R. R. Vondrak

Bio: R. R. Vondrak is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Atmospheric physics & Flux. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 432 citations.

On calculating ionospheric conductances from the flux and energy of precipitating electrons

Abstract: Auroral zone conductances can be estimated from the energy flux and average energy of precipitating electrons Revised expressions are presented that relate height-integrated Hall and Pedersen conductance to the flux and average energy of a Maxwellian It is shown that the accuracy of this method depends on the minimum and maximum energy within which the distribution is integrated to get the energy flux and average energy It is also confirmed that the conductances produced by some of the more common auroral spectral distributions are similar to those produced by a Maxwellian with the same average energy and energy flux The application of these results is demonstrated using precipitating electron measurements made by the Hilat satellite during a pass over Greenland

Validation of techniques for space based remote sensing of auroral precipitation and its ionospheric effects

Abstract: Knowledge of the spatial distribution of auroral precipitation and its associated ionospheric effects is important both to scientific studies of the Earth's environment and successful operation of defense and communication systems. Observations with the best spatial and temporal coverage are obtained through remote sensing from space-based platforms. Various techniques have been used, including the detection of visible, ultraviolet and X-ray emissions produced by the precipitating particles. Interpretation of the measurements is enabled through theoretical modeling of the interaction of precipitating particles with atmospheric constituents. A great variety of auroral precipitation exists, with each kind differing in the type and energy distribution of the particles, as well as in its spatial and temporal behavior. Viable remote sensing techniques must be able to distinguish at least the species of particle, the total energy flux, and the average energy. Methods based on visible, ultraviolet and X-ray emissions meet these requirements to varying degrees. These techniques and the associated space instrumentation have evolved in parallel over the last two decades. Each of the methods has been tested using simultaneous measurements made by space-based imaging systems and ground-based measurements made by radars and optical instruments. These experiments have been extremely helpful in evaluating the performance and practicality of the instruments and the results have been crucial in improving instrument design for future remote sensing platforms. The next decade will see continued development and test of remote sensing instruments and the measurements, in addition to providing important operational data, will be increasingly more critical in addressing a number of scientific problems in auroral and atmospheric physics.

Space Weather Modeling Framework: A new tool for the space science community

Abstract: [1] The Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) provides a high-performance flexible framework for physics-based space weather simulations, as well as for various space physics applications. The SWMF integrates numerical models of the Solar Corona, Eruptive Event Generator, Inner Heliosphere, Solar Energetic Particles, Global Magnetosphere, Inner Magnetosphere, Radiation Belt, Ionosphere Electrodynamics, and Upper Atmosphere into a high-performance coupled model. The components can be represented with alternative physics models, and any physically meaningful subset of the components can be used. The components are coupled to the control module via standardized interfaces, and an efficient parallel coupling toolkit is used for the pairwise coupling of the components. The execution and parallel layout of the components is controlled by the SWMF. Both sequential and concurrent execution models are supported. The SWMF enables simulations that were not possible with the individual physics models. Using reasonably high spatial and temporal resolutions in all of the coupled components, the SWMF runs significantly faster than real time on massively parallel supercomputers. This paper presents the design and implementation of the SWMF and some demonstrative tests. Future papers will describe validation (comparison of model results with measurements) and applications to challenging space weather events. The SWMF is publicly available to the scientific community for doing geophysical research. We also intend to expand the SWMF in collaboration with other model developers.

A decade of the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN): scientific achievements, new techniques and future directions

Abstract: The Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) has been operating as an international co-operative organization for over 10 years. The network has now grown so that the fields of view of its 18 radars cover the majority of the northern and southern hemisphere polar ionospheres. SuperDARN has been successful in addressing a wide range of scientific questions concerning processes in the magnetosphere, ionosphere, thermosphere, and mesosphere, as well as general plasma physics questions. We commence this paper with a historical introduction to SuperDARN. Following this, we review the science performed by SuperDARN over the last 10 years covering the areas of ionospheric convection, field-aligned currents, magnetic reconnection, substorms, MHD waves, the neutral atmosphere, and E-region ionospheric irregularities. In addition, we provide an up-to-date description of the current network, as well as the analysis techniques available for use with the data from the radars. We conclude the paper with a discussion of the future of SuperDARN, its expansion, and new science opportunities.

