Autori: M. Voiculescu, T. Nygren

Editorial: Advances in Space Research, 40, p.1935–1940, 2007.

Rezumat:

The relation between the F region trough and the polar cap
convection is investigated using satellite tomography observations
and the convection model by citet{PapRic02}. The poleward and
equatorward edges of the trough are determined from the satellite
data and their locations are plotted in magnetic coordinates
together with the convection pattern. The study is limited to
equinox seasons. The field of view of the tomography measurements
is 56{degs}–72{degs} CGM Lat. The results indicate a close
relationship between the troughs and convection. More day-side
troughs are observed when $B_z$ is negative and, consequently, the
convective flow is fast, than in the opposite case. Also, the
pattern of trough observations rotates with the convection
pattern, when $B_y$ changes its sign from negative to positive. It
is concluded that plasma convection and recombination in the
night-time ionosphere has a major role in trough generation,
although other mechanisms like precipitation certainly have a role
of their own.

Cuvinte cheie: Ionospheric trough; IMF effect; Convection pattern