A Statistical Study of Ion Upflow during Periods of Dawnside Auroral Polarization Streams and Subauroral Polarization Streams

Abstract

We have investigated the effect of the dawnside subauroral polarization stream (SAPS) and dawnside auroral polarization stream (DAPS) on the ionospheric ion upflow in the Northern Hemisphere by using four years of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) observations. The occurrence rate of DAPS is higher than that of dawnside SAPS. Obvious ion upflow occurs in the topside ionosphere around the DAPS region. The effect of the dawnside SAPS on the vertical flow is weakened when geomagnetic activity increases. There are prominent upflow fluxes around the DAPS, while there are insignificant upflow fluxes around the SAPS region. The plasma density trough during SAPS periods becomes shallower with increasing magnetic activity. These variations with magnetic activity might be due to the weakened ion-neutral collision heating efficiency during highly disturbed periods. There is no obvious plasma density trough or ion temperature drop around the DAPS region at the altitude of ~800 km. The ion temperature around the SAPS area decreases, while the electron temperature increases around the DAPS and SAPS regions.

Keywords

• dawnside auroral polarization stream
• subauroral polarization stream
• ionospheric ion upflow