Dayside ionospheric electrodynamics in association with high-latitude dayside aurora (HiLDA)

Author(s):  
Lei Cai ◽  
Anita Kullen ◽  
Tomas Karlson ◽  
Andris Vaivads ◽  
Yongliang Zhang

<p>The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager (SSUSI) has observed the large-scale high-latitude dayside aurora (HiLDA) during its long lifetime of hours. HiLDA has dynamical changes in form, size, location, and development of fine structures. However, the associated electrodynamics is not fully understood. In general, HiLDA occurs in the dayside polar cap during IMF By+ (By-) prevailing conditions in the sunlit northern (southern) hemisphere.  The prevailing conditions drive strong upward field-aligned current in the polar cap. Within the upward field-aligned current region, the field-aligned potential drop can be set up and accelerate the electrons, forming the monoenergetic electron precipitation (up to 10s keV) and producing HiLDA.</p><p> </p><p>This study investigates the ionospheric flows, currents, and auroral precipitation in association with HiLDA, benified from the simultaneous measurements from the DMSP satellites, the AMPERE project, and ground-based magnetometers and SuperDARN coherent radars. We will show HiLDA interacts with duskside oval-aligned arcs or transpolar arcs. The interactions are associated with the cusp and the dayside reconnection at the duskside flank/high latitudes. The reconnection produces strong dusk-dawn convection with flow shears in the polar cap, which generates the upward Region 0 current. We find that HiLDA is formed in the high-latitude part of the upward Region 0 current. We apply the Knight relation and identify the lobe electrons (< 0.3 cm<sup>-3</sup>) as the source of HiLDA. The fine structures revealed in the emission intensity of HiLDA may suggest the uneven distribution of the electron density in the high-latitude lobe.</p>

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 3335-3347 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Cumnock ◽  
L. G. Blomberg ◽  
A. Kullen ◽  
T. Karlsson ◽  

Abstract. We examine 14 cases of an interesting type of extremely high latitude aurora as identified in the precipitating particles measured by the DMSP F13 satellite. In particular we investigate structures within large-scale arcs for which the particle signatures are made up of a group of multiple distinct thin arcs. These cases are chosen without regard to IMF orientation and are part of a group of 87 events where DMSP F13 SSJ/4 measures emissions which occur near the noon-midnight meridian and are spatially separated from both the dawnside and duskside auroral ovals by wide regions with precipitating particles typical of the polar cap. For 73 of these events the high-latitude aurora consists of a continuous region of precipitating particles. We focus on the remaining 14 of these events where the particle signatures show multiple distinct thin arcs. These events occur during northward or weakly southward IMF conditions and follow a change in IMF By. Correlations are seen between the field-aligned currents and plasma flows associated with the arcs, implying local closure of the FACs. Strong correlations are seen only in the sunlit hemisphere. The convection associated with the multiple thin arcs is localized and has little influence on the large-scale convection. This also implies that the sunward flow along the arcs is unrelated to the overall ionospheric convection.


2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 3607-3624 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Provan ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
S. B. Mende ◽  
S. E. Milan

Abstract. We have utilised the near-global imaging capabilities of the Northern Hemisphere SuperDARN radars, to perform a statistical superposed epoch analysis of high-latitude plasma flows during magnetospheric substorms. The study involved 67 substorms, identified using the IMAGE FUV space-borne auroral imager. A substorm co-ordinate system was developed, centred on the magnetic local time and magnetic latitude of substorm onset determined from the auroral images. The plasma flow vectors from all 67 intervals were combined, creating global statistical plasma flow patterns and backscatter occurrence statistics during the substorm growth and expansion phases. The commencement of the substorm growth phase was clearly observed in the radar data 18-20min before substorm onset, with an increase in the anti-sunward component of the plasma velocity flowing across dawn sector of the polar cap and a peak in the dawn-to-dusk transpolar voltage. Nightside backscatter moved to lower latitudes as the growth phase progressed. At substorm onset a flow suppression region was observed on the nightside, with fast flows surrounding the suppressed flow region. The dawn-to-dusk transpolar voltage increased from ~40kV just before substorm onset to ~75kV 12min after onset. The low-latitude return flow started to increase at substorm onset and continued to increase until 8min after onset. The velocity flowing across the polar-cap peaked 12-14min after onset. This increase in the flux of the polar cap and the excitation of large-scale plasma flow occurred even though the IMF Bz component was increasing (becoming less negative) during most of this time. This study is the first to statistically prove that nightside reconnection creates magnetic flux and excites high-latitude plasma flow in a similar way to dayside reconnection and that dayside and nightside reconnection, are two separate time-dependent processes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Maggiolo ◽  
M. Echim ◽  
C. Simon Wedlund ◽  
Y. Zhang ◽  
D. Fontaine ◽  
...  

