TY - JOUR
T1 - A method to derive maps of ionospheric conductances, currents, and convection from the Swarm multisatellite mission
AU - Amm, O.
AU - Vanhamäki, H.
AU - Kauristie, K.
AU - Stolle, Claudia
AU - Christiansen, Freddy
AU - Haagmans, R.
AU - Masson, A.
AU - Taylor, M. G. G. T.
AU - Floberghagen, R.
AU - Escoubet, C. P.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - The European Space Agency (ESA) Swarm spacecraft mission is the first multisatellite ionospheric
mission with two low-orbiting spacecraft that are flying in parallel at a distance of ~100–140 km, thus allowing
derivation of spatial gradients of ionospheric parameters not only along the orbits but also in the direction
perpendicular to them. A third satellite with a higher orbit regularly crosses the paths of the lower spacecraft.
Using the Swarmmagnetic and electric field instruments,we present a novel technique that allows derivation of
two-dimensional (2-D) maps of ionospheric conductances, currents, and electric field in the area between
the trajectories of the two lower spacecraft, and even to some extent outside of it. This technique is based
on Spherical Elementary Current Systems. We present test cases of modeled situations from which we
calculate virtual Swarm data and show that the technique is able to reconstruct the model electric field,
horizontal currents, and conductances with a very good accuracy. Larger errors arise for the reconstruction of
the 2-D field-aligned currents (FAC), especially in the area outside of the spacecraft orbits. However, even in
this case the general pattern of FAC is recovered, and the magnitudes are valid in an integrated sense. Finally,
using an MHD model run, we show how our technique allows estimation of the ionosphere-magnetosphere
coupling parameter K, if conjugate observations of the magnetospheric magnetic and electric field are
available. In the case of a magnetospheric multisatellite mission (e.g., the ESA Cluster mission) several K
estimates at nearby points can be generated.
AB - The European Space Agency (ESA) Swarm spacecraft mission is the first multisatellite ionospheric
mission with two low-orbiting spacecraft that are flying in parallel at a distance of ~100–140 km, thus allowing
derivation of spatial gradients of ionospheric parameters not only along the orbits but also in the direction
perpendicular to them. A third satellite with a higher orbit regularly crosses the paths of the lower spacecraft.
Using the Swarmmagnetic and electric field instruments,we present a novel technique that allows derivation of
two-dimensional (2-D) maps of ionospheric conductances, currents, and electric field in the area between
the trajectories of the two lower spacecraft, and even to some extent outside of it. This technique is based
on Spherical Elementary Current Systems. We present test cases of modeled situations from which we
calculate virtual Swarm data and show that the technique is able to reconstruct the model electric field,
horizontal currents, and conductances with a very good accuracy. Larger errors arise for the reconstruction of
the 2-D field-aligned currents (FAC), especially in the area outside of the spacecraft orbits. However, even in
this case the general pattern of FAC is recovered, and the magnitudes are valid in an integrated sense. Finally,
using an MHD model run, we show how our technique allows estimation of the ionosphere-magnetosphere
coupling parameter K, if conjugate observations of the magnetospheric magnetic and electric field are
available. In the case of a magnetospheric multisatellite mission (e.g., the ESA Cluster mission) several K
estimates at nearby points can be generated.
U2 - 10.1002/2014JA020154
DO - 10.1002/2014JA020154
M3 - Journal article
SN - 2169-9380
VL - 120
SP - 3263
EP - 3282
JO - Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
JF - Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
ER -