Satellite measurements help research into electric currents in the ionosphere

By combining observations from the surface of the earth, and from satellites, it became possible to ascertain the development of flows of electricity in the Aurora Borealis zone in time and space during Aurora Borealis storms.

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Understanding the development is important for understanding the interference currents affecting, for example, wiring systems on the surface of the earth and beneath the surface. The strength of the electrical currents in the ionosphere were researched with the help of the Swarm satellite of the European Space Agency.

Further information:

Sebastian Käki, Finnish Meteorological Institute, sebastian.kaki@fmi.fi

Käki, S., Viljanen, A., Juusola, L., and Kauristie, K.: Spatio-temporal development of large-scale auroral electrojet currents relative to substorm onsets, Ann. Geophys., 40, 107–119, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-107-2022, 2022.

Scientific article is available on Annales Geophysicae.

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