scholarly journals The electric field response to the growth phase and expansion phase onset of a small isolated substorm

1997 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. V. Lewis ◽  
M. P. Freeman ◽  
A. S. Rodger ◽  
G. D. Reeves ◽  
D. K. Milling
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Growth Phase ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Substorm Onset ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Radar Backscatter ◽  
Expansion Phase ◽  
Ionospheric Convection ◽  
Flow Component ◽  
Field Response

Abstract. We capitalise on the very large field of view of the Halley HF radar to provide a comprehensive description of the electric field response to the substorm growth phase and expansion phase onset of a relatively simple isolated substorm ( |AL| < 250 nT) which occurred on 13 June 1988. The substorm phases are identified by their standard ground magnetic and spacecraft energetic particle signatures, which provide a framework for the radar measurements. The substorm is preceded by a prolonged period (>12 h) of magnetic quiescence, such that prior to the start of the growth phase, the apparent latitudinal motion of the radar backscatter returns is consistent with the variation in latitude of the quiet-time auroral oval with magnetic local time. The growth phase is characterised by an increasing, superimposed equatorward motion of the equatorward edge of the radar backscatter as the auroral oval expands. Within this backscatter region, there is a poleward gradient in the Doppler spectral width, which we believe to correspond to latitudinal structure in auroral emissions and magnetospheric precipitation. During the growth phase the ionospheric convection is dominated by a relatively smooth large-scale flow pattern consistent with the expanding DP2 (convection) auroral electrojets. Immediately prior to substorm onset the ionospheric convection observed by the radar in the midnight sector has a predominantly equatorward flow component. At substorm onset a dramatic change occurs and a poleward flow component prevails. The timing and location are quite remarkable. The timing of the flow change is within one minute of the dispersionless injection observed at geostationary orbit and the Pi2 magnetic signature on the ground. The location shows that this sudden change in flow is due to the effect of the upward field aligned current of the substorm current wedge imposed directly within the Halley radar field of view.

scholarly journals The relationship between the magnetosphere and magnetospheric/auroral substorms

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.-I. Akasofu
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Growth Phase ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Dissipative System ◽  
Satellite Observation ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
Release Process ◽  
Expansion Phase ◽  
Auroral Substorms ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract. On the basis of auroral and polar magnetic substorm studies, the relationship between the solar wind-magnetosphere dynamo (the DD dynamo) current and the substorm dynamo (the UL dynamo) current is studied. The characteristics of both the DD and UL currents reveal why auroral substorms consist of the three distinct phases after the input power ε is increased above 1018 erg s−1. (a) The growth phase; the magnetosphere can accumulate magnetic energy for auroral substorms, when the ionosphere cannot dissipate the power before the expansion phase. (b) The expansion phase; the magnetosphere releases the accumulated magnetic energy during the growth phase in a pulse-like manner in a few hours, because it tries to stabilize itself when the accumulated energy reaches to about 1023 erg s−1. (c) The recovery phase; the magnetosphere becomes an ordinary dissipative system after the expansion phase, because the ionosphere becomes capable of dissipating the power with the rate of 1018 ~ 1019 erg s−1. On the basis of the above conclusion, it is suggested that the magnetosphere accomplishes the pulse-like release process (resulting in spectacular auroral activities) by producing plasma instabilities in the current sheet, thus reducing the current. The resulting contraction of the magnetic field lines (expending the accumulated magnetic energy), together with break down of the "frozen-in" field condition at distances of less than 10 RE, establishes the substorm dynamo that generates an earthward electric field (Lui and Kamide, 2003; Akasofu, 2011). It is this electric field which manifests as the expansion phase. A recent satellite observation at a distance of as close as 8.1 RE by Lui (2011) seems to support strongly the occurrence of the chain of processes suggested in the above. It is hoped that although the concept presented here is very crude, it will serve in providing one way of studying the three phases of auroral substorms. In turn, a better understanding of auroral substorms will also be useful in studying the magnetosphere, because various auroral activities can be the visible guide for this endeavor.

SABRE observations of structured ionospheric flows during substorm expansion phase onset

1994 ◽  
Vol 12 (10/11) ◽  
pp. 1027-1038
Author(s):  
E. G. Bradshaw ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
T. B. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
Substorm Onset ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Substorm Current Wedge ◽  
Expansion Phase ◽  
Pi2 Pulsation ◽  
Pi2 Pulsations ◽  
Generation Region ◽  
Coherent Radar ◽  
Current Wedge

Abstract. The irregularity velocity patterns observed by the SABRE coherent radar at substorm expansion phase onset, which is identified by magnetometer observations of Pi2 pulsations, are occasionally highly structured. In all the examples of structured velocity patterns examined, the SABRE viewing area is located at longitudes within the inferred substorm current wedge. Three types of structured velocity regime are apparent depending on the level of magnetic activity and the position of the radar viewing area relative to the substorm enhanced currents and the Pi2 pulsation generation region. Firstly, vortex-like velocity patterns are observed and these may be caused by the field-aligned currents associated with the substorm current wedge. Secondly, regions of equatorward velocity are also observed at times of substorm expansion phase onset moving longitudinally across the SABRE viewing area. The longitudinal movement is usually westward although an example of eastward motion has been observed. The phase velocity of these regions of equatorward flow is typically 1-3 km s-1. The observed equatorward velocities occur at the poleward edge or poleward of the background convection velocities observed by SABRE. These equatorward velocities may be related to the westward travelling surge and to the expansion (eastwards as well as westwards) of the brightening arc region at substorm onset. Thirdly, the flow rotates equatorward within the field of view but does not then appear to move longitudinally. These equatorward velocities may relate to the earthward surge of plasma from the magnetotail at substorm onset.

