Precipitating electron energy spectra and auroral power estimation by
incoherent scatter radar with high temporal resolution
Abstract
High-resolution incoherent scatter radar (ISR) observations of the E
region electron density are customarily based on raw electron density,
because accuracy of the high-resolution incoherent scatter spectra are
typically insufficient for a full fit of plasma parameters using
existing data analysis tools. Raw densities have also been used for
electron precipitation energy spectrum inversion from ISR data. In this
study, we use the Bayesian Filtering Module (BAFIM) to fit the true E
region electron density, electron and ion temperatures, and ion velocity
to ISR data with high resolutions in time and range, 4 s and 1.8 km
correspondingly. We use the EISCAT UHF radar observation of an auroral
event on March 09, 2016 over Tromsø. Both the raw electron density and
the true one are then inverted into electron energy spectra using the
ELSPEC software. Usage of true electron densities leads to wider
electron energy spectra, auroral power up to 75% larger and upward
field-aligned current up to 90% larger than usage of raw electron
densities. The largest differences take place for precipitation
activities which produce enhanced electron heating in the upper E region
and in this study correspond to flux of electrons with peak energies
from 3 to 5 keV. Finally, we compare the auroral power estimates
calculated using BAFIM-ELSPEC analysis to the 427.8 nm auroral emission
intensity (proportional to the total energy flux) and find a good
agreement.