Mapping electrodynamic features of the high-latitude ionosphere from localized observations: technique

Abstract: This paper describes a novel procedure for mapping high-latitude electric fields and currents and their associated magnetic variations, using sets of localized observational data derived from different types of measurements. The technique provides a formalism for incorporating simultaneously such different classes of data as electric fields from radars and satellites, electric currents from radars, and magnetic perturbations at the ground and at satellite heights; the technique also uses available statistical information on the averages and variances of electrodynamic fields. The technique provides a more rigorous way of quantitatively estimating high-latitude electric field and current patterns than other methods and has a capability to quantify the errors in the mapped fields, based on the distribution of available data, their errors, and the statistical variances of the fields. The technique is illustrated by an application to a substorm which was analyzed by Kamide et al. (1982) by an earlier technique.

High-Latitude F-Region Irregularities: A Review and Synthesis

Abstract: The most intense, F region irregularities in the high-latitude ionosphere appear to be produced by convective plasma processes and in particular, by the fluid (gradient drift) interchange instability. Such irregularities are produced by convectively mixing plasma across a mean plasma density gradient with the transport of higher-density plasma into regions of lower-density plasma (and vice versa) leading to the development of an irregularity spectrum that extends in scale from about 10 km down to the ion gyroradius. The mean plasma density gradient that must be present to allow irregularity production by this interchange process appears to be associated with larger-scale (>10 km) plasma structure produced by other means. Because much of the recent progress on this research topic stems from this recognition, a significant portion of this review is dedicated to a description of the characteristics and processes of 10-km plasma structure and their relationships to those of smaller-scale irregularities. From this review, we synthesize a descriptive model of plasma structures in the high-latitude F layer that unifies most of the diverse and independent observations. For the large-scale plasma processes, the model includes (1) the formation of 1000-km-scale “patches” in the polar cap from solar-produced plasma that is transported poleward from lower latitudes; (2) the reconfiguration of patches as they convect into the auroral region and become the latitudinally confined, but longitudinally extended, plasma density enhancements near the equatorward auroral boundary; and (3) the production of localized enhancements and depletions along the poleward auroral boundary by soft-particle precipitation and large but localized electric fields. In the model, the most intense, smaller-scale irregularities are in spatial proximity to these large-scale plasma features, the implication being that the presence of the latter allows formation of the former. The irregularity characteristics are consistent with production by the instability and a morphology controlled by (1) a “slip” velocity (i.e., plasma drift relative to the neutral gas) that is moderately small except in regions of nonuniform plasma convection or under time-varying conditions (e.g., substorms, pulsation events) and (2) a highly conducting auroral E layer that damps irregularity growth and enhances decay. The final irregularity spectrum appears to be produced by (1) global convective processes acting on solar-produced plasma at the largest scales (>50 km), (2) particle precipitation at scales greater than 10 km, (3) perhaps some form of wave activity around 10 km, and (4) the instability at the smaller scales (<10 km).

Statistical and functional representations of the pattern of auroral energy flux, number flux, and conductivity

Abstract: The Hardy et al. (1985) global patterns of the the integral energy flux and average energy of precipitating auroral electrons are used to determine the global pattern of electron-produced, height-integrated Hall and Pedersen conductivities. THe conductivities were determined in spatial bins in magnetic local time (MLT)-corrected geomagnetic latitude (CGL) coordinates for all MLTs and for CGLs greater than 50/sup 0/ and for sevel levels of activity as measured by Kp. The conductivities vary smoothly with latitude and MLT typically having a single peak in latitude within the auroral oval at any MLT. On the nightside the two conductivities increase with increasing Kp. The largest conductivities are found near midnight, where the peak value of the Pederson (Hall) conductivity varies from 3.09 (4.05) mhos to 12.5 (25.9) mhos as Kp varies from 0 to greater than or equal to6-. The peak conductivity decreases with MLT away from midnight with the lowest peak values found postnoon. At noon and on much of the morning side of the oval the Pedersen and Hall conductivities increase for Kp up to 2 and then decrease for higher Kp. The highest ratios of the Hall to Petersen conductivity are on the morning side of the ovalmore » and at noon. The peak conductivities on the dayside are significant compared to the conductivities produced by solar radiation at all seasons of the year. The global maps of the integral energy flux, integral number flux, and height-integrated Hall and Pedersen conductivities at each level of Kp were fit using both spherical harmonic and Epstein functions. The Epstein functions were found to reproduce better the original maps.« less