scholarly journals Reconnection electric field estimates and dynamics of high-latitude boundaries during a substorm

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 2157-2171 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Pitkänen ◽  
A. T. Aikio ◽  
A. Kozlovsky ◽  
O. Amm
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Growth Phase ◽  
Continuation Method ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Closed Field ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Vhf Radar ◽  
The North

Abstract. The dynamics of the polar cap and the auroral oval are examined in the evening sector during a substorm period on 25 November 2000 by using measurements of the EISCAT incoherent scatter radars, the north-south chain of the MIRACLE magnetometer network, and the Polar UV Imager. The location of the polar cap boundary (PCB) is estimated from electron temperature measurements by the mainland low-elevation EISCAT VHF radar and the 42 m antenna of the EISCAT Svalbard radar. A comparison to the poleward auroral emission (PAE) boundary by the Polar UV Imager shows that in this event the PAE boundary is typically located 0.7° of magnetic latitude poleward of the PCB by EISCAT. The convection reversal boundary (CRB) is determined from the 2-D plasma drift velocity extracted from the dual-beam VHF data. The CRB is located 0.5–1° equatorward of the PCB indicating the existence of viscous-driven antisunward convection on closed field lines. East-west equivalent electrojets are calculated from the MIRACLE magnetometer data by the 1-D upward continuation method. In the substorm growth phase, electrojets together with the polar cap boundary move gradually equatorwards. During the substorm expansion phase, the Harang discontinuity (HD) region expands to the MLT sector of EISCAT. In the recovery phase the PCB follows the poleward edge of the westward electrojet. The local ionospheric reconnection electric field is calculated by using the measured plasma velocities in the vicinity of the polar cap boundary. During the substorm growth phase, values between 0 and 10 mV/m are found. During the late expansion and recovery phase, the reconnection electric field has temporal variations with periods of 7–27 min and values from 0 to 40 mV/m. It is shown quantitatively, for the first time to our knowledge, that intensifications in the local reconnection electric field correlate with appearance of auroral poleward boundary intensifications (PBIs) in the same MLT sector. The results suggest that PBIs (typically 1.5 h MLT wide) are a consequence of temporarily enhanced longitudinally localized magnetic flux closure in the magnetotail.

Detailed analysis of a substorm event on 6 and 7 June 1989 1. Growth phase evolution of nightside auroral activities and ionospheric convection toward expansion phase onset

2002 ◽  
Vol 107 (A12) ◽  
pp. SMP 36-1-SMP 36-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Kadokura ◽  
Akira-Sessai Yukimatu ◽  
Masaki Ejiri ◽  
Takasi Oguti ◽  
Michael Pinnock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Growth Phase ◽  
Phase Evolution ◽  
Expansion Phase ◽  
Ionospheric Convection

scholarly journals Temporal and spatial evolution of discrete auroral arcs as seen by Cluster

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 2531-2557 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Figueiredo ◽  
G. T. Marklund ◽  
T. Karlsson ◽  
T. Johansson ◽  
Y. Ebihara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Potential Drop ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Expansion Phase ◽  
Electric Fields And Currents ◽  
Auroral Arcs

Abstract. Two event studies are presented in this paper where intense convergent electric fields, with mapped intensities up to 1350 mV/m, are measured in the auroral upward current region by the Cluster spacecraft, at altitudes between 3 and 5 Earth radii. Both events are from May 2003, Southern Hemisphere, with equatorward crossings by the Cluster spacecraft of the pre-midnight auroral oval. Event 1 occurs during the end of the recovery phase of a strong substorm. A system of auroral arcs associated with convergent electric field structures, with a maximum perpendicular potential drop of about ~10 kV, and upflowing field-aligned currents with densities of 3 µA/m2 (mapped to the ionosphere), was detected at the boundary between the Plasma Sheet Boundary Layer (PSBL) and the Plasma Sheet (PS). The auroral arc structures evolve in shape and in magnitude on a timescale of tens of minutes, merging, broadening and intensifying, until finally fading away after about 50 min. Throughout this time, both the PS region and the auroral arc structure in its poleward part remain relatively fixed in space, reflecting the rather quiet auroral conditions during the end of the substorm. The auroral upward acceleration region is shown for this event to extend beyond 3.9 Earth radii altitude. Event 2 occurs during a more active period associated with the expansion phase of a moderate substorm. Images from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F13 spacecraft show that the Cluster spacecraft crossed the horn region of a surge-type aurora. Conjugated with the Cluster spacecraft crossing above the surge horn, the South Pole All Sky Imager recorded the motion and the temporal evolution of an east-west aligned auroral arc, 30 to 50 km wide. Intense electric field variations are measured by the Cluster spacecraft when crossing above the auroral arc structure, collocated with the density gradient at the PS poleward boundary, and coupled to intense upflowing field-aligned currents with mapped densities of up to 20 µA/m2. The surge horn consists of multiple arc structures which later merge into one structure and intensify at the PS poleward boundary. The surge horn and the associated PS region moved poleward with a velocity at the ionospheric level of 0.5 km/s, following the large-scale poleward expansion of the auroral oval associated with the substorm expansion phase. Keywords. Ionosphere (Ionosphere-magnetosphere interacctions; Electric fields and currents; Particle acceleration)

