Ionospheric response to variable electric fields in small-scale auroral structures

摘要

High time and space resolution optical andradar measurements have revealed the influence of electric fields on E-regionelectron density profiles in small-scale auroral structures. Large electricfields are present adjacent to auroral filaments produced by monoenergeticelectron fluxes. The ionisation profiles measured within and beside the auroralfilaments show the effects of plasma convection due to electric fields as wellas the consequences of the response time to large and dynamic fluxes ofenergetic electrons. Without high-resolution optical measurements, theinterpretation of the radar data is limited.Key words. Auroral ionosphere ·Ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions · EISCAT