Abstract. On 1 April 2004 the GUVI imager onboard the TIMED spacecraft spots an isolated and elongated polar cap arc. About 20 min later, the Cluster satellites detect an isolated upflowing ion beam above the polar cap. Cluster observations show that the ions are accelerated upward by a quasi-stationary electric field. The field-aligned potential drop is estimated to about 700 V and the upflowing ions are accompanied by a tenuous population of isotropic protons with a temperature of about 500 eV. The magnetic footpoints of the ion outflows observed by Cluster are situated in the prolongation of the polar cap arc observed by TIMED GUVI. The upflowing ion beam and the polar cap arc may be different signatures of the same phenomenon, as suggested by a recent statistical study of polar cap ion beams using Cluster data. We use Cluster observations at high altitude as input to a quasi-stationary magnetosphere-ionosphere (MI) coupling model. Using a Knight-type current-voltage relationship and the current continuity at the topside ionosphere, the model computes the energy spectrum of precipitating electrons at the top of the ionosphere corresponding to the generator electric field observed by Cluster. The MI coupling model provides a field-aligned potential drop in agreement with Cluster observations of upflowing ions and a spatial scale of the polar cap arc consistent with the optical observations by TIMED. The computed energy spectrum of the precipitating electrons is used as input to the Trans4 ionospheric transport code. This 1-D model, based on Boltzmann's kinetic formalism, takes into account ionospheric processes such as photoionization and electron/proton precipitation, and computes the optical and UV emissions due to precipitating electrons. The emission rates provided by the Trans4 code are compared to the optical observations by TIMED. They are similar in size and intensity. Data and modelling results are consistent with the scenario of quasi-static acceleration of electrons that generate a polar cap arc as they precipitate in the ionosphere. The detailed observations of the acceleration region by Cluster and the large scale image of the polar cap arc provided by TIMED are two different features of the same phenomenon. Combined together, they bring new light on the configuration of the high-latitude magnetosphere during prolonged periods of Northward IMF. Possible implications of the modelling results for optical observations of polar cap arcs are also discussed.


1995 ◽  
Vol 100 (A1) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ohtani ◽  
T. A. Potemra ◽  
P. T. Newell ◽  
L. J. Zanetti ◽  
T. Iijima ◽  
...  

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Nenovski

Abstract. Recently, a model of large-scale, field-aligned current (FAC) structures, based on zero-frequency MHD surface wave (SW) modes that can emerge from the solar wind-Earth's magnetosphere interaction, has been proposed. The FAC polarity and intensity distribution are quantified as a function of the solar wind parameters and the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) magnitude that enter as input parameters. Besides, there are input parameters intrinsic to the Earth's magnetosphere – the size of the polar cap and the boundary regions and their plasma density variations. Influence of the IMF By component on the FAC structure is examined here. Depending on the IMF By magnitude, the predicted six-cell FAC structure tends to evolve in a spiral-like fashion. This large-scale FAC model is compared with experimental evidences and empirical FAC models based on DE-2 satellite data and high-precision Oersted and Magsat satellite magnetometer data. Among the various achievements of these long-term satellite measurements, an observation/discovery of a ground-based state of FACs which includes a pair of large-scale FACs in the polar cap under both positive and negative IMF Bz has been pointed out. The FAC pattern is qualitatively and quantitatively consistent with experimental data for both polar cap FAC and Region 1 and Region 2 FAC systems.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Cai ◽  
Anita Kullen ◽  
Yongliang Zhang ◽  
Tomas Karlsson ◽  
Andris Vaivads