scholarly journals Superposed epoch analysis of the ionospheric convection evolution during substorms: onset latitude dependence

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 591-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Grocott ◽  
J. A. Wild ◽  
S. E. Milan ◽  
T. K. Yeoman
Keyword(s):  
Radar Data ◽  
Substorm Onset ◽  
Magnetospheric Substorms ◽  
Expansion Phase ◽  
Ionospheric Convection ◽  
Conductivity Enhancement ◽  
Superposed Epoch Analysis ◽  
Convection Patterns ◽  
Epoch Analysis ◽  
Far Ultraviolet

Abstract. Using data from the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) we investigate the ionospheric convection response to magnetospheric substorms. Substorms were identified using the Far Ultraviolet (FUV) instrument on board the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) spacecraft, and were then binned according to the magnetic latitude of their onset. A superposed epoch analysis of the ionospheric convection patterns for each onset-latitude bin was then performed using radar data for the interval 60 min before onset to 90 min after. It is found that lower onset-latitude substorms are associated with generally more enhanced convection than the higher latitude substorms, although they suffer from a significant localised reduction of the flow in the midnight sector during the expansion phase. Higher-latitude substorms are associated with a significant and rapid increase in the nightside convection following substorm onset, with all onset-latitude bins showing an enhancement over onset values by ~60 min into the expansion phase. A rudimentary inspection of the concurrent auroral evolution suggests that the duration of the flow reduction following substorm onset is dependent on the strength and duration of the expansion phase aurora and its associated conductivity enhancement.

scholarly journals Studies of magnetotail dynamics and energy evolution during substorms using MHD simulations

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 1717-1727 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Brogl ◽  
R. E. Lopez ◽  
M. Wiltberger ◽  
H. K. Rassoul
Keyword(s):  
Growth Phase ◽  
Plasma Sheet ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Substorm Onset ◽  
Energy Evolution ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Expansion Phase ◽  
Mhd Simulations ◽  
Hydrodynamic Code ◽  
Magnetotail Dynamics

Abstract. We examine the distribution and propagation of energy in the plasma sheet and lobes using observations and simulations for three substorms. The substorms occurred on 9 March 1995, 10 December 1996, and 27 August 2001 and have been simulated using the Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry magneto-hydrodynamic code. All three events occur over North America and show a clear substorm current wedge over the ground magnetometer chains of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. The three simulations show the thinning of the plasma sheet during the growth phase of the event and an increase in the relative amount of thermal energy due to the compression of the plasma sheet. Generally, the total lobe energy, polar cap flux, and lobe magnetic field strength simultaneously increase during the growth phase, and polar cap flux and total lobe energy only start dropping at substorm onset, as measured by the CANOPUS magnetometer chain. Starting at time of onset and continuing throughout the expansion phase a transfer of magnetic energy from the lobes into the plasma sheet occurs, with the increase in the plasma sheet energy ranging from 30–40% of the energy that is released from the lobes.

scholarly journals Aurora and open magnetic flux during isolated substorms, sawteeth, and SMC events

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1865-1876 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. DeJong ◽  
X. Cai ◽  
R. C. Clauer ◽  
J. F. Spann
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Expansion Phase ◽  
Magnetospheric Convection ◽  
Open Magnetic Flux ◽  
Open Flux ◽  
The Individual

Abstract. Using Polar UVI LBHl and IMAGE FUV WIC data, we have compared the auroral signatures and polar cap open flux for isolated substorms, sawteeth oscillations, and steady magnetospheric convection (SMC) events. First, a case study of each event type is performed, comparing auroral signatures and open magnetic fluxes to one another. The latitude location of the auroral oval is similar during isolated substorms and SMC events. The auroral intensity during SMC events is similar to that observed during the expansion phase of an isolated substorm. Examination of an individual sawtooth shows that the auroral intensity is much greater than the SMC or isolated substorm events and the auroral oval is displaced equatorward making a larger polar cap. The temporal variations observed during the individual sawtooth are similar to that observed during the isolated substorm, and while the change in polar cap flux measured during the sawtooth is larger, the percent change in flux is similar to that measured during the isolated substorm. These results are confirmed by a statistical analysis of events within these three classes. The results show that the auroral oval measured during individual sawteeth contains a polar cap with, on average, 150% more magnetic flux than the oval measured during isolated substorms or during SMC events. However, both isolated substorms and sawteeth show a 30% decrease in polar cap magnetic flux during the dipolarization (expansion) phase.

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