Ionospheric HF pump wave triggering of local auroral activation

Abstract

Experimental results from Tromso HF pumping experiments in the nightside auroral E region are reported. We found intriguing evidence that a modification of the ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling, due to the effects of powerful HF waves beamed into an auroral sporadic E layer, can lead to a local intensification of the auroral activity. Summarizing multi-instrument ground-based observations and observations from the IMP 8 and IMP 9 satellites, one can distinguish the following peculiarities related to this auroral activation: modification of the auroral arc and its break-up above Tromso; local changes of the horizontal currents in the vicinity of Tromso; increase of the electron temperature and ion velocities at altitudes above the HF pump reflection level; distinctive features in dynamic HF radio scatter Doppler spectra; pump-induced electron precipitation; substorm activation exactly above Tromso. The mechanisms of the modification of the ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling through the excitation of the turbulent Alfven boundary layer between the base of the ionosphere (~100 km) and the level of sharp increase of the Alfven velocity (at heights up to one Earth radius), and the formation of a local magnetospheric current system are discussed. The results suggest that a possible triggering of local auroral activation requires specific geophysical conditions.