Probing afternoon detached aurora and high-latitude trough based on DMSP observations

The present work displays the observations of an afternoon detached aurora along with ionospheric high-latitude trough. The event was observed by DMSP F17 on 19 September 2014. The afternoon detached aurora was isolated from the auroral oval and was located between 12:00–18:00 magnetic local time (MLT) and 65–70° geomagnetic latitude (MLAT). Particle observations indicate that the afternoon detached aurora was produced by energetic ring current ions with energies above ~10 keV where the main ion energy was likely to be above the upper limit of DMSP measurement (~30 keV). Magnetometer observation from the ground implies that the energetic ions were likely scattered by EMIC waves. Both the detached aurora and the auroral oval are found to be well inside the high-latitude trough with MLAT between ~64° and ~76° (68–80° GLAT). The auroral oval corresponds to a westward (sunward) plasma drift. It is expected that the westward drift transports the low-density plasma in the nightside toward the dayside, leading to the high-latitude trough formation. The afternoon detached aurora was well equatorward of the high-latitude trough, and the corresponding plasma drift was nearly zero. The plasma associated with the detached aurora is expected to be stagnant, and broaden the high-latitude trough equatorward.     

极向运动极光结构和喉区极光光学观测特征的对比分析

利用中国北极黄河站高时间分辨率的三波段全天空成像仪极光观测数据，联合太阳风和行星际磁场等观测，分析了极向运动极光结构（PMAFs）和喉区极光的形成及演化特征.研究发现:一系列PMAFs与喉区极光事件同时出现在观测视野中，其中PMAFs主要发生在日侧极隙区极光卵赤道向边界的极向一侧，沿东西方向分布，点亮后向高纬运动；喉区极光紧靠PMAF一侧发生，从极光卵赤道向边界向低纬延伸，沿南北方向分布，点亮后向高纬偏西方向运动；观测期间PMAFs发生频率高于喉区极光；当PMAFs与喉区极光同时出现时，PMAFs可以与喉区极光几乎同时出现或略晚于喉区极光出现，持续时间较喉区极光短.观测结果表明:与PMAF相对应的磁层顶重联过程和与喉区极光对应的磁层顶凹陷导致的磁重联过程在日侧磁层顶上的相邻区域分别发生，两种极光事件的形成过程相对独立，可能不存在相互触发关系.      

基于U-net的紫外极光观测极光卵形态提取

极光卵形态提取是极光研究的重要手段.如何提高强干扰背景下的紫外极光图像极光卵形态提取精度，目前仍是一个难题.本文提出一种基于深度学习语义分割模型U-net的方法，实现了对极光卵形态的高精度提取.在Polar卫星紫外极光观测数据的实验结果表明，该方法相比于已有算法精度更高，对完整型极光卵和缺口型极光卵图像均能得到更加精确的提取结果，特别是针对强日辉干扰、灰度不均匀和对比度低情况下的紫外极光图像时，该方法显示了明显优势.      

Saw-tooth substorms: Inconsistency of repetitive bay-like magnetic disturbances with behavior of aurora

The relationships between the magnetic disturbance onsets, aurora dynamics and particles injections at the geostationary orbit have been analyzed in detail for 25 sawtooth substorms. It is shown that inconsistency between the above signatures of the substorms onset is typical of the powerful sawtooth substorms, unlike the isolated (“classical”) magnetospheric substorms. The distinguishing feature of the aurora in case of saw-tooth substorms is permanently high level of auroral activity irrespective of the magnetic disturbance onsets and the double oval structure of the aurora display. The close relationship between the aurora behavior and the particle injections at geostationary orbit is also broken. The conclusion is made, that the classical concept of the substorm development, put forward by Akasofu (1964) for isolated substorms, is not workable in cases of the sawtooth disturbances, when the powerful solar wind energy pumping into the magnetosphere provides a permanent powerful aurora particle precipitation into the auroral zone.     

