Structures in Ionospheric Density and Velocity revealed from Satellite Constellations

Abstract:

Somewhat fortuitously the configuration of the DMSP satellites sometimes provide spatial and temporal separations between sequential passes that allow the temporal evolution of convection features at high latitudes to be revealed. More recently the initial deployment of the COSMIC-2 satellites produced a “string of pearls” configuration at altitudes near 700 km from which the temporal evolution of plasma features at low latitudes can be investigated.

While these satellite configurations are not specifically designed for these investigations, in the way that a Geospace Dynamics Constellation might be, some insights into the challenges and rewards of such data sets are revealed by examining these data. Here we will illustrate some features of these data with a view to highlighting the breakthroughs that can be achieved when a complete description of the ionosphere and thermosphere becomes available.