Observations of Waves Launched by Substorm Onset

Abstract:

The energy and momentum input to the ionosphere-thermosphere (IT) system during impulsive substorm activity is significant and perturbs the IT system, launching waves. Observations of waves are common, but a precise understanding of the relative roles of wave forcing and acceleration is unclear and requires further study: e.g. the relative importance of Lorentz forcing vs. Joule heating. Here we present preliminary results from a multi-instrument case study of the IT system response above the Poker Flat Research Range (PFRR) to a substorm as observed by both the Scanning Doppler Imager Network (SDI) and the Poker Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar (PFISR). We will discuss the response of neutral winds observed by the SDI with ionospheric context provided by PFISR, including an assessment of the wave response to the substorm. Case studies such as this will be used to inform specific operating instrument modes for of the upcoming “Auroral Waves Excited by Substorm Onset Magnetic Events” (AWESOME) sounding rocket campaign that will provide detailed in-situ measurements of wave activity during an auroral substorm complimented by a suite of remote sensing instruments. AWESOME will nominally launch in March/April 2022 from the PFRR.