AGU 2009

Ground based observations of the Cascades ionosphere - characterization and interpretation

In support of the Cascades2 program (see Lynch et al. this session) multiple ground-based observatories were recording the auroral conditions on March 20, 2009. In addition to standard all-sky cameras at Poker Flat, Fort Yukon, Kaktovik and Toolik Lake, and meridian spectrographs at Poker Flat, Fort Yukon and Kaktovik, two sets of narrow-field cameras were deployed to Kaktovik and Toolik Lake specifically for the experiment. In addition the Poker Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar was collecting ion and electron density, temperature and velocity profiles in the upleg region of the rocket trajectory. The geomagnetic conditions on March 20, 2009 showed very low activity prior to 10 UT, with a single narrowly defined arc nearly overhead at Fort Yukon (magnetic latitude ~67.3). At 10:15 the arc intensified, and split and showed increased activity with the active arcs drifting northward of Kaktovik (magnetic latitude ~70.8) as the rocket payload overflew the region at 11:10 to 11:15 UT. The increased activity produced only moderate currents with the ground magnetometers at Kaktovik and Fort Yukon recording 150 nT deflection in H. For a significant portion of the flight the rocket overflies a region where arcs are often not aligned along magnetic E-W which is consistent with alfvenic aurora associated with Poleward Boundary Intensifications. We present the characteristics of the ionosphere and auroral emissions along the trajectory of the rocket and how they correlate to the precipitation data recorded by the Cascades2 payload.