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Time-dependence of dawn-dusk asymmetries in the terrestrial ionospheric convection pattern

Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings - With ISBN/ISSNChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

Published
Publication date6/10/2017
Host publicationDawn-Dusk Asymmetry in Planetary Plasma Environments
EditorsStein Haarland, Andrei Runov, Colin Forsyth
PublisherAmerican Geophysical Union
ISBN (electronic)9781119216346
ISBN (print)9781119216322
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Publication series

NameGeophysical Monograph
PublisherAmerican Geophysical Union
Volume228

Abstract

In this chapter we consider the nature and origin of dawn-dusk asymmetries in the ionospheric convection pattern. We focus on asymmetries that are introduced via solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) has a strong dawn-dusk component. In particular, we address the interplay between flows that are “directly driven” by dayside coupling processes and those driven over a variety of longer timescales by internal magnetospheric dynamics. This produces variability in the ionospheric convection and leads to an inherent time dependence in the development of dawn-dusk asymmetries. Our discussion focuses on the interpretation of observations made by the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN), which has provided measurements of the two-dimensional ionospheric convection pattern at 1 or 2 min resolution for the last two decades. We summarize the current state of understanding in this area and discuss unanswered questions.