High‐Resolution Poynting Flux Statistics From the Swarm Mission: How Much Is Being Underestimated at Larger Scales?

Abstract Underestimation of the transfer energy between magnetosphere and ionosphere, Poynting flux, is a persistent issue in space weather studies high‐latitude ionospheric models. Thought to be due inability resolve small‐scale fluctuations electric field, this underestimation could lead significant further underestimations parameters such as thermospheric mass density consequential satellite drag. Utilizing 16 Hz ion velocity magnetic field measurements from Swarm mission, we examine observed flux on very small spatial scales (∼1 km), then artificially smooth data increase scale. We quantify decrease integrated poleward 60/‐60° geomagnetic latitude, with increasing The can underestimated by much 15% scale 1 km only 8.6 km, or 16–2 equivalent, upward decreasing significantly faster. Our results thus point Alfvén wave driven component kilometer scales. Additionally, observe northern hemisphere preference for increased which its dependence size interplanetary field.