New understanding of multiscale field-aligned currents and scientific
and technological impact on the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere
system
Abstract
Field-aligned currents (FACs), or the system of currents flowing along
Earth’s magnetic field lines, are the dominant form of energy and
momentum exchange between the magnetosphere and ionosphere. FACs are
ubiquitous across the high-latitude region and have unique
characteristics depending on the magnetospheric or solar wind source
mechanism, and, therefore, mapping location in the ionosphere (i.e.
auroral zone, polar cap, cusp). Further complicating the picture, FACs
also exhibit a large range of spatial and temporal scales. In order to
create new understanding of FAC spatial and temporal scales, their
cross-scale effects, and the impact on the polar region, including on
critical technologies, new data analysis approaches are required. This
talk addresses a coherent progression of investigation in three parts:
1) an exploration of the characteristics, controlling parameters, and
relationships of multiscale FACs using a rigorous, comprehensive
analysis across multiple spacecraft observations; 2) augmentation of
these statistical results with detailed case studies, fusing
observations from diverse platforms and incorporating critical
information about the high-latitude electrodynamics across scales; and
3) a quantitative investigation of the impact on Global Navigation
Satellite System (GNSS) signals. We find that the relationships between
FAC scales are complex and reveal new information about the connection
between multiscale FACs and irregular space weather activity.
Additionally, there are observable signatures of multiscale FACs and
resultant electrodynamic activity in ionospheric data from GNSS signals,
suggesting that these signals are affected distinctly according to scale
size of the coupling process. Our results indicate that GNSS data may be
a powerful source of information about the multiscale near Earth space
environment.