Statistical Analysis of Low‐Latitude Boundary of Polar‐Type Medium‐Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances Observed by a 630‐nm Airglow Imager at Nyrölä, Finland

Abstract

AbstractMedium‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) are one of the ionospheric plasma density structures and are observable through 630‐nm airglow images. Previous studies using airglow images at Tromsø (69.6°N, 19.2°E; magnetic latitude: 66.7°N), Norway, reported high‐latitude MSTIDs (here we call them as polar‐type MSTIDs) whose propagation direction changes associated with auroral brightening and magnetic field disturbances. However, there has been little statistical analysis on the connection of MSTIDs occurring at high and middle latitudes. In this study, we statistically analyzed the MSTIDs observed by an airglow imager at Nyrölä (62.3°N, 25.5°E; magnetic latitude: 59.4°N), Finland, which is located ∼7° south of Tromsø, corresponding to subauroral latitudes. The period analyzed was from 23 January 2017, to 30 September 2021. We found 11 cases of MSTIDs during this period. Eight cases were found to be the polar‐type MSTIDs whose motion changes associated with auroral brightening and magnetic field disturbances. We found that 9 cases of MSTID show the low‐latitude boundary at 61° ± 2°N for geographic latitude and 58° ± 2°N for magnetic latitude, indicating disconnection between high‐ and mid‐latitude MSTIDs. We also derived occurrence probability, velocity, wavelength, period, wave front direction, and propagation direction of these MSTIDs. The occurrence probability of MSTIDs at Nyrölä is 1.9%, which is much lower than those at high (Tromsoe, more than 50%) and middle (Japan, ∼30%) latitudes. We discuss these MSTID characteristics at subauroral latitudes based on possible difference of generation mechanisms of nighttime MSTIDs at high and middle latitudes.