The instantaneous relationship between polar cap and oval auroras at times of northward interplanetary magnetic field

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Murphree ◽  
C. D. Anger ◽  
L. L. Cogger
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Rare Condition ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Optical Images ◽  
High Latitude Region ◽  
Latitude Region ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
The Relationship

Optical images of the polar cap region at both 5577 and 3914 Å obtained from 1400 km above the earth have been used to study the relationship between polar cap and oval aurora during periods when the interplanetary magnetic field is strongly northward, i.e., B2 > 3.5 nT. When this rather rare condition occurs, the distinction between the two types of aurora is no longer as clear as depicted on the basis of statistical definitions of the auroral oval. Diffuse, weak emission can fill in the region between the auroral oval and discrete auroral features in the polar cap. The polar cap discrete features can appear very similar to auroral oval arcs in intensity, intensity ratio, and structure. Even more striking are the situations where discrete polar cap features merge with oval auroras. From this study it is concluded that under conditions of large positive B2 the region of closed magnetic field lines can expand poleward to occupy much of the high latitude region.

scholarly journals A case study of HF radar spectra and 630.0 nm auroral emission in the pre-midnight sector

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lester ◽  
S. E. Milan ◽  
V. Besser ◽  
R. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Special Interest ◽  
Line Emission ◽  
Spectral Width ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Hf Radar ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Particle Precipitation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Red Line

Abstract. A comparison of HF radar backscatter observed by the CUTLASS Finland radar, meridian scanning photometer data from Longyearbyen, magnetic field variations from IMAGE stations, and particle precipitation measured by the DMSP F12 spacecraft is presented. The interval under discussion occurred in the pre-midnight local time sector, during a period of weakly northward interplanetary magnetic field. A region of HF backscatter, typically 8 degrees wide, occurred in the field of view of the CUTLASS Finland radar. A well defined gradient in the spectral width parameter was present, with mainly low (< 200 m s - 1 ) spectral widths in the lower latitude part of the scatter and predominantly large (> 200 ms - 1 ) spectral widths in the higher latitude part. The relationship between the spectral width and the red line (630.0 nm) emission measured by the meridian scanning photometer is considered. The poleward border of the red line emission, which has, in the past, been proposed as being representative of the polar cap boundary, was co-located to within 1° of magnetic latitude with the gradient in spectral width for part of the interval. Statistically, large spectral widths occurred poleward of the red line emission, while small spectral widths occurred within or equatorward of the red line emission. Near simultaneous DMSP particle observations in the 20 eV to 20 keV range indicate that the poleward border of the red line emission and the gradient in spectral width occurred at the same latitude as the transition from auroral oval to polar rain particle energies. We conclude that the large spectral widths were not caused by particle precipitation associated with the auroral oval. There were two periods of special interest when the relationship between the red line and the spectral width broke down. The first of these happened during enhanced red line and green line (557.7 nm) emission, with a drop out of the radar scatter and an enhanced, narrow westward electrojet. We conclude that this event was a magnetospheric substorm occurring at much higher than usual latitudes. The second period of special interest happened when equatorward moving bands of large spectral width occurred within the region of scatter. Up to 4 of these bands were present during an interval of 100 minutes. Associated with these narrow bands of large spectral width were narrow channels of enhanced westward ion velocities. We conclude that these equatorward moving bands of large spectral width may be related to reconnection processes in the tail. The observations demonstrate that the tail continues to be active even under low solar wind energy input conditions. Furthermore, we conclude that the gradient in the spectral width may be used as a proxy for the polar cap boundary, but only with extreme caution.Key words. Ionosphere (ionosphere-magnetosphere inter-actions; polar ionosphere) – Magnetospheric physics (storms and substorms)

scholarly journals Filamentary field-aligned currents at the polar cap region during northward interplanetary magnetic field derived with the Swarm constellation

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 901-915 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hermann Lühr ◽  
Tao Huang ◽  
Simon Wing ◽  
Guram Kervalishvili ◽  
Jan Rauberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Closed Field ◽  
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Auroral Arcs ◽  
First Time ◽  
Meteorological Satellite

