scholarly journals An evidence for prompt electric field disturbance driven by changes in the solar wind density under northward IMF Bz condition

2016 ◽  
Vol 121 (5) ◽  
pp. 4800-4810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diptiranjan Rout ◽  
D. Chakrabarty ◽  
R. Sekar ◽  
G. D. Reeves ◽  
J. M. Ruohoniemi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Solar Wind Density ◽  
Field Disturbance

scholarly journals Observations of polar patches generated by solar wind Alfvén wave coupling to the dayside magnetosphere

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 463-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Prikryl ◽  
J. W. MacDougall ◽  
I. F. Grant ◽  
D. P. Steele ◽  
G. J. Sofko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Alfven Waves ◽  
Alfven Wave ◽  
Alfvén Waves ◽  
Convection Cell ◽  
Convection Flow ◽  
Vhf Radar ◽  
Sky Imager ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. A long series of polar patches was observed by ionosondes and an all-sky imager during a disturbed period (Kp = 7- and IMF Bz < 0). The ionosondes measured electron densities of up to 9 × 1011 m-3 in the patch center, an increase above the density minimum between patches by a factor of \\sim4.5. Bands of F-region irregularities generated at the equatorward edge of the patches were tracked by HF radars. The backscatter bands were swept northward and eastward across the polar cap in a fan-like formation as the afternoon convection cell expanded due to the IMF By > 0. Near the north magnetic pole, an all-sky imager observed the 630-nm emission patches of a distinctly band-like shape drifting northeastward to eastward. The 630-nm emission patches were associated with the density patches and backscatter bands. The patches originated in, or near, the cusp footprint where they were formed by convection bursts (flow channel events, FCEs) structuring the solar EUV-produced photoionization and the particle-produced auroral/cusp ionization by segmenting it into elongated patches. Just equatorward of the cusp footprint Pc5 field line resonances (FLRs) were observed by magnetometers, riometers and VHF/HF radars. The AC electric field associated with the FLRs resulted in a poleward-progressing zonal flow pattern and backscatter bands. The VHF radar Doppler spectra indicated the presence of steep electron density gradients which, through the gradient drift instability, can lead to the generation of the ionospheric irregularities found in patches. The FLRs and FCEs were associated with poleward-progressing DPY currents (Hall currents modulated by the IMF By) and riometer absorption enhancements. The temporal and spatial characteristics of the VHF backscatter and associated riometer absorptions closely resembled those of poleward moving auroral forms (PMAFs). In the solar wind, IMP 8 observed large amplitude Alfvén waves that were correlated with Pc5 pulsations observed by the ground magnetometers, riometers and radars. It is concluded that the FLRs and FCEs that produced patches were driven by solar wind Alfvén waves coupling to the dayside magnetosphere. During a period of southward IMF the dawn-dusk electric field associated with the Alfvén waves modulated the subsolar magnetic reconnection into pulses that resulted in convection flow bursts mapping to the ionospheric footprint of the cusp.Key words. Ionosphere (polar ionosphere). Magneto- spheric physics (magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions; polar wind-magnetosphere interactions).

scholarly journals Global estimates of plasmaspheric losses during moderate disturbance intervals

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Spasojevic ◽  
B. R. Sandel
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Boundary Layers ◽  
Total Mass ◽  
Density Ratio ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Number Density ◽  
Inner Magnetosphere ◽  
Moderate Disturbance ◽  
Global Estimates

Abstract. For a set of five moderate disturbance events, we calculate the total number of He+ ions removed the plasmasphere using calibrated global EUV images. In each of the events, between ~0.6 and 2.2×1030 He+ ions are removed from a region of the inner magnetosphere from L=1.5 to 5.5. This loss constitutes between 20% and 42% of the initial He+ distribution. The lost percentage is correlated with the number of hours of strongly positive solar wind electric field (Ey>2.5 mV/m). Also, the total amount of material removed from the plasmasphere is estimated by using several values of the He+ to H+ number density ratio. The total mass lost is found to be in the range of 20 to 80 metric tons although for each individual case the estimate can vary by over 50% depending on assumed density ratio. We also attempt to distinguish between losses to the ionosphere and losses to the dayside boundary layers by estimating losses interior and exterior to the newly formed plasmapause boundary. For the events studied, losses inside the new plasmapause constitute between 24% to 54% of the total number of He+ ions lost.

MHD simulations of magnetospheric response to a strong solar wind density pulse

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey Samsonov ◽  
Jennifer A. Carter ◽  
Graziella Branduardi-Raymont ◽  
Steven Sembay
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Solar Wind Density ◽  
Ionospheric Currents ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejection ◽  
Explorer Mission ◽  
The One ◽  
Mass Ejection ◽  
Present Simulation

&lt;p&gt;On 16-17 June 2012, an interplanetary coronal mass ejection with an extremely high solar wind density (~100 cm&lt;sup&gt;-3&lt;/sup&gt;) and mostly strong northward (or eastward) interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) interacted with the Earth&amp;#8217;s magnetosphere. We have simulated this event using global MHD models. We study the magnetospheric response to two solar wind discontinuities. The first is characterized by a fast drop of the solar wind dynamic pressure resulting in rapid magnetospheric expansion. The second is a northward IMF turning which causes reconfiguration of the magnetospheric-ionospheric currents. We discuss variations of the magnetopause position and locations of the magnetopause reconnection in response to the solar wind variations. In the second part of our presentation, we present simulation results for the forthcoming SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) mission. SMILE is scheduled for launch in 2024. We produce two-dimensional images that derive from the MHD results of the expected X-ray emission as observed by the SMILE Soft X-ray Imager (SXI).&amp;#160;We discuss how SMILE observations may help to study events like the one presented in this work.&lt;/p&gt;

Solar Orbiter observations of solar wind current sheets and their deHoffman-Teller frames

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konrad Steinvall ◽  
Yuri Khotyaintsev ◽  
Giulia Cozzani ◽  
Andris Vaivads ◽  
Christopher Owen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Wind Velocity ◽  
Solar Wind Velocity ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Velocity Measurements ◽  
Current Sheets ◽  
Spacecraft Orbit ◽  
Electric Field Measurements ◽  
Good Agreement

&lt;p&gt;Solar wind current sheets have been extensively studied at 1 AU. The recent advent of Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter (SolO) has enabled us to study these structures at a range of heliocentric distances.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We present SolO observations of current sheets in the solar wind at heliocentric distances between 0.55 and 0.85 AU, some of which show signatures of ongoing magnetic reconnection. We develop a method to find the deHoffman-Teller frame which minimizes the Y-component (the component tangential to the spacecraft orbit) of the electric field. Using the electric field measurements from RPW and magnetic field measurements from MAG, we use our method to determine the deHoffman-Teller frame of solar wind current sheets. The same method can also be used on the Alfv&amp;#233;nic turbulence and structures found in the solar wind to obtain a measure of the solar wind velocity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our preliminary results show a good agreement between our modified deHoffmann-Teller analysis based on the single component E-field, and the conventional deHoffman-Teller analysis based on 3D plasma velocity measurements from PAS. This opens up the possibility to use the RPW and MAG data to obtain an estimate of the solar wind velocity when particle data is unavailable.&lt;/p&gt;

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