scholarly journals Dayside convection and auroral morphology during an interval of northward interplanetary magnetic field

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 436-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Milan ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
S. W. H. Cowley ◽  
M. Brittnacher
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Large Field ◽  
Convection Flow ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Auroral Emission ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. We investigate the dayside auroral dynamics and ionospheric convection during an interval when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) had predominantly a positive Bz component (northward IMF) but varying By. Polar UVI observations of the Northern Hemisphere auroral emission indicate the existence of a region of luminosity near local noon at latitudes poleward of the dayside auroral oval, which we interpret as the ionospheric footprint of a high-latitude reconnection site. The large field-of-view afforded by the satellite-borne imager allows an unprecedented determination of the dynamics of this region, which has not previously been possible with ground-based observations. The location of the emission in latitude and magnetic local time varies in response to changes in the orientation of the IMF; the cusp MLT and the IMF By component are especially well correlated, the emission being located in the pre- or post-noon sectors for By < 0 nT or By > 0 nT, respectively. Simultaneous ground-based observations of the ionospheric plasma drift are provided by the CUTLASS Finland HF coherent radar. For an interval of IMF By \\approx 0 nT, these convection flow measurements suggest the presence of a clockwise-rotating lobe cell contained within the pre-noon dayside polar cap, with a flow reversal closely co-located with the high-latitude luminosity region. This pattern is largely consistent with recent theoretical predictions of the convection flow during northward IMF. We believe that this represents the first direct measurement of the convection flow at the imaged location of the footprint of the high-latitude reconnection site.Key words: Magnetospheric physics (auroral phenomena; magnetopause · cusp · and boundary layers; plasma convection)

scholarly journals Transpolar arc evolution and associated potential patterns

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1213-1231 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Cumnock ◽  
L. G. Blomberg
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Polar Region ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Auroral Emission ◽  
Field Aligned Current ◽  
Auroral Emissions ◽  
Institute Of Technology ◽  
Electric Fields And Currents

Abstract. We present two event studies encompassing detailed relationships between plasma convection, field-aligned current, auroral emission, and particle precipitation boundaries. We illustrate the influence of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field By component on theta aurora development by showing two events during which the theta originates on both the dawn and dusk sides of the auroral oval. Both theta then move across the entire polar region and become part of the opposite side of the auroral oval. Electric and magnetic field and precipitating particle data are provided by DMSP, while the Polar UVI instrument provides measurements of auroral emissions. Utilizing satellite data as inputs, the Royal Institute of Technology model provides the high-latitude ionospheric electrostatic potential pattern calculated at different times during the evolution of the theta aurora, resulting from a variety of field-aligned current configurations associated with the changing global aurora. Key words. Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; electric fields and currents). Magnetospheric physics (magnetosphereionosphere interactions)

scholarly journals High-latitude plasma convection from Cluster EDI: variances and solar wind correlations

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1691-1707 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Förster ◽  
G. Paschmann ◽  
S. E. Haaland ◽  
J. M. Quinn ◽  
R. B. Torbert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Propagation Delay ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Linear Increase ◽  
Proton Density ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Latitude Range ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. Based on drift velocity measurements of the EDI instruments on Cluster during the years 2001–2006, we have constructed a database of high-latitude ionospheric convection velocities and associated solar wind and magnetospheric activity parameters. In an earlier paper (Haaland et al., 2007), we have described the method, consisting of an improved technique for calculating the propagation delay between the chosen solar wind monitor (ACE) and Earth's magnetosphere, filtering the data for periods of sufficiently stable IMF orientations, and mapping the EDI measurements from their high-altitude positions to ionospheric altitudes. The present paper extends this study, by looking at the spatial pattern of the variances of the convection velocities as a function of IMF orientation, and by performing sortings of the data according to the IMF magnitude in the GSM y-z plane, |ByzIMF|, the estimated reconnection electric field, Er,sw, the solar wind dynamic pressure, Pdyn, the season, and indices characterizing the ring current (Dst) and tail activity (ASYM-H). The variability of the high-latitude convection shows characteristic spatial patterns, which are mirror symmetric between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres with respect to the IMF By component. The latitude range of the highest variability zone varies with IMF Bz similar to the auroral oval extent. The magnitude of convection standard deviations is of the same order as, or even larger than, the convection magnitude itself. Positive correlations of polar cap activity are found with |ByzIMF| and with Er,sw, in particular. The strict linear increase for small magnitudes of Er,sw starts to deviate toward a flattened increase above about 2 mV/m. There is also a weak positive correlation with Pdyn. At very small values of Pdyn, a secondary maximum appears, which is even more pronounced for the correlation with solar wind proton density. Evidence for enhanced nightside convection during high nightside activity is presented.