Abstract. ESA's Swarm constellation mission makes it possible for the first time to determine field-aligned currents (FACs) in the ionosphere uniquely. In particular at high latitudes, the dual-satellite approach can reliably detect some FAC structures which are missed by the traditional single-satellite technique. These FAC events occur preferentially poleward of the auroral oval and during times of northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation. Most events appear on the nightside. They are not related to the typical FAC structures poleward of the cusp, commonly termed NBZ. Simultaneously observed precipitating particle spectrograms and auroral images from Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites are consistent with the detected FACs and indicate that they occur on closed field lines mostly adjacent to the auroral oval. We suggest that the FACs are associated with Sun-aligned filamentary auroral arcs. Here we introduce in an initial study features of the high-latitude FAC structures which have been observed during the early phase of the Swarm mission. A more systematic survey over longer times is required to fully characterize the so far undetected field aligned currents.

scholarly journals The auroral and ionospheric flow signatures of dual lobe reconnection

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 3115-3129 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Imber ◽  
S. E. Milan ◽  
B. Hubert
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Field Line ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Closed Field ◽  
Closed Field Line ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Lobe Reconnection ◽  
Northern And Southern Hemispheres

Abstract. We present the first substantial evidence for the occurrence of dual lobe reconnection from ionospheric flows and auroral signatures. The process of dual lobe reconnection refers to an interplanetary magnetic field line reconnecting with lobe field lines in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Two bursts of sunward plasma flow across the noon portion of the open/closed field line boundary (OCB), indicating magnetic flux closure at the dayside, were observed in SuperDARN radar data during a period of strongly northward IMF. The OCB is identified from spacecraft, radar backscatter, and auroral observations. In order for dual lobe reconnection to take place, we estimate that the interplanetary magnetic field clock angle must be within ±10° of zero (North). The total flux crossing the OCB during each burst is small (1.8% and 0.6% of the flux contained within the polar cap for the two flows). A brightening of the noon portion of the northern auroral oval was observed as the clock angle passed through zero, and is thought to be due to enhanced precipitating particle fluxes due to the occurrence of reconnection at two locations along the field line. The number of solar wind protons captured by the flux closure process was estimated to be ~2.5×1030 (4 tonnes by mass), sufficient to populate the cold, dense plasma sheet observed following this interval.

scholarly journals Central polar cap convection response to short duration southward Interplanetary Magnetic Field

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 887-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. T. Jayachandran ◽  
J. W. MacDougall
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Short Duration ◽  
Initial Response ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Ionosphere Plasma ◽  
Rapid Transition ◽  
Convection Speed ◽  
A Chain

Abstract. Central polar cap convection changes associated with southward turnings of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) are studied using a chain of Canadian Advanced Digital Ionosondes (CADI) in the northern polar cap. A study of 32 short duration (~1 h) southward IMF transition events found a three stage response: (1) initial response to a southward transition is near simultaneous for the entire polar cap; (2) the peak of the convection speed (attributed to the maximum merging electric field) propagates poleward from the ionospheric footprint of the merging region; and (3) if the change in IMF is rapid enough, then a step in convection appears to start at the cusp and then propagates antisunward over the polar cap with the velocity of the maximum convection. On the nightside, a substorm onset is observed at about the time when the step increase in convection (associated with the rapid transition of IMF) arrives at the polar cap boundary.Key words: Ionosphere (plasma convection; polar ionosphere) - Magnetospheric physics (solar wind - magnetosphere interaction)

Comparison of polar ionospheric behavior at Arctic and Antarctic regions for improved satellite-based positioning

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arun Kumar Singh ◽  
Sampad Kumar Panda
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Ionospheric Scintillation ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Polar Latitude ◽  
Tec Variability

