Polarization pattern of low-frequency geomagnetic field fluctuations (0.8-3.6 mHz) at high and low latitude

1999 ◽  
Vol 104 (A1) ◽  
pp. 305-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Lepidi ◽  
P. Francia ◽  
U. Villante ◽  
L. J. Lanzerotti ◽  
A. Meloni
1997 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 656-661
Author(s):  
U. Villante ◽  
P. Francia

Abstract. The passage of a higher pressure solar wind region at the Earth's orbit marked the onset of low latitude (L=1.6) fluctuations in the frequency range (0.8–5.5 mHz) for both the horizontal geomagnetic field components. Spectral peaks mostly occur at the same frequencies as the spectral enhancements which appeared in the long term analysis of experimental measurements from the same station and were tentatively interpreted in terms of ground signatures of global magnetospheric modes. A comparison with simultaneous observations discussed by previous investigations allows us to conclude that the same set of frequencies is enhanced in a wide portion of the Earth's magnetosphere.


1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 1245-1250 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Lepidi ◽  
P. Francia ◽  
U. Villante ◽  
A. Meloni ◽  
A. J. Lazarus ◽  
...  

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)


1995 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 522-531
Author(s):  
P. Francia ◽  
U. Villante ◽  
A. Meloni

Abstract. An analysis of the geomagnetic field variations between 3 min and 2 h at L'Aquila (L=1.6) shows that the power level in the low-frequency range (i.e. for periods longer than approximately 10 min) at solar maximum (1989/90) is much higher than at solar minimum (1985/86). Conversely, at solar minimum, it emerges that there is a greater relative importance of fluctuations with periods smaller than 10 min which might be related to the greater percentage of solar wind speeds greater than approximately 540 km s–1. Diurnal, seasonal and solar cycle variations of both the high- and the low-frequency power are also discussed. We found that several aspects of these variations might be correlated with ionospheric features such as the ionisation of the F2 layer and the location and the intensity of the S current system.


1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Ballatore ◽  
S. Lepidi ◽  
L. Cafarella ◽  
U. Villante ◽  
A. Meloni ◽  
...  

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Villante ◽  
P. Francia ◽  
S. Lepidi

Abstract. A statistical analysis of the geomagnetic field fluctuations in the Pc5 frequency range (1–5 mHz) at a low latitude station (L = 1.6) provides further evidence for daytime power peaks at discrete frequencies. The power enhancements, which become more pronounced during high solar wind pressure conditions, may be interpreted in terms of ground signatures of magnetospheric cavity/waveguide compressional modes driven by solar wind pressure pulses. In this sense, the much clearer statistical evidence for afternoon events can be related to corotating structures mainly impinging the postnoon magnetopause. A comparison with results obtained for the same time intervals from previous investigations at higher latitudes and in the Earth’s magnetosphere confirms the global character of the observed modes.Key words. Magnetospheric physics (MHD waves and instabilities; solar wind-magnetospheric interactions)


1997 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Francia ◽  
U. Villante

Abstract. A statistical analysis of the power spectra of the geomagnetic field components H and D for periods ranging between 3 min and 1 h was conducted at a low-latitude observatory (L'Aquila, L=1.6) at the minimum and maximum of the solar cycle. For both components, during daytime intervals, we found evidence of power enhancements at frequencies predicted for global modes of the Earth\\'s magnetosphere and occasionally observed at auroral latitudes in the F-region drift velocities (approximately at 1.3, 1.9, 2.6, and 3.4 mHz). Nighttime observations reveal a relative low frequency H enhancement associated with the bay occurrence together with a peak in the H/D power ratio which sharply emerges at 1.2 mHz in the premidnight sector. The strong similarity between solar minimum and maximum suggests that these modes can be considered permanent magnetospheric features. A separate analysis on a two-month interval shows that the observed spectral characteristics are amplified by conditions of high-velocity solar wind.


1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 490-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Villante ◽  
S. Lepidi ◽  
P. Francia ◽  
M. Vellante ◽  
A. Meloni ◽  
...  

Abstract. Pc3 geomagnetic field fluctuations detected at low latitude (L'Aquila, Italy) during the passage of a high velocity solar wind stream, characterized by variable interplanetary magnetic field conditions, are analyzed. Higher frequency resonant fluctuations and lower frequency phenomena are simultaneously observed; the intermittent appearance and the variable frequency of the longer period modes can be well interpreted in terms of the variable IMF elements; moreover their polarization characteristics are consistent with an origin related to external waves propagating in antisunward direction. A comparison with simultaneous observations performed at Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica) provides additional evidence for a clear relationship between the IMF and Pc3 pulsations also at very high latitudes.Key words. Magnetospheric physics (MHD waves and instabilities; solar wind · magnetosphere interactions)


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