Coordinated Observations of Rocket Exhaust Depletion: GOLD, Madrigal TEC, and Multiple Low‐Earth‐Orbit Satellites. Issue 2 (10th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Park, Jaeheung; Rajesh, P. K.; Ivarsen, Magnus F.; Lin, Charles C. H.; Eastes, Richard W.; Chao, Chi Kuang; Coster, Anthea J.; Clausen, Lasse; Burchill, Johnathan K.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 127:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-02-10
• Subjects: rocket exhaust depletion -- GOLD -- Madrigal TEC -- swarm -- COSMIC‐2 -- Norsat‐1; Magnetospheric physics -- Periodicals; Space environment -- Periodicals; Cosmic physics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Atmospheres -- Periodicals; Heliosphere (Astrophysics) -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 523.01
• DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029909
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9380

Abstract

Abstract: A plasma density hole was created in the ionosphere by a rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida near local sunset on 30 August 2020, which is called rocket exhaust depletion (RED). The hole persisted for several hours into the night and was observed in total electron content (TEC) maps, the Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) imager, and multiple low‐earth‐orbit satellites. The RED created a nightglow pit in the GOLD 135.6 nm image. Swarm satellites found that the RED exhibited insignificant changes in electron/ion temperature and field‐aligned currents. On the other hand, magnetic field strength was enhanced inside the RED by a few tenths of a nanotesla. Assimilation data products of the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate 2 (COSMIC‐2) mission reveal that ionospheric slab thickness increased at the center of the RED, which is supported by combined analyses of the GOLD and TEC data. The RED did not host conspicuous substructures that are stronger and longer‐lasting than the ambient plasma did. Plain Language Summary: Water molecules abundant in rocket exhaust are known to expedite loss of charged particles, which leads to a big hole in the ionosphere, so‐called rocket exhaust depletion (RED). On 30 August 2020, a massive rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida around local sunset time. As expected, the launch created RED in plasma data obtained by ground‐based global positioning system receivers and by multiple low‐Earth‐orbit satellites at altitudes of several hundreds of kilometers above ground. As the RED persisted into the night, the global‐scale observations of the limb and disk imager flying ∼36, 000 km above the American continent acquired a 2‐dimensional image at the 135.6 nm light wavelength (i.e., color). The Swarm satellites found that magnetic field strength increased by a few tenths of a nanotesla at the RED. Combined analyses of the observation data reveal that the vertical thickness of the ionosphere increased in the middle of the RED. The RED did not host conspicuous substructures that are stronger and longer‐lasting than the ambient plasma did. Key Points: NASA‐Global‐scale observations of the limb and disk obtained far‐ultra‐violet nightglow images of rocket exhaust depletion (RED) Magnetic field strength increased inside the RED Ionospheric slab thickness increased inside the RED