51. Ionospheric currents deduced from 5 Years of Swarm constellation mission observations
- Author
-
Kervalishvili, G., Lühr, H., Stolle, C., Rauberg, J., and Michaelis, I.
- Subjects
Physics::Space Physics ,Physics::Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Abstract
ESA’s Swarm constellation mission consisting of three identical satellites, successfully launched on 22 November 2013, provides the excellent opportunity of reliable electric current density estimates in the ionosphere based on multi-satellite magnetic field measurements. The final constellation with Swarm A/C orbiting the Earth at about 470 km (flying side-by-side) and Swarm B at about 520 km altitude was achieved on 17 April 2014. Swarm satellites need a period of about 130 days to cover all local times; therefore the coverage of all local times and local seasons can be achieved in 5 years from the final constellation when the dual-satellite current density estimations have been started. We present the climatology of field-aligned currents (FACs) at polar cap, cusp and auroral regions, radial, interhemispheric (IHFACs) and F region dynamo currents at mid-latitude and equatorial regions, using the single and dual satellite approaches for the current density estimations. Also, the higher-flying Swarm B satellite provides from time to time well-matched observations with the 50 km lower Swarm A/C pair that gives the possibility for zonal current estimates by using Ampère’s ring integral for determining the mean current density passing through the encircled area.
- Published
- 2019