| Session Details | |
| Section | ST - Solar & Terrestrial Sciences |
| Session Title | Dynamical Processes in the High-Latitude Ionosphere |
| Main Convener | Dr. Qinghe Zhang (Polar Research Institute of China, China) |
| Co-convener(s) | Dr. P. T. Jayachandran (University of New Brunswick, Canada) Dr. Gang Lu (National Center for Atmospheric Research, United States) |
| Session Description | The high-latitude ionosphere is one of the most dynamic regions of the Earth’s space environment, and it is directly subject to space weather disturbances. There is a well documented phenomenological relationship among the aurora activity, plasma irregularities, the disruption of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and HF radio waves, but the underlying processes remain to be understood. An improved knowledge in this area is the key to make progress in ionospheric modelling toward space weather forecasts and corrections to GNSS signals. To this end, vast network of ground-based radio (IS radars, SuperDARN, GPS receivers, Ionosondes etc.) and optical instruments have been deployed during the last decade to better monitor the dynamic nature of various ionospheric phenomena with improved spatial and temporal resolution. In addition, there are several ongoing ground-based and satellite (Cluster, Double Star, 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 and instabilities, ionospheric scintillations, as well as other dynamical/electrodynamical phenomena, with particular emphases on the cross-regional and cross-scale coupling of various phenomena. Presentations on planned projects addressing high-latitude ionospheric dynamics are also welcome. |