Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

High-latitude Sporadic-E and other Thin Layers – the Role of Magnetospheric Electric Fields

  • Published:
Space Science Reviews Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Observations of high-latitude sporadic-E (Es) layers and theories of their formation are reviewed. The layers are found to be composed of metallic ions, they are at times formed by tidal wind shear, and they are more common in summer than in winter. All of these properties are common to Es layers at mid-latitudes. However, the high-latitude layers are rather often formed, modified or transported by the action of magnetospheric electric fields. Taking into account the action of both tides and electric fields leads to an understanding of the daily variation of Es occurrence, the daily variation of Es heights and the occasional appearance of upward migrating Es layers. Correlations between Es and neutral metallic layers at low altitudes can be explained by neutralisation of the metallic ions in the Es layers, but joint Es and neutral layers at higher altitudes are still unexplained. The action of electric fields and the interaction with neutral layers can explain the formation of multiple Es layers and may provide an explanation for the seasonal variation of Es occurrence. Uncertainties remain as to whether the narrowness of Es layers is fully compatible with formation by electric fields, to whether neutralisation at low altitudes can provide a sufficient explanation of the seasonal variation, and to whether the quasi-periodic fine structure observed in mid-latitude Es also appears at high latitudes. The understanding of ion transport by electric fields which results from the study of Es layers leads to new insights and new questions related to other plasma layers (polar mesosphere summer echoes and winter ion layers) which appear in the high-latitude winter ionosphere.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alpers, M. and von Zahn, U.: 1991, ‘Iron Atom Densities in the Polar Mesosphere’, ESA SP-317, 111–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alpers, M., Blix, T., Kirkwood, S., Krankowsky, D., Lübken, F.-J., Lutz, S., and von Zahn, U.: 1993, ‘First Simultaneous Measurements of Neutral and Ionised Iron Densities in the Upper Mesosphere’, J. Geophys. Res. 98, 275–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alpers, M., Höffner, J., and von Zahn, U.: 1990, ‘Iron Atom Densities in the Polar Mesosphere from Lidar Observations’, Geophys. Res. Letters 17, 2345–2348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alpers, M., Höffner, J., and von Zahn, U.: 1994, ‘Sporadic Fe and E Layers at Polar, Middle and Low Latitudes’, J. Geophys. Res. 99, 14971–14985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alpers, M., Höffner, J., and von Zahn, U.: 1996, ‘Upper-Atmosphere Ca and Ca+ at Midlatitudes – First Simultaneous and Common-Volume Lidar Observations’, Geophys. Res. Letters 23, 567–570.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barabash, V., Chilson, P., Kirkwood, S., Réchou, A., and Stebel, K.: 1998, ‘Investigations of the Possible Relationship between PMSE and Tides Using a VHF MST Radar’, Geophys. Res. Letters 25, 3297–3300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batista, I. S., Clemesha, B. R., Batista, I. S., and Simonich, D. M.: 1989, ‘Characteristics of the Sporadic Sodium Layers Observed at 23 Degrees S’, J. Geophys. Res. 94, 15349–15358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batista, I. S., De Paula, E. R., Abdu, M. A., and Trivedi, N. B.: 1991, ‘Ionospheric Effects of the March 13 1989 Magnetic Storm at Low and Equatorial Latitudes’, J. Geophys. Res. 96, 3943–3952.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beatty, T., Collins, R., Gardner, C. S., Hostetler, C. A., Sechrist, C. F., and Tepley, C. A.: 1989, ‘Simultaneous Radar and Lidar Observations of Sporadic E and Na Layers at Arecibo’, Geophys. Res. Letters 16, 1019–1022.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bedey, D. F. and Watkins, B. J.: 1997, ‘Large-Scale Transport of Metallic Ions and the Occurrence of Thin Ion Layers in the Polar Ionosphere’, J. Geophys. Res. 102, 9675–9681.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bedey, D. F. and Watkins, B. J.: 1996, ‘Seasonal Occurrence of Thin Metallic Ion Layers at High Latitudes’, Geophys. Res. Letters 23, 2789–2792.