scholarly journals Response of ionospheric electric fields to variations in the interplanetary magnetic field

1996 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 794-802 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Mishra ◽  
E. Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Solar Wind Speed ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Local Times ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Magnetospheric Substorms ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. The STARE system (Scandinavian Twin Auroral Radar Experiment) provides estimates of electron drift velocities, and hence also of the electric field in the high-latitude E-region ionosphere between 65 and 70 degrees latitude. The occurrence of drift velocities larger than about 400 m/s (equivalent to an electric field of 20 mV/m) have been correlated with the magnitude of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) components Bz and By at all local times. Observation days have been considered during which both southward (Bz<0) and northward (Bz>0) IMF occurred. The occurrence of electric fields larger than 20 mV/m increases with increases in Bz magnitudes when Bz<0. It is found that the effects of southward IMF continue for some time following the northward turnings of the IMF. In order to eliminate such residual effects for Bz<0, we have, in the second part of the study, considered those days which were characterized by a pure northward IMF. The occurrence is considerably lower during times when Bz>0, than during those when Bz is negative. These results are related to the expansion and contraction of the auroral oval. The different percentage occurrences of large electric field for By>0 and By<0 components of the IMF during times when Bz>0, clearly display a dawn-dusk asymmetry of plasma flow in the ionosphere. The effects of the time-varying solar-wind speed, density, IMF fluctuations, and magnetospheric substorms on the occurrence of auroral-backscatter observations are also discussed.

scholarly journals Cluster multispacecraft observations at the high-latitude duskside magnetopause: implications for continuous and component magnetic reconnection

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 461-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Retinò ◽  
M. B. Bavassano Cattaneo ◽  
M. F. Marcucci ◽  
A. Vaivads ◽  
M. André ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Tangential Stress ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Magnetic Shear ◽  
Magnetospheric Boundary ◽  
Flow Reversals ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. We report multispacecraft Cluster observations of magnetic reconnection at the high-latitude magnetopause/magnetospheric boundary layer (MP/BL) under mainly northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions. The event we study is on 3 December 2001 when the Cluster spacecraft were skimming the high-latitude duskside MP/BL during a period of about four hours. The orbit and configuration of the spacecraft were such that at least one satellite was present in the MP/BL during most of that period. We present the evidence of reconnection in the form of tangential stress balance between the magnetosheath and the MP/BL (Walén test) and in several cases in the form of transmitted magnetosheath ions in the MP/BL and incident/reflected magnetosheath ions in the magnetosheath boundary layer (MSBL) . The observations are consistent with magnetic reconnection occurring tailward of the cusp and going on continuously for a period of about four hours. The observed directions of the reconnection flows are consistent with the IMF orientation, thus indicating that reconnection is globally controlled by the IMF. Observations of a few flow reversals suggest passages of the spacecraft close to the X-line. The observation of low magnetic shear across the magnetopause during a flow reversal is consistent with component merging at least in one case. The observation of reconnection flows on the duskside magnetopause irrespective of the change in the sign of the IMF BY also suggests a better agreement with the component merging model, though antiparallel merging cannot be excluded because the distance from the X-line is not known.

scholarly journals Interhemispheric contrasts in the ionospheric convection response to changes in the interplanetary magnetic field and substorm activity: a case-study

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. 764-774 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Shand ◽  
T. K. Yeoman ◽  
R. V. Lewis ◽  
R. A. Greenwald ◽  
M. R. Hairston
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Conjugate Points ◽  
Convection Flow ◽  
Ionospheric Convection ◽  
Substorm Activity ◽  
Anglo American ◽  
Auroral Phenomena ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. Interhemispheric contrasts in the ionospheric convection response to variations of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and substorm activity are examined, for an interval observed by the Polar Anglo-American Conjugate Experiment (PACE) radar system between ~1600 and ~2100 MLT on 4 March 1992. Representations of the ionospheric convection pattern associated with different orientations and magnitudes of the IMF and nightside driven enhancements of the auroral electrojet are employed to illustrate a possible explanation for the contrast in convection flow response observed in radar data at nominally conjugate points. Ion drift measurements from the Defence Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) confirm these ionospheric convection flows to be representative for the prevailing IMF orientation and magnitude. The location of the fields of view of the PACE radars with respect to these patterns suggest that the radar backscatter observed in each hemisphere is critically influenced by the position of the ionospheric convection reversal boundary (CRB) within the radar field of view and the influence it has on the generation of the irregularities required as scattering targets by high-frequency coherent radar systems. The position of the CRB in each hemisphere is strongly controlled by the relative magnitudes of the IMF Bz and By components, and hence so is the interhemispheric contrast in the radar observations.Key words. Magnetospheric physics · Auroral phenomena · Magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions · Storms and substorms

scholarly journals Interplanetary magnetic field control of Saturn's polar cusp aurora