喉区极光的机器识别

喉区极光是一种发生在电离层对流喉区附近的极光现象，是极光卵向低纬侧延伸出的南北向分立结构，其可能对应由磁鞘高速流与磁层顶作用引发的磁层顶重联过程.喉区极光研究对深入理解太阳风—磁层—电离层耦合过程具有重要意义.从长期观测所积累的大量全天空极光观测数据中准确高效识别出喉区极光结构，是开展喉区极光统计研究的基础.本文利用北极黄河站2003—2017年全天空成像仪的极光观测数据，建立了喉区极光图像标注数据集；基于密集连接卷积神经网络（DenseNet）对极光图像全局高维表征的自动学习，首次实现了喉区极光结构的机器识别.算法对喉区极光识别准确率达96%，且具有良好的泛化性能.研究表明基于深度学习的图像识别方法可用于从海量极光观测数据中自动识别喉区极光事件.      

Dynamics of the convection in the inner magnetosphere by observations of the diffuse aurora,SAR arc and ionospheric drift

The first results of the comparison of subauroral luminosity dynamics in 557,7 and 630,0 nm emission with simultaneous measurements of the ionospheric drift in the F2 region with a digisonde DPS-4 at the Yakutsk meridian (CGMC: 55–60N, 200°E) at Kp = 2–6 are presented. It is shown from the analysis of individual events that during the magnetospheric convection intensification after the turn of the IMF B_z – component to the south the equatorward extension of diffuse aurora takes place. At the same time the westward ionospheric drift velocity increases both in the diffuse aurora region and much equatorward of it due to the occurrence of the northward polarization electric field. We suppose that the generation of polarization field can be associated with the development of the region 2 FAC during the intensification of magnetospheric convection. The comparison of ground-based observations with measurements of the plasma drift aboard the DMSP-F15 satellite has been carried out.     

Relationship of the diffuse aurora and SAR arc dynamics to substorms and storms

Investigation results of a diffuse aurora (DA) and stable auroral red (SAR) arc dynamics based on spectrophotometric observations at the Yakutsk meridian (199°E geomagnetic longitude) are presented. The relationship of an equatorward extension of DA in the 557.7 nm emission to a substorm growth phase during the magnetospheric convection intensification after the turn of IMF B_Z to the south is shown. The formation of SAR arc during the substorm expansion phase is investigated. The association of SAR arc dynamics with the development of asymmetric ring current (substorm injection) during the main phase of a storm is analyzed. It is shown how the pulsating precipitations of energetic ring current particles develop in the outer plasmasphere based on photometric observations.     

Auroral structures at Jupiter and Earth

This paper compares global structures of the aurora observed at Jupiter and Earth and our understanding of the mechanisms that produce these structures. Both planets have permanent, magnetically conjugate auroral ovals, although produced by quite different mechanisms. Both are multispectral, having been observed at X-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and radio wavelengths. The brightest structures are produced by downward accelerated electron fluxes associated with upward Birkeland (magnetic-field-aligned) currents. At both planets, the auroral forms are time variable, especially at highest latitudes. The main power source for auroral emissions is planetary rotation at Jupiter, and the solar wind interaction at Earth. Thus Jupiter's auroral structures tend to be fixed with respect to magnetic (System III) longitude while Earth's are fixed with respect to local time. Earth's auroral structure is strongly dependent on the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). At Jupiter, no IMF dependence is known, but observations have not been sufficient to show such a dependence if it exists. A unique feature of Jupiter's auroral structure, with no counterpart at Earth, is the signature of the large (Galilean) satellites and, in the case of Io, even the corotational wake of the satellite.     

On high-altitude electric fields in the auroral downward current region and their coupling to ionospheric electric fields

