Meso-scale plasma flow channels and their potential space weather effects

The ionospheric cusp is a very complex region of the polar cap ionosphere. As high resolution measurements become available, meso-scale structures are revealed. However, only recently the resolution has become sufficient and coverage available to study me so-scale phenomena in detail. In the last decade several studies have used high-resolution ESR measurements to study flow channels in the cusp region. There are as of today four types of meso-scale plasma flow channels that have been identified in the cus p. However, the underlying physical processes leading to their formation are poorly understood, and so is their effect on the surrounding plasma environment as well as their evolution in time and space in the polar cap. More knowledge is needed to improve ionospheric models to yield more reliable predictions of ionospheric radio wave conditions and for corrections to GPS navigation signals. Our hypothesis is that meso-scale plasma flow channels play an important role in plasma irregularity formation, such as instabilities and patches. Measurements with high spatial and temporal resolution are the most feasible approach to study the generation mechanisms of plasma flow channels as well as their spatial and temporal evolution. We aim to describe their natur e under various conditions and to provide data needed to properly evaluate existing models for large scale convection. To do so, it is important that the broadest range of conditions possible is investigated. Our research will benefit from the upcoming so lar maximum conditions yielding high activity and low signal to noise ratio.