Correlation Studies of Field-Aligned Echoes Observed by RPI/IMAGE With
Geomagnetic Conditions

V. Jayanti(1), W. W. Taylor (1), S. F. Fung (2), R. F. Benson (2), J. L.
Green(2) , B. W. Reinisch (3)

(1) RITSS/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771
(2) Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771
(3) University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854

Data from the Radio Plasma Imager (RPI)  on the IMAGE
satellite often show  occurrences of field-aligned guided echoes. These echoes
have been seen in the plasmasphere. Complex echo signatures have been
observed in  closed field line regions and plasmapause boundaries. One of
the questions of interest is what magnetospheric conditions are favorable
for the production of these echoes. In this paper we will present the
results of a systematic study of the correlation between geomagnetic
conditions and the characteristics of the observed guided echoes, i.e
dependence of field-aligned echoes on parameters kp and  MLT (magnetic
local time). We will also determine density profiles using field-aligned
ray-tracing techniques from the observed echoes.