Study on the distribution characteristics of the plasma irregularities
inside the mid-latitude ionospheric trough based on Swarm in situ
measurements
Abstract
A large number of studies have confirmed the frequent occurrence of
plasma irregularities in the mid-latitude ionospheric trough, but there
is little understanding of the distribution characteristics about this
feature. Based on Swarm in situ plasma measurements from 2014 to 2020,
the diurnal, seasonal, solar activity and geomagnetic activity
variations of the occurrence rate of mid-latitude trough region
irregularities are analyzed. The results show that for the
irregularities with scale size of 7.5-75 km: (1) Both of case and
statistical analysis indicate that geomagnetic activity has an obvious
inhibitory effect on the formation of irregularities in the mid-latitude
trough region, whether on the dayside or nightside. (2) The occurrence
rate of mid-latitude trough region irregularities during the day is
significantly higher than that at night, and the difference between day
and night is significantly greater than the difference between the two
walls at the same local time section. (3) On the dayside, the highest
and lowest occurrence rate appears in winter and summer, respectively;
but on the nightside, the highest and lowest occurrence rate appears in
equinoxes and winter, respectively. (4) On the nightside, it shows lower
occurrence rate under high solar activity conditions, but no obvious
solar activity effect is shown on the dayside occurrence rate.