cluster spacecraft observations of a ulf wave enhanced by space plasma exploration by active radar (spear)
;S. V. Badman;D. M. Wright;L. B. N. Clausen;R. C. Fear;T. R. Robinson;T. K. Yeoman
journal of food measurement and characterization2009Vol. 27pp. 3591-3599
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badman2009annalescluster
Abstract
Space Plasma Exploration by Active Radar (SPEAR) is a high-latitude
ionospheric heating facility capable of exciting ULF waves on local magnetic
field lines. We examine an interval from 1 February 2006 when SPEAR was
transmitting a 1 Hz modulation signal with a 10 min on-off cycle. Ground
magnetometer data indicated that SPEAR modulated currents in the local
ionosphere at 1 Hz, and enhanced a natural field line resonance with a 10 min
period. During this interval the Cluster spacecraft passed over the
heater site. Signatures of the SPEAR-enhanced field line resonance were
present in the magnetic field data measured by the magnetometer on-board
Cluster-2. These are the first joint ground- and space-based detections
of field line tagging by SPEAR.