Dynamics of Density Cavities Generated by Frictional Heating: Formation, Distortion, and Instability
Submitting Campus
Daytona Beach
Department
Physical Sciences
Document Type
Article
Publication/Presentation Date
12-16-2015
Abstract/Description
A simulation study of the generation and evolution of mesoscale density cavities in the polar ionosphere is conducted using a time-dependent, nonlinear, quasi-electrostatic model. The model demonstrates that density cavities, generated by frictional heating, can form in as little as 90 s due to strong electric fields of ∼120 mV/m, which are sometimes observed near auroral zone and polar cap arcs. Asymmetric density cavity features and strong plasma density gradients perpendicular to the geomagnetic field are naturally generated as a consequence of the strong convection and finite extent of the auroral feature. The walls of the auroral density cavities are shown to be susceptible to large-scale distortion and gradient-drift instability, hence indicating that arc-related regions of frictional heating may be a source of polar ionospheric density irregularities.
Publication Title
Geophysical Research Letters
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL066806
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Scholarly Commons Citation
Zettergren, M. D., Semeter, J. L., & Dahlgren, H. (2015). Dynamics of Density Cavities Generated by Frictional Heating: Formation, Distortion, and Instability. Geophysical Research Letters, 42(23). https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL066806
