluctuating horizontal magnetic fields, which modify the thermal conductivity, leads to electron temperatures in reasonably good agreement with the RPA data, but does not match the observed ion temperatures above about 240 kin. The effects of chemical and Joule heating are also examined and found not to be significant.