Identification of the ionospheric footprint of magnetospheric boundaries using SuperDARN coherent HF radars

Several studies of SuperDARN radar data have revealed a systematic dependence of the Doppler backscatter versus latitude and magnetic local time. In particular, the Doppler spectral width is known to increase at the vicinity of the ionospheric footprint of the cusp, and in a region that shapes like the poleward boundary of the auroral oval. Following earlier work, we make use of a large radar database consisting of a set of key parameters that characterize Doppler backscatter, and a multivariate statistical method, to reveal a strong connection between specific geophysical regions and their backscatter properties. This opens the interesting perspective of monitoring magnetospheric boundaries in real time.