Cross polar cap potentials measured with Super Dual Auroral Radar Network during quasi-steady solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions

2002 ◽  
Vol 107 (A7) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Radar Network

scholarly journals A new formulation for the ionospheric cross polar cap potential including saturation effects

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 3533-3547 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Ridley
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Mach Number ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Pressure Balance ◽  
Simple Modification ◽  
Post Shock ◽  
Cross Polar Cap Potential ◽  
New Formulation

Abstract. It is known that the ionospheric cross polar cap potential (CPCP) saturates when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz becomes very large. Few studies have offered physical explanations as to why the polar cap potential saturates. We present 13 events in which the reconnection electric field (REF) goes above 12mV/m at some time. When these events are examined as typically done in previous studies, all of them show some signs of saturation (i.e., over-prediction of the CPCP based on a linear relationship between the IMF and the CPCP). We show that by taking into account the size of the magnetosphere and the fact that the post-shock magnetic field strength is strongly dependent upon the solar wind Mach number, we can better specify the ionospheric CPCP. The CPCP (Φ) can be expressed as Φ=(10-4v2+11.7B(1-e-Ma/3)sin3(θ/2)) {rms/9 (where v is the solar wind velocity, B is the combined Y and Z components of the interplanetary magnetic field, Ma is the solar wind Mach number, θ=acos(Bz/B), and rms is the stand-off distance to the magnetopause, assuming pressure-balance between the solar wind and the magnetosphere). This is a simple modification of the original Boyle et al. (1997) formulation.

scholarly journals The Earth's passage of the April 11, 1997 coronal ejecta: geomagnetic field fluctuations at high and low latitude during northward interplanetary magnetic field conditions

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 1245-1250 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Lepidi ◽  
P. Francia ◽  
U. Villante ◽  
A. Meloni ◽  
A. J. Lazarus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Mhd Waves ◽  
Low Latitude ◽  
Terra Nova Bay ◽  
Field Fluctuations ◽  
Terra Nova

Abstract. An analysis of the low frequency geomagnetic field fluctuations at an Antarctic (Terra Nova Bay) and a low latitude (L'Aquila, Italy) station during the Earth's passage of a coronal ejecta on April 11, 1997 shows that major solar wind pressure variations were followed at both stations by a high fluctuation level. During northward interplanetary magnetic field conditions and when Terra Nova Bay is close to the local geomagnetic noon, coherent fluctuations, at the same frequency (3.6 mHz) and with polarization characteristics indicating an antisunward propagation, were observed simultaneously at the two stations. An analysis of simultaneous measurements from geosynchronous satellites shows evidence for pulsations at approximately the same frequencies also in the magnetospheric field. The observed waves might then be interpreted as oscillation modes, triggered by an external stimulation, extending to a major portion of the Earth's magnetosphere. Key words. Magnetospheric physics (MHD waves and instabilities; solar wind-magnetosphere interactions)

scholarly journals On the relaxation of magnetospheric convection when <I>B</I><sub>z</sub> turns northward

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 927-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. Kelley
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Time Constant ◽  
Joule Heat ◽  
Upper Atmosphere ◽  
Joule Dissipation ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Magnetospheric Convection

Abstract. The solar wind inputs considerable energy into the upper atmosphere, particularly when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is southward. According to Poynting's theorem (Kelley, 2009), this energy becomes stored as magnetic fields and then is dissipated by Joule heat and by energizing the plasmasheet plasma. If the IMF turns suddenly northward, very little energy is transferred into the system while Joule dissipation continues. In this process, the polar cap potential (PCP) decreases. Experimentally, it was shown many years ago that the energy stored in the magnetosphere begins to decay with a time constant of two hours. Here we use Poynting's theorem to calculate this time constant and find a result that is consistent with the data.

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