Low-altitude ion heating, downflowing ions, and BBELF waves in the return current region

TL;DR

This study analyzes ion heating and flow in the Earth's ionosphere, revealing intense, localized heating associated with BBELF waves and predominantly linked to downward ion flows in the return current region.

Contribution

It provides the first statistical evidence that wave-ion heating dominates at low altitudes and links ion heating to BBELF waves and downward ion flows in the return current region.

Findings

Ion heating can reach up to 4.5 eV in narrow regions.

Most heating events are associated with downward ion flows.

Ion heating correlates with BBELF waves, indicating wave-ion interactions.

Abstract

Heavy (O+) ion energization and field-aligned motion in and near the ionosphere are still not well understood. Based on observations from the CASSIOPE Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (e-POP) at altitudes between 325 km and 730 km over one year, we present a statistical study (24 events) of ion heating and its relation to field-aligned ion bulk flow velocity, low-frequency waves and field-aligned currents (FACs). The ion temperature and field-aligned bulk flow velocity are derived from 2-D ion velocity distribution functions measured by the suprathermal electron imager (SEI) instrument. Consistent ion heating and flow velocity characteristics are observed from both the SEI and the rapid-scanning ion mass spectrometer (IRM) instruments. We find that transverse O+ ion heating in the ionosphere can be intense (up to 4.5 eV), confined to very narrow regions (~ 2 km across B), is more likely to occur in the downward current region, and is associated with broadband extremely low frequency (BBELF) waves. These waves are interpreted as linearly polarized perpendicular to the magnetic field. The amount of ion heating cannot be explained by frictional heating, and the correlation of ion heating with BBELF waves suggest that significant wave-ion heating is occurring and even dominating at altitudes as low as 350 km, a boundary that is lower than previously reported. Surprisingly, the majority of these heating events (17 out 24) are associated with core ion downflows rather than upflows. This may be explained by a downward-pointing electric field in the low-altitude return current region.