| Session Details | |
| Section | ST - Solar & Terrestrial Sciences |
| Session Title | High-Latitude Ionosphere: New Insights from Recent Ground-based and Satellite Observations |
| Main Convener | Dr. Keisuke Hosokawa (The University of Electro-Communications, Japan) |
| Co-convener(s) | Dr. Todd Pedersen (Air Force Research Laboratory, United States) Dr. Qinghe Zhang (Polar Research Institute of China, China) |
| Session Description | The high-latitude ionosphere is one of the most affected regions of the Earth’s space environment particularly during periods of high solar activity. There is a well documented phenomenological relationship between the aurora, polar cap patches, and scatter of GNSS and HF radio waves, but the underlying processes remain to be understood. Improved knowledge is the key for progress in ionospheric modelling for more reliable predictions of ionospheric radio wave conditions and for corrections to GNSS signals. Because of this, vast numbers of ground-based radio (IS radars, SuperDARN, GPS receivers, Ionosondes etc.) and optical instruments have been deployed during the last decade to better visualize the dynamic nature of various ionospheric phenomena with improved spatial and temporal resolution. In addition, there are several on-going ground-based and satellite (Cluster, THEMIS, REIMEI, Geotail etc.) collaborations aimed at understanding the electromagnetic coupling between magnetospheric processes and ionospheric disturbances. This session focuses on observational, theoretical and modelling aspects of high-latitude dynamics, including micro- and macro-scale physics of aurora, ionospheric plasma motion, field-aligned currents, generation of waves, instabilities, turbulence and scintillation phenomena and other processes. Presentations on planned projects are also welcome. |