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 1405-1431 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. Bunce ◽  
S. W. H. Cowley ◽  
S. E. Milan
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Field Line ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Closed Field ◽  
Vortical Flows ◽  
Dayside Magnetopause ◽  
Closed Field Line ◽  
Lobe Reconnection

Abstract. Dayside UV emissions in Saturn's polar ionosphere have been suggested to be the first observational evidence of the kronian "cusp" (Gérard et al., 2004). The emission has two distinct states. The first is a bright arc-like feature located in the pre-noon sector, and the second is a more diffuse "spot" of aurora which lies poleward of the general location of the main auroral oval, which may be related to different upstream interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientations. Here we take up the suggestion that these emissions correspond to the cusp. However, direct precipitation of electrons in the cusp regions is not capable of producing significant UV aurora. We have therefore investigated the possibility that the observed UV emissions are associated with reconnection occurring at the dayside magnetopause, possibly pulsed, akin to flux transfer events seen at the Earth. We devise a conceptual model of pulsed reconnection at the low-latitude dayside magnetopause for the case of northwards IMF which will give rise to pulsed twin-vortical flows in the magnetosphere and ionosphere in the vicinity of the open-closed field-line boundary, and hence to bi-polar field-aligned currents centred in the vortical flows. During intervals of high-latitude lobe reconnection for southward IMF, we also expect to have pulsed twin-vortical flows and corresponding bi-polar field-aligned currents. The vortical flows in this case, however, are displaced poleward of the open-closed field line boundary, and are reversed in sense, such that the field-aligned currents are also reversed. For both cases of northward and southward IMF we have also for the first time included the effects associated with the IMF By effect. We also include the modulation introduced by the structured nature of the solar wind and IMF at Saturn's orbit by developing "slow" and "fast" flow models corresponding to intermediate and high strength IMF respectively. We then consider the conditions under which the plasma populations appropriate to either sub-solar reconnection or high-latitude lobe reconnection can carry the currents indicated. We have estimated the field-aligned voltages required, the resulting precipitating particle energy fluxes, and the consequent auroral output. Overall our model of pulsed reconnection under conditions of northwards and southwards IMF, and for varying orientations of IMF By, is found to produce a range of UV emission intensities and geometries which is in good agreement with the data presented by Gérard et al. (2004). The recent HST-Cassini solar wind campaign provides a unique opportunity to test the theoretical ideas presented here.

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)

scholarly journals Magnetopause energy transfer dependence on the interplanetary magnetic field and the Earth's magnetic dipole axis orientation

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 515-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Palmroth ◽  
R. C. Fear ◽  
I. Honkonen
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Energy Transfer ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Seasonal Effect ◽  
Dipole Orientation ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Axis Orientation ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. We examine the spatial variation of magnetospheric energy transfer using a global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation (GUMICS-4) and a large data set of flux transfer events (FTEs) observed by the Cluster spacecraft. Our main purpose is to investigate whether it is possible to validate previous results on the spatial energy transfer variation from the GUMICS-4 simulation using the statistical occurrence of FTEs, which are manifestations of magnetospheric energy transfer. Previous simulation results have suggested that the energy transfer pattern at the magnetopause rotates according to the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation, and here we investigate whether a similar rotation is seen in the locations at which FTE signatures are observed. We find that there is qualitative agreement between the simulation and observed statistics, as the peaks in both distributions rotate as a function of the IMF clock angle. However, it is necessary to take into account the modulation of the statistical distribution that is caused by a bias towards in situ FTE signatures being observed in the winter hemisphere (an effect that has previously been predicted and observed in this data set). Taking this seasonal effect into account, the FTE locations support the previous simulation results and confirm the earlier prediction that the energy transfers in the plane of the IMF. In addition, we investigate the effect of the dipole orientation (both the dipole tilt angle and its orientation in the plane perpendicular to the solar wind flow) on the energy transfer spatial distribution. We find that the energy transfer occurs mainly in the summer hemisphere, and that the dayside reconnection region is located asymmetrically about the subsolar position. Finally, we find that the energy transfer is 10% larger at equinox conditions than at solstice, contributing to the discussion concerning the semiannual variation of magnetospheric dynamics (known as "the Russell-McPherron effect").

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document