Explicit IMF By-dependence in geomagnetic activity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauri Holappa ◽  
Timo Asikainen ◽  
Kalevi Mursula
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Geomagnetic Activity ◽  
Space Weather ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Coupling Function ◽  
Future Space ◽  
Weather Modeling ◽  
Southern High Latitude ◽  
Imf Clock Angle ◽  
The Imf

<p>The interaction of the solar wind with the Earth’s magnetic field produces geomagnetic activity, which is critically dependent on the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Most solar wind coupling functions quantify this dependence on the IMF orientation with the so-called IMF clock angle in a way, which is symmetric with respect to the sign of the B<sub>y</sub> component. However, recent studies have shown that IMF B<sub>y</sub> is an additional, independent driver of high-latitude geomagnetic activity, leading to higher (weaker) geomagnetic activity in Northern Hemisphere (NH) winter for B<sub>y</sub> > 0 (B<sub>y</sub> < 0). For NH summer the dependence on the B<sub>y</sub> sign is reversed. We quantify the size of this explicit B<sub>y</sub>-effect with respect to the solar wind coupling function, both for northern and southern high-latitude geomagnetic activity. We show that for a given value of solar wind coupling function, geomagnetic activity is about 40% stronger for B<sub>y</sub> > 0 than for B<sub>y</sub> < 0 in NH winter. We also discuss recent advances in the physical understanding of the B<sub>y</sub>-effect. Our results highlight the importance of the IMF B<sub>y</sub>-component for space weather and must be taken into account in future space weather modeling.</p>

Explicit IMF By-dependence in geomagnetic activity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauri Holappa ◽  
Timo Asikainen ◽  
Kalevi Mursula
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Geomagnetic Activity ◽  
Space Weather ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Coupling Function ◽  
Ionospheric Conductivity ◽  
Future Space ◽  
Southern High Latitude ◽  
The Imf

<p>The interaction of the solar wind with the Earth’s magnetic field produces geomagnetic activity, which is critically dependent on the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Most solar wind coupling functions quantify this dependence on the IMF orientation with the so-called IMF clock angle in a way, which is symmetric with respect to the sign of the By component. However, recent studies have shown that IMF By is an additional, independent driver of high-latitude geomagnetic activity, leading to higher (weaker) geomagnetic activity in Northern Hemisphere (NH) winter for By > 0 (By < 0). For NH summer the dependence on the By sign is reversed. We quantify the size of this explicit By-effect with respect to the solar wind coupling function, both for northern and southern high-latitude geomagnetic activity. We show that for a given value of solar wind coupling function, geomagnetic activity is about 40% stronger for By > 0 than for By < 0 in NH winter. The physical mechanism of the By-effect is not yet fully understood. Here we show that IMF By modulates the flux of energetic electrons precipitating into the ionosphere which likely modulates the ionospheric conductivity and, thus, geomagnetic activity. Our results highlight the importance of the IMF By-component for space weather and must be taken into account in future space weather modeling.</p>

3D MHD study of the Earth magnetosphere response during extreme space weather conditions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacobo Varela Rodriguez ◽  
Sacha A. Brun ◽  
Antoine Strugarek ◽  
Victor Réville ◽  
Filippo Pantellini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Space Weather ◽  
Coronal Mass Ejections ◽  
Main Sequence ◽  
Dynamic Pressure ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Earth Surface ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The Imf

<p><span>The aim of the study is to analyze the response of the Earth magnetosphere for various space weather conditions and model the effect of interplanetary coronal mass ejections. The magnetopause stand off distance, open-closed field lines boundary and plasma flows towards the planet surface are investigated. We use the MHD code PLUTO in spherical coordinates to perform a parametric study regarding the dynamic pressure and temperature of the solar wind as well as the interplanetary magnetic field intensity and orientation. The range of the parameters analyzed extends from regular to extreme space weather conditions consistent with coronal mass ejections at the Earth orbit. The direct precipitation of the solar wind on the Earth day side at equatorial latitudes is extremely unlikely even during super coronal mass ejections. For example, the SW precipitation towards the Earth surface for a IMF purely oriented in the Southward direction requires a IMF intensity around 1000 nT and the SW dynamic pressure above 350 nPa, space weather conditions well above super-ICMEs. The analysis is extended to previous stages of the solar evolution considering the rotation tracks from Carolan (2019). The simulations performed indicate an efficient shielding of the Earth surface 1100 Myr after the Sun enters in the main sequence. On the other hand, for early evolution phases along the Sun main sequence once the Sun rotation rate was at least 5 times faster (< 440 Myr), the Earth surface was directly exposed to the solar wind during coronal mass ejections (assuming today´s Earth magnetic field). Regarding the satellites orbiting the Earth, Southward and Ecliptic IMF orientations are particularly adverse for Geosynchronous satellites, partially exposed to the SW if the SW dynamic pressure is 8-14 nPa and the IMF intensity 10 nT. On the other hand, Medium orbit satellites at 20000 km are directly exposed to the SW during Common ICME if the IMF orientation is Southward and during Strong ICME if the IMF orientation is Earth-Sun or Ecliptic. The same way, Medium orbit satellites at 10000 km are directly exposed to the SW if a Super ICME with Southward IMF orientation impacts the Earth.</span></p><p>This work was supported by the project 2019-T1/AMB-13648 founded by the Comunidad de Madrid, grants ERC WholeSun, Exoplanets A and PNP. We extend our thanks to CNES for Solar Orbiter, PLATO and Meteo Space science support and to INSU/PNST for their financial support.</p>

scholarly journals Space Weather Modeling Capabilities Assessment: Auroral Precipitation and High‐Latitude Ionospheric Electrodynamics

