Chinese Journal of Polar Research

Chinese Journal of Polar Research ›› 2026, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (2): 275-288.DOI: 10.13679/j.jdyj.20250084

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Research on ionospheric convection dawn-dusk asymmetry based on SuperDARN

GAO Bingjie1, LIU Erxiao1, CHEN Xuan1, HU Zejun 2,3,4, WANG Zilei1, LIU Junliang1   

  1. 1School of Communication Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China;
    2Center for Space Physics and Astronomy, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai 200136, China;
    3Arctic Yellow River Earth System National Observation and Research Station, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai 201209, China;
    4Antarctic Zhongshan Ice and Space Environment National Observation and Research Station, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai 201209, China
  • Received:2025-12-04 Revised:2026-02-12 Online:2026-06-30 Published:2026-07-13

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Abstract:

Based on ionospheric convection data measured by the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) in 2024, we analyze the effects of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) components (Bx, By, Bz), solar wind velocity (Vx), dynamic pressure (Pd), and geomagnetic activity index AE on the morphology and intensity of ionospheric convection under northward and southward IMF Bz conditions. The slope of the inter-vortex line (Ks), Cross Polar Cap Potential (CPCP), and vortex spacing are selected as characteristic indices of ionospheric convection. We analyze their correlations with the six near-Earth space parameters (Bx, By, Bz, Vx, Pd, AE) to evaluate the influence of these near-Earth space parameters on dawn-dusk asymmetry and convection intensity. The results indicate that, under northward IMF conditions, the overall coupling is weak. The linear response of the three characteristic indices to driving parameters is weak, and ionospheric convection exhibits considerable randomness and structural complexity. Under southward IMF conditions, the coupling is enhanced. Bz plays a dominant role in variations of CPCP and vortex spacing. By is the primary factor controlling dawn–dusk asymmetry, and Bx has a modulating effect on that asymmetry. Meanwhile, higher AE typically leads to increasing CPCP and larger vortex spacing (AE varies synchronously with both CPCP and vortex spacing), while Vx and Pd show weak linear correlations with the three characteristic indices. This study provides a reference for further research on the dawn–dusk asymmetry of ionospheric convection in solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling.


Key words: SuperDARN, ionospheric convection pattern, dawn-dusk asymmetry