First radar observations in the vicinity of the plasmapause of pulsed ionospheric flows generated by bursty bulk flows

Recent expansion of the SuperDARN network to mid-latitudes and the addition of a new high-time resolution mode provides new opportunities to observe mid-latitude ultra-low frequency waves and other ionospheric sub-auroral features at high temporal resolution. On 22 February 2008, the Blackstone SuperDARN radar and THEMIS ground magnetometers simultaneously observed substorm Pi2 pulsations. Similarities in measurements from the Blackstone radar and a magnetometer at Remus suggest a common generating mechanism. Cross-phase analysis of magnetometer data places these measurements at the ionospheric projection of the plasmapause, while fine spatial and temporal details of the radar data show evidence of field line compressions. About 1 min prior to ground Pi2 observation, 2 Earthward-moving Bursty Bulk Flows (BBFs) were observed by THEMIS probes D and E in the near-Earth plasma sheet. We conclude that the first 2 pulses of the Pi2s observed at Blackstone and Remus result from compressional energy generated by BBFs braking against the magnetospheric dipolar region. Citation: Frissell, N. A., J. B. H. Baker, J. M. Ruohoniemi, L. B. N. Clausen, Z. C. Kale, I. J. Rae, L. Kepko, K. Oksavik, R. A. Greenwald, and M. L. West (2011), First radar observations in the vicinity of the plasmapause of pulsed ionospheric flows generated by bursty bulk flows, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L01103, doi:10.1029/2010GL045857.