Space Weather ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Robinson ◽  
Yongliang Zhang ◽  
Katherine Garcia‐Sage ◽  
Xiaohua Fang ◽  
Olga P. Verkhoglyadova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Space Weather ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Ionospheric Electrodynamics ◽  
Weather Modeling

Seasonal and diurnal variations of geomagnetic activity and their role in Space Weather forecast

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 907-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Lyatsky ◽  
A M Hamza
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Diurnal Variation ◽  
Geomagnetic Activity ◽  
Space Weather ◽  
Weather Forecast ◽  
Diurnal Variations ◽  
Ionospheric Conductivity ◽  
Solar Wind Parameters ◽  
Possible Cause

A possible test for different models explaining the seasonal variation in geomagnetic activity is the diurnal variation. We computed diurnal variations both in the occurrence of large AE (auroral electrojet) indices and in the AO index. (AO is the auroral electrojet index that provides a measure of the equivalent zonal current.) Both methods show a similar diurnal variation in geomagnetic activity with a deep minimum around (3–7) UT (universal time) in winter and a shallower minimum near 5–9 UT in equinoctial months. The observed UT variation is consistent with the results of other scientists, but it is different from that expected from the Russell–McPherron mechanism proposed to explain the seasonal variation. It is suggested that the possible cause for the diurnal and seasonal variations may be variations in nightside ionospheric conductivity. Recent experimental results show an important role for ionospheric conductivity in particle acceleration and geomagnetic disturbance generation. They also show that low ionospheric conductivity is favorable to the generation of auroral and geomagnetic activity. The conductivity in conjugate nightside auroral zones (where substorm generation takes place) is minimum at equinoxes, when both auroral zones are in darkness. The low ionospheric conductivity at equinoxes may be a possible cause for the seasonal variation in the geomagnetic activity with maxima in equinoctial months. The diurnal variation in geomagnetic activity can be produced by the UT variation in the nightside ionospheric conductivity, which in winter and at equinoxes has a maximum around 4–5 UT that may lead to a minimum in geomagnetic activity at this time. We calculated the correlation patterns for the AE index versus solar-wind parameters inside and outside the (2–7) UT sector related to the minimum in geomagnetic activity. The correlation patterns appear different in these two sectors indeed, which is well consistent with the UT variation in geomagnetic activity. It also shows that it is possible to improve significantly the reliability of the Space Weather forecast by taking into account the dependence of geomagnetic activity not only on solar-wind parameters but also on UT and season. Our test shows that a simple account for the dependence of geomagnetic activity on UT can improve the reliability of the Space Weather forecast by at least 50% in the 2–7 UT sector in winter and equinoctial months. PACS No.: 91.25Le

scholarly journals Reconstruction of geomagnetic activity and near-Earth interplanetary conditions over the past 167 yr – Part 2: A new reconstruction of the interplanetary magnetic field

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (11) ◽  
pp. 1979-1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lockwood ◽  
L. Barnard ◽  
H. Nevanlinna ◽  
M. J. Owens ◽  
R. G. Harrison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Interplanetary Magnetic Field ◽  
Geomagnetic Activity ◽  
Flow Speed ◽  
Range Data ◽  
Solar Wind Flow ◽  
Annual Means ◽  
Solar Wind Parameters ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. We present a new reconstruction of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF, B) for 1846–2012 with a full analysis of errors, based on the homogeneously constructed IDV(1d) composite of geomagnetic activity presented in Part 1 (Lockwood et al., 2013a). Analysis of the dependence of the commonly used geomagnetic indices on solar wind parameters is presented which helps explain why annual means of interdiurnal range data, such as the new composite, depend only on the IMF with only a very weak influence of the solar wind flow speed. The best results are obtained using a polynomial (rather than a linear) fit of the form B = χ · (IDV(1d) − β)α with best-fit coefficients χ = 3.469, β = 1.393 nT, and α = 0.420. The results are contrasted with the reconstruction of the IMF since 1835 by Svalgaard and Cliver (2010).