Abstract In this paper, we investigate the hemispheric symmetric and asymmetric characteristics of ionospheric total electron content (TEC) and its dependency on the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in the northern and southern polar ionosphere. The changes in amplitude and phase scintillation are also probed through Global Ionospheric Scintillation and TEC monitoring (GISTM) systems recordings at North pole [Himadri station; Geographic 78°55′ N, 11°56′ E] and South pole [Maitri station; Geographic 70°46′ S 11°44′ E]. Observations show the range of %TEC variability being relatively more over Antarctic region (−40 % to 60 %) than Arctic region (−25 % to 25 %), corroborating the role of the dominant solar photoionization production process. Our analysis confirms that TEC variation at polar latitudes is a function of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, depending on interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation and magnitude in the X ( B x Bx ), Y ( B y By ), and Z ( B z Bz ) plane. Visible enhancement in TEC is noticed in the northern polar latitude when B x < 0 Bx<0 , B y < − 6 nT By<-6\hspace{0.1667em}\text{nT} or B y > 6 nT By>6\hspace{0.1667em}\text{nT} and B z > 0 Bz>0 whereas the southern polar latitude perceives TEC enhancements with B x > 0 Bx>0 , − 6 nT < B y < 6 nT -6\hspace{0.1667em}\text{nT}<By<6\hspace{0.1667em}\text{nT} and B z < 0 Bz<0 . Further investigation reveals the intensity of phase scintillation being more pronounced than the amplitude scintillation during the disturbed geomagnetic conditions with excellent correlation with the temporal variation of TEC at both the stations. Corresponding variations in the parameters are studied in terms of particle precipitation, auroral oval expansion, Joule’s heating phenomena, and other ionospheric parameters. The studies are in line with efforts for improving ionospheric delay error and scintillation modeling and satellite-based positioning accuracies in polar latitudes.

scholarly journals Plasma convection in the magnetotail lobes: statistical results from Cluster EDI measurements

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2371-2382 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Haaland ◽  
G. Paschmann ◽  
M. Förster ◽  
J. Quinn ◽  
R. Torbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Geomagnetic Disturbance ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Central Plasma ◽  
Strong Convection ◽  
Central Plasma Sheet ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Convection Patterns

Abstract. A major part of the plasma in the Earth's magnetotail is populated through transport of plasma from the solar wind via the magnetotail lobes. In this paper, we present a statistical study of plasma convection in the lobes for different directions of the interplanetary magnetic field and for different geomagnetic disturbance levels. The data set used in this study consists of roughly 340 000 one-minute vector measurements of the plasma convection from the Cluster Electron Drift Instrument (EDI) obtained during the period February 2001 to June 2007. The results show that both convection magnitude and direction are largely controlled by the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). For a southward IMF, there is a strong convection towards the central plasma sheet with convection velocities around 10 km s−1. During periods of northward IMF, the lobe convection is almost stagnant. A By dominated IMF causes a rotation of the convection patterns in the tail with an oppositely directed dawn-dusk component of the convection for the northern and southern lobe. Our results also show that there is an overall persistent duskward component, which is most likely a result of conductivity gradients in the footpoints of the magnetic field lines in the ionosphere.

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 Strong Southward and Northward Currents Observed in the Inner Plasma Sheet

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanyan Yang ◽  
Chao Shen ◽  
Yong Ji
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Ring Current ◽  
Generation Mechanism ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Current Generation ◽  
Inner Magnetosphere ◽  
Latitude Region ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Abstract. It is generally believed that field aligned currents (FACs) and the ring current (RC) are two dominant parts of the inner magnetosphere. However, using the Cluster spacecraft crossing of the pre-midnight inner plasma sheet in the latitude region between 10° N and 30° N, it is found that, during large storm events, in addition to FACs and the RC, there also exist strong southward and northward currents, which cannot be FACs, because the magnetic field in these regions is mainly along the XY plane. Detailed investigation shows that both magnetic field lines (MFLs) and currents in these regions highly fluctuate. When the curvature of MFLs changes direction in the XY plane, the current also alternatively switches between southward and northward. Further analysis of the current generation mechanism indicates that the most reasonable candidate for the origin of these southward and northward currents is the curvature drift of energetic particles.

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