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brekke, A., Nozawa, S., and Sparr, T.: 1994, ‘Studies of the E-Region Neutral Wind in the Quiet Auroral Ionosphere’, J. Geophys. Res. 99, 8801.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bristow, W. A. and Watkins, B. J.: 1991, ‘Numerical Simulation of the Formation of Thin Ionization Layers at High Latitudes’, Geophys. Res. Letters 18, 404–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bristow, W. A. and Watkins, B. J.: 1993, ‘Incoherent Scatter Observations of Thin Ionization Layers at Sondrestrom’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 55, 873–894.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bristow, W. A. and Watkins, B. J.: 1994, ‘Effect of the Large-Scale Convection Electric Field Structure on the Formation of Thin Ionization Layers at High Latitudes’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 56, 401–415.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, R. M. and Plane, J. M. C.: 1998, ‘An Ion-Molecule Mechanism for the Formation of Neutral Sporadic Na Layers’, J. Geophys. Res. 103, 6349–6359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chimonas, G. and Axford, W. I.: 1968, ‘Vertical Movements of Temperate Zone Sporadic-E Layers’, J. Geophys. Res. 73, 111–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cho, J. and Röttger, J.: 1997, ‘An Updated Review of Polar Mesosphere Summer Echoes: Observation, Theory, and Their Relation to Noctilucent Clouds and Subvisible Aerosols’, J. Geophys. Res. 102, 2001–2020.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cho, J. Y. N., Hall, T. M., and Kelley, M. C.: 1992, ‘On the Role of Charged Aerosols in Polar Mesosphere Summer Echoes’, J. Geophys. Res. 97, 875–886.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collis, P. N. and Turunen, R.: 1987, ‘Horizontal Extent and Vertical Motions of a Mid-Latitude Sporadic E-Layer Observed by EISCAT’, Physica Scripta 35, 883–886.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, R. M. and Plane, J. M. C.: 1998, ‘An Ion-Molecule Mechanism for the Formation of Neutral Sporadic Na Layers’, J. Geophys. Res. 103, 6349–6359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farley, D. T.: 1985, ‘Theory of Equatirial Electrojet PlasmaWaves – New Developments and Current Status’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 47, 729–744.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fejer, J. and Kelley, M. C.: 1980, ‘Ionospheric Irregularities’, Rev. Geophys. 18, 401–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, G. and von Zahn, U.: 1990, ‘Sudden Sodium Layers in Polar Latitudes’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 52, 585–608.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinselman, C. J., Thayer, J. P., and Watkins, B. J.: 1998, ‘A High-Latitude Observation of Sporadic Sodium and Sporadic E-Layer Formation, Geophys. Res. Letters 25, 3059–3062.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huuskonen, A., Nygren, T., Jalonen, L., Björnå, N., Hansen, T. L., Brekke, A., and Turunen, T.: 1988, ‘Ion Composition in Sporadic E Layers Measured by the EISCAT UHF Radar’, J. Geophys. Res. 93, 14603–14610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Höffner, J. and von Zahn, U.: 1994, ‘1 and 3-Dimensional Numerical Simulations of the Formation of Sporadic Ion Layers Below 100 km Altitude’, ESA SP-355, 57–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Imamura, T., Kita, K., Iwagami, N., and Ogawa, T.: 1995, ‘Gravity Wave Characteristics Derived from Structure Atomic Oxygen Profile and Multiple Es Layers’, J. Geomag. Geoelectr. 47, 961–972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkwood, S.: 1991, ‘Anomalous Ion Layers in the High-Latitude Winter E-Region’, Geophys. Res. Letters 18, 1189–1192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkwood, S.: 1997a, ‘Thin Ion Layers in the High-Latitude Lower Ionosphere’, Adv. Space Res. 19 (1), 49–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkwood, S.: 1997b, ‘The Anomalous Winter Ion Layer – a Mystery Waiting for a Sounding Rocket’, Proceedings of the 13th ESA Symposium, Öland, ESA SP-397, 371–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkwood, S. and Collis, P. N.: 1989, ‘GravityWave Generation of Simultaneous Auroral Sporadic-E Layers and Suden Neutral Sodium Layers’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 