<p>High-latitude dayside aurora (HiLDA) are large-scale discrete arcs or spot-like aurora poleward of the cusp, observed previously in the northern hemisphere by the Viking UV imager [Murphree et al., 1990] and by the IMAGE FUV [Frey et al., 2003]. The particular interest on HiLDA is to understand its formation related to the dayside reconnection and the resulted field-aligned currents (FACs) configuration in the polar cap (open field line region). In addition, the occurrence of HiLDA in the southern hemisphere is not well known.</p><p>In this study, we investigate the properties of HiLDA using DMSP/SSUSI images from the satellites F16, F17, F18, and F19. The combined data with auroral images from DMSP/SSUSI, ion drift velocity from SSIES, magnetic field perturbations from SSM, and energetic particle spectrum from SSJ make it possible to study the electrodynamics in the vicinity of the HiLDA and its connection the dayside cusp. HiLDA is formed due to monoenergetic electron precipitation (inverted-V structures) with the absence of ion precipitation. The field-aligned potential drop can be up to tens of keV. Applying the current-voltage relation, we suggest accelerated polar rain as the source of HiLDA, indirectly controlled by the solar wind/magnetosheath plasma population. The upward field-aligned current associated with the potential drop is a part of the cusp current system, produced by the dayside reconnection. Both lobe reconnection and reconnection on the duskside flanks play a role in the formation of HiLDA.</p><p>The occurrence of HiLDA is highly associated with the sunlit hemisphere and IMF By dominated conditions. Our results agree with previous observations, which show that HiLDA occurs during positive By dominated conditions in the northern summer hemisphere. We also confirmed that HiLDA occurs during negative By dominated conditions in the southern hemisphere. In addition, the fine structures of HiLDA are studied.</p><p>References</p><p><span>Murphree, J. S.</span>, <span>Elphinstone, R. D.</span>, <span>Hearn, D.</span>, and <span>Cogger, L. L.</span> ( <span>1990</span>), <span>Large‐scale high‐latitude dayside auroral emissions</span>, <em>J. Geophys. Res.</em>, <span>95</span>( <span>A3</span>), <span>2345</span>– <span>2354</span>, doi:.</p><p><span>Frey, H. U.</span>, <span>Immel, T. J.</span>, <span>Lu, G.</span>, <span>Bonnell, J.</span>, <span>Fuselier, S. A.</span>, <span>Mende, S. B.</span>, <span>Hubert, B.</span>, <span>Østgaard, N.</span>, and <span>Le, G.</span> ( <span>2003</span>), <span>Properties of localized, high latitude, dayside aurora</span>, <em>J. Geophys. Res.</em>, <span>108</span>, 8008, doi:, <span>A4</span>.</p>


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (06) ◽  
pp. 0939-0943 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Boneu ◽  
G Destelle ◽  

SummaryThe anti-aggregating activity of five rising doses of clopidogrel has been compared to that of ticlopidine in atherosclerotic patients. The aim of this study was to determine the dose of clopidogrel which should be tested in a large scale clinical trial of secondary prevention of ischemic events in patients suffering from vascular manifestations of atherosclerosis [CAPRIE (Clopidogrel vs Aspirin in Patients at Risk of Ischemic Events) trial]. A multicenter study involving 9 haematological laboratories and 29 clinical centers was set up. One hundred and fifty ambulatory patients were randomized into one of the seven following groups: clopidogrel at doses of 10, 25, 50,75 or 100 mg OD, ticlopidine 250 mg BID or placebo. ADP and collagen-induced platelet aggregation tests were performed before starting treatment and after 7 and 28 days. Bleeding time was performed on days 0 and 28. Patients were seen on days 0, 7 and 28 to check the clinical and biological tolerability of the treatment. Clopidogrel exerted a dose-related inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation and bleeding time prolongation. In the presence of ADP (5 \lM) this inhibition ranged between 29% and 44% in comparison to pretreatment values. The bleeding times were prolonged by 1.5 to 1.7 times. These effects were non significantly different from those produced by ticlopidine. The clinical tolerability was good or fair in 97.5% of the patients. No haematological adverse events were recorded. These results allowed the selection of 75 mg once a day to evaluate and compare the antithrombotic activity of clopidogrel to that of aspirin in the CAPRIE trial.


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