Seasonal and hemispheric asymmetries in the cold ion outflow source
region: Swarm and CHAMP observations of F-region polar cap plasma
density
Abstract
One of the primary mechanisms of loss of Earth’s atmosphere is the
persistent “cold” (T ≲ 20 eV) ion outflow that has been observed in
the magnetospheric lobes over large volumes with dimensions of order
several Earth radii. As the main source of this cold ion outflow, the
polar cap F-region ionosphere and conditions within it have a
disproportionate influence on these magnetospheric regions. Using 15
years of measurements of plasma density Ne made by the Swarm spacecraft
constellation and the CHAMP spacecraft within the F region of the polar
cap above 80° Apex magnetic latitude, we report evidence of several
types of seasonal asymmetries in polar cap Ne. Among these, the
transition between “winter-like” and “summer-like” median polar cap
Ne occurs one week prior to local spring equinox in the Northern
Hemisphere (NH), and one week after local spring equinox in the Southern
Hemisphere (SH). Thus the median SH polar cap Ne lags the median NH
polar cap Ne by approximately two weeks with respect to hemispherically
local spring and fall equinox. From interhemispheric comparison of
statistical distributions of polar cap plasma density around each
equinox and solstice, we find that distributions in the SH are often
flatter (i.e., less skewed and kurtotic) than in the NH. Perhaps of most
significance to cold ion outflow, we find no evidence of an F-region
plasma density counterpart to a previously reported hemispheric
asymmetry whereby cold plasma density is higher in the NH magnetospheric
lobe than in the SH lobe.