51, 259–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkwood, S. and von Zahn, U.: 1991, ‘On the Role of Auroral Electric Fields in the Formation of Low-Altitude Sporadic-E and Sudden Sodium Layers, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 53, 389–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkwood, S. and von Zahn, U.: 1992, ‘The Role of Magnetospheric Electric Fields in Producing Auroral Zone Thin Layers’, Adv. Space Res. 12(10), 225–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkwood, S. and von Zahn, U.: 1993, ‘Formation Mechanisms for Low-Altitude Es and Their Relationship with Neutral Fe Layers: Results from the METAL Campaign’, J. Geophys. Res. 98, 21549–21561.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkwood, S. and von Zahn, U.: 1994, ‘Formation Mechanisms for Low-Altitude Sporadic-E Layers – Results from the METAL Campaign’, ESA SP-355, 51–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkwood, S., von Zahn, U., and Fricke, K.-H.: 1996, ‘EISCAT and ALOMAR Review of Potential for Cooperative Science’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 58, 337–348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkwood, S., Cho, J., Hall, C. M., Hoppe, U.-P., Murtagh, D. P., Stegman, J., Swartz, W. E., van Eyken, A. P., Wannberg, G., and Witt, G.: 1995, ‘A Comparison of PMSE and Other Ground-Based Observations During the NLC-91 Campaign’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 57, 35–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkwood, S., Barabash, V., Chilson, P., Réchou, A., Stebel, K., Espy, P., Stegman, J., and Witt, G.: 1988, ‘The 1997 PMSE Season – Its Relation to Winds, Temperature and Water Vapour’, Geophys. Res. Letters 25, 1867–1870.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopp, E.: 1997, ‘On the Abundance of Metal Ions in the Lower Ionosphere’, J. Geophys. Res. 102, 9667–9674.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanchester, B. S., Rishbeth, H., Nygrén, T., Jalonen, L., and Turunen, T.: 1989, ‘Wave Activity, F1-Layer Disturbance and a Sporadic E-Layer over EISCAT’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 51, 179–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanchester, B. S., Nygrén, T., Huuskonen, A., Turunen, T., and Jarvis, M. J.: 1991, ‘Sporadic-E as a Tracer for Atmospheric Waves’, Planetary Space Sci. 39, 1421–1434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lübken, F.-J., Rapp, M., Blix, T., and Thrane, E.: 1998, ‘Microphysical and Turbulent Measurements of the Schmidt Number in the Vicinity of Polar Mesosphere Summer Echoes, Geophys. Res. Letters 25, 893–896.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacLeod, M.: 1996, ‘Sporadic-E Therory. I. Collision-Geomagnetic Equilibrium’, J. Atmospheric Sci. 23, 96–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathews, J. D.: 1998, ‘Sporadic E: Current Views and Recent Progress’, J. Atmospheric Solar-Terrest. Phys. 60, 413–435.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagasawa, C. and Abo, M.: 1995, ‘Lidar Observations of a Lot of Sporadic Sodium Layers in Mid-Latitude’, Geophys. Res. Letters 22, 263–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neubeck, K. E.: 1996, ‘Using the Combined Resources of Amateur Radio Observations and Ionosonde Data in the Study of Temperate Zone Sporadic-E’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 58, 1355–1365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nygrén, T., Jalonen, L., Oksman, J., and Turunen, T.: 1984a, ‘The Role of Electric Field and Neutral Wind Direction in the Formation of Sporadic-E Layers’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 46, 373–381.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nygrén, T., Jalonen, L., Huuskonen, A., and Turunen, T.: 1984b, ‘Density Profiles of Sporadic-E Layers Containing Two Metal Ion Species’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 46, 885–893.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nygrén, T., Lanchester, B. S., Huuskonen, A., Jalonen, L., Turunen, T., Rishbeth, H., and van Eyken, A. P.: 1990, ‘Interference of Tidal and Gravity Waves in the Ionosphere and an Associated Sporadic E Layer’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 52, 609–623.