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 ESTIMASI BADAI GEOMAGNET BERDASARKAN PERILAKU PARAMETER ANGIN SURYA DAN MEDAN MAGNET ANTARPLANET SEBELUM BADAI GEOMAGNET (THE ESTIMATION OF GEOMAGNETIC STORM BASED ON SOLAR WIND PARAMETERS AND INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELD BEHAVIOR BEFORE GEOMAGNETIC STOR

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Anwar Santoso ◽  
Mamat Rahimat ◽  
Rasdewita Kesumaningrum ◽  
Siska Filawati
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Solar Wind ◽  
Geomagnetic Storm ◽  
Space Weather ◽  
Geomagnetic Storms ◽  
Storm Events ◽  
Science Center ◽  
Solar Wind Parameters ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Imf

Space weather research is the principal activity at the Space Science Center, Lapan to learn characteristics and generator source of the space weather so that can mitigate its the impact on the Earth's environment as mandated in Law No. 21 Year 2013. One of them is the phenomenon of geomagnetic storms. Geomagnetic storms caused by the entry of solar wind together with the IMF Bz that leads to the south. The behavior of the solar wind parameters together with the IMF Bz before geomagnetic storms can determine the formation of geomagnetic storms that caused it. In spite that, by the solar wind parameters and IMF Bz behavior before geomagnetic storm can be estimated its intensity through the equation Dst * = 1.599 * Ptotal - 34.48. The result of this equation is obtained that the Dst minimum deviation between the raw data and the output of this equation to the geomagnetic storm events on March 17, 2013 is about of -2.51 nT or 1.9% and on the geomagnetic storm events on February 19, 2014 is about of 2.77 nT or 2, 5%. Thus, the equation Dst * = 1.599 * Ptotal - 34.48 is very good for the estimation of geomagnetic storms.

scholarly journals Different responses of northern and southern high latitude ionospheric convection to IMF rotations: a case study based on SuperDARN observations

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 2423-2438 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Ambrosino ◽  
E. Amata ◽  
M. F. Marcucci ◽  
I. Coco ◽  
W. Bristow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Ionospheric Convection ◽  
Cell Pair ◽  
Cell Pattern ◽  
Southern High Latitude ◽  
Lobe Reconnection ◽  
Magnetospheric Field ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. We use SuperDARN data to study high-latitude ionospheric convection over a three hour period (starting at 22:00 UT on 2 January 2003), during which the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) flipped between two states, one with By>>|Bz| and one with Bz>0, both with negative Bx. We find, as expected from previous works, that day side ionospheric convection is controlled by the IMF in both hemispheres. For strongly northward IMF, we observed signatures of two reverse cells, both in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) and in the Southern Hemisphere (SH), due to lobe reconnection. On one occasion, we also observed in the NH two viscous cells at the sides of the reverse cell pair. For duskward IMF, we observed in the NH a large dusk clockwise cell, accompanied by a smaller dawn cell, and the signature of a corresponding pattern in the SH. On two occasions, a three cell pattern, composed of a large clockwise cell and two viscous cells, was observed in the NH. As regards the timings of the NH and SH convection reconfigurations, we find that the convection reconfiguration from a positive Bz dominated to a positive By dominated pattern occurred almost simultaneously (i.e. within a few minutes) in the two hemispheres. On the contrary, the reconfiguration from a By dominated to a northward IMF pattern started in the NH 8–13 min earlier than in the SH. We suggest that part of such a delay can be due to the following mechanism: as IMF Bx<0, the northward-tailward magnetosheath magnetic field reconnects with the magnetospheric field first tailward of the northern cusp and later on tailward of the southern cusp, due to the IMF draping around the magnetopause.

scholarly journals Average auroral configuration parameterized by geomagnetic activity and solar wind conditions

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 1003-1012 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Milan ◽  
T. A. Evans ◽  
B. Hubert
Keyword(s):  
Solar Wind ◽  
Wind Velocity ◽  
Geomagnetic Activity ◽  
Solar Wind Velocity ◽  
Solar Wind Speed ◽  
Auroral Oval ◽  
Similar Amount ◽  
Solar Wind Parameters ◽  
Upstream Solar Wind ◽  
The Imf

Abstract. Average proton and electron auroral images are compiled from three years of observations by the IMAGE spacecraft, binned according to concurrent KP and upstream solar wind conditions measured by the ACE spacecraft. The solar wind parameters include solar wind velocity, density, and pressure, interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) magnitude and orientation, and an estimate of the magnetopause reconnection rate. We use both (a) the overall variation in brightness in the images and (b) the variation in location of the aurorae with respect to the binning parameters to determine which parameters best order the auroral response. We find that the brightness varies by a factor of ~50 with KP, a similar amount with estimated dayside reconnection voltage, ~15 with the IMF, ~3 with solar wind density, ~2 with solar wind velocity, and ~5 with pressure. Clearly, geomagnetic activity as measured by KP and auroral dynamics are closely associated. In terms of the solar wind-magnetosphere coupling that drives auroral dynamics, the IMF is of paramount importance in modulating this, with solar wind speed and density playing a lesser role. Dayside reconnection voltage, derived from the solar wind velocity and IMF magnitude and orientation, orders the data almost as well as KP, though we find a plateau in the auroral response between voltages of 100 and 150 kV. We also discuss changes in configuration and overall size of the average auroral oval with upstream conditions.

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