Andres Spicher (UiT The Arctic University of Norway) On plasma turbulence in the polar regions

Andres Spicher (UiT The Arctic University of Norway) will deliver a talk on the topic "On plasma turbulence in the polar regions".

Abstract:

The ionosphere is a highly dynamic region where turbulent or “irregular” density structures are common. Density irregularities can cover scale-sizes reaching hundreds of kilometers to a few meters and some of the fluctuations can have adverse impacts on technological infrastructures, as they can affect signals such as the ones used for high-frequency communication or Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Since the development of ionospheric turbulence and the nature of the associated fluctuations are not yet fully assessed, improving our understanding about the topic is of significant interest and essential to develop models for predicting potential Space weather impacts on technology.
In this seminar, we first briefly review the sources and physical processes generally regarded as dominant for the creation of ionospheric turbulence in the polar regions at F-region altitudes. We then present selected studies conducted to assess the physical mechanisms causing plasma irregularities and to examine the nature of the density fluctuations. In particular, we investigate the spectral characteristics of the fluctuations and introduce different time series analysis methods typically used in turbulence studies, which we applied to satellites and sounding rocket data. Furthermore, we briefly discuss observations and analysis necessary to improve our understanding of the topic.