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nygrén, T.: 1989, ‘Studies of Sporadic E-Layer Using the EISCAT Incoherent Scatter Radar’, Adv. Space Res. 9(5), 73–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkinson, M. L., Dyson, P. L., Monselesan, D. P., and Morris, R. J.: 1998, ‘On the Role of the Electric Field in the Formation of Sporadic E-Layers in the Southern Polar Cap Ionosphere’, J. Atmospheric Solar-Terrest. Phys. 60, 471–491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plane, J. M. C.: 1991, ‘The Chemistry of Meteoric Metals in the Earth's Upper Atmosphere’, Int. Rev. Phys. Chem. 10(1), 55–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rathbone, A. J. and Johnson, J. F. E.: 1985, ‘EISCAT Observations of a Sequential Es Layer’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 47, 1071–1074.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rees, M. H.: 1989, Physics and Chemistry of the Upper Atmosphere, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinweg, A., Krankowsky, D., Lämmerzahl, P., and Anweiler, B.: 1992, ‘Metal-Ion Layers in the Auroral Lower E-Region Measured by Mass Spectrometers’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 54, 703–714.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swider, W. and Keneshea, T. J.: 1993, ‘The Quiet Sunrise E-Region: Enhancements at High Latitudes in Winter Due to Increased Nitric Oxide’, J. Geophys. Res. 98, 1725–1728.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turunen T.: 1976a, ‘The Diurnal Variation of Es Layer Parameters at Sodankylä in Summer 1973 Based on Ionospheric Soundings Utilizing Low Fixed Gain’, Geophysica 14, 55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turunen, T.: 1976b, ‘The Long-Term Variation of Es Layer Parameters at Sodankylä 1958–1972’, Geophysica 14, 61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turunen, T. and Mukunda Rao, M.: 1975, ‘Sequential Es at Sodankylä’, Geophysica 13, 175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turunen, T. and Mukunda Rao, M.: 1976, ‘Statistical Behaviour of Sporadic-E at Sodankylä 1958–1971’, Geophysica 14, 77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turunen, T., Silén, J., Nygrén, T., and Jalonen, L.: 1985, ‘Observations of a Thin Es-Layer by the EISCAT Radar’, Planetary Space Sci. 33, 1407–1416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turunen, T., Nygrén, T., Huuskonen, A., Jalonen, L.: 1988, ‘Incoherent Scatter Studies of Sporadic-E Using 300 m Resolution’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 50, 277–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turunen, T., Nygrén, T., and Huuskonen, A.: 1993, ‘Nocturnal High-Latitude E-Region in Winter During Extremely Quiet Conditions’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 55, 783–795.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volland, H.: 1984, Atmospheric Electrodynamics, Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • von Zahn, U., Hansen, G., and Kurzawa, H.: 1988, ‘Observations of the Sodium Layer at High-Latitudes in Summer’, Nature 331, 594–596.

    Google Scholar 

  • von Zahn, U. and Hansen, T. L.: 1988, ‘Sudden Neutral Sodium Layers: a Strong Link to Sporadic E Layers’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 50, 93–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead, J. D.: 1989, ‘The Formation of the Sporadic-E Layer in the Temperate Zones’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 20, 49–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead, J.D., Production and prediction of sporadic E, Rev. Geophys. Space Sci., 8, 65-144, 1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead, J. D.: 1989, ‘Recent Work on Mid-Latitude and Equatorial Sporadic-E’, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 51, 401–424.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRI Atmospheric Research Programme, Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Box 812, Sweden

    Sheila Kirkwood & Hans Nilsson

  2. 981 28 Kiruna, Sweden

    Sheila Kirkwood & Hans Nilsson

Authors
  1. Sheila Kirkwood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hans Nilsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kirkwood, S., Nilsson, H. High-latitude Sporadic-E and other Thin Layers – the Role of Magnetospheric Electric Fields. Space Science Reviews 91, 579–613 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005241931650

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005241931650

Keywords

Search

Navigation