Atmospheric winds between 100 and 700 km and their effects on the ionosphere

Thermospheric parameters contribution to the formation of Yakutsk F2-layer diurnal summer time anomaly

The role of thermospheric neutral composition in the formation of the Yakutsk diurnal summer time foF₂ anomaly is analyzed. Ionospheric stations inside and outside the anomaly area are considered. The effect of neutral composition in foF₂ is the most noticeable around noontime hours. The difference between observed noontime foF₂ in two areas is significant at the 99.9% confidence level both for monthly median and individual days. The inferred from ionosonde observations and Swarm neutral gas density thermospheric parameters indicate a significant difference between two areas. The inferred exospheric temperature, Tex at Magadan (inside the anomaly area) is significantly larger than Tex at Tunguska (outside the anomaly area). On the contrary, the inferred atomic oxygen [O] at Tunguska is significantly larger than at Magadan. Different [O] abundance in the two areas is the main reason of the observed difference in noontime foF₂ values. Vertical plasma drift depending on magnetic declination, D is the only process responsible for the difference between nighttime foF₂ at Tunguska and Magadan. A possible mechanism of the revealed difference in thermospheric parameters inside and outside the anomaly area is discussed.

Ionospheric Science: An Example of the Importance of Diversity in Approaches to Scientific Research

This paper discusses the strategic importance of contemporary ionospheric science. It outlines some key features of the evolution of the science from the first practical experiments in the 1920s through to the diverse inter-disciplinary science of today. This science includes fundamental studies of partially ionised plasmas and of the complex systems that arise when those plasmas are coupled to neutral atmospheres and magnetospheres. However, the science also has great potential to deliver societal benefits if the science can be refined to obtain a deep physical understanding of ionospheric phenomena and that understanding is then transitioned into use by operational services such as forecasts of ionospheric conditions. Thus, ionospheric science is now very similar in form to other environment sciences and, the same as them, needs to be positioned in a diverse scientific culture that supports the full range of science research, including not only curiosity-driven studies, but also targeted research to deepen our physical understanding to a level that is sufficient to enable a transition to operational services. That diversity also includes support for that transition and also facilitates feedback from operations teams to researchers. Such feedback can be a powerful stimulus for future research.