The downward field-aligned current region plays an active role in magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling processes associated with aurora. A quasi-static electric field structure with a downward parallel electric field forms at altitudes between 800 km and 5000 km, accelerating ionospheric electrons upward, away from the auroral ionosphere. Other phenomena including energetic ion conics, electron solitary waves, low-frequency wave activity, and plasma density cavities occur in this region, which also acts as a source region for VLF saucers. Results are presented from high-altitude Cluster observations with particular emphasis on the characteristics and dynamics of quasi-static electric field structures. These, extending up to altitudes of at least 4–5 Earth radii, appear commonly as monopolar or bipolar electric fields. The former occur at sharp boundaries, such as the polar cap boundary whereas the bipolar fields occur at softer boundaries within the plasma sheet. The temporal evolution of quasi-static electric field structures, as captured by the pearls-on-a-string configuration of the Cluster spacecraft, indicates that the formation of electric field structures and of ionospheric plasma density cavities are closely coupled processes. A related feature of the downward current is a broadening of the current sheet with time, possibly related to the depletion process. Preliminary studies of the coupling of electric fields in the downward current region, show that small-scale structures are typically decoupled from the ionosphere, similar to what has been found for the upward current region. However, exceptions are also found where small-scale electric fields couple perfectly between the ionosphere and Cluster altitudes. Recent FAST results indicate that the degree of coupling differs between sheet-like and curved structures, and that it is typically partial. The electric field coupling further depends on the current–voltage relationship, which is highly non-linear in the downward current region, and still unrevealed, as to its specific form.     

Modeling of ionospheric parameter variations in East Asia during the moderate geomagnetic disturbances

The results of modeling of ionospheric disturbances observed in the East Asian region during moderate storms are presented. The numerical model for ionosphere–plasmasphere coupling developed at the ISTP SB RAS is used to interpret the data of observations at ionospheric stations located in the longitudinal sector of 90–130°E at latitudes from auroral zone to equator. There is obtained a reasonable agreement between measurements and modeling results for winter and equinox. In the summer ionosphere, at the background of high ionization by the solar EUV radiation in the quiet geomagnetic period the meridional thermospheric wind strongly impacts the electron concentration in the middle and auroral ionosphere. The consistent calculations of the thermospheric wind permit to obtain the model results which are closer to summer observations. The actual information about the space-time variations of thermosphere and magnetosphere parameters should be taken into account during storms.     

午后极光强度与太阳风-磁层耦合函数的相关

利用1997年和1998年南极中山站多通道扫描光度计的地面观测数据和Wind卫星在弓激波上游对行星际磁场和太阳风参数的观测数据,对午后高纬极光强度与太阳风-磁层耦合函数之间的相关性进行定量研究.研究表明,午后630.0nm极光强度与太阳风-磁层耦合函数间有很好的相关,而557.7nm的相关性差一些;在考察的所有耦合函数中,午后极光受太阳风电场和能量的影响更直接;同时,行星际磁场的时钟角对午后极光也有很强的控制作用.      

北极黄河站极光亚暴期间低热层大气中性风研究

极光亚暴是地球空间基本的能量输入、耦合及耗散过程,其对低热层大气中性风的影响不容忽视,对这一问题进行深入研究具有重要意义.2010年11月,中国北极黄河站(78.92°N,11.93°E)安装了一台自主研制的全天空法布里-珀罗干涉仪(FPI)并开始进行正常观测,为中国首次获得了极光亚暴期间的FPI观测数据.根据2012年越冬期间的观测情况,对2012年11月12-14日及12月09-11日两个极光亚暴事件期间的数据进行处理,计算得到了5级干涉环对应的风场.亚暴期间风场变化与地磁活动变化的对比分析表明,风速的剧烈变化可能是由地磁活动剧烈扰动造成的.针对2012年11月13日00:00UT-02:00UT和2012年12月10日05:00UT-07:30UT的亚暴事件,将全天空相机拍摄到的极光图像与FPI干涉图像对应的视线风场进行对比分析.结果表明在极光活动中,视线风速加强的方向与极光弧的方向垂直,而在极光弧的平行方向,风速相对较小.      

The solar wind control of the equatorial ionosphere dynamics during geomagnetic storms

The interplanetary magnetic field, geomagnetic variations, virtual ionosphere height h′F, and the critical frequency foF2 data during the geomagnetic storms are studied to demonstrate relationships between these phenomena. We study 5-min ionospheric variations using the first Western Pacific Ionosphere Campaign (1998–1999) observations, 5-min interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and 5-min auroral electrojets data during a moderate geomagnetic storm. These data allowed us to demonstrate that the auroral and the equatorial ionospheric phenomena are developed practically simultaneously. Hourly average of the ionospheric foF2 and h′F variations at near equatorial stations during a similar storm show the same behavior. We suppose this is due to interaction between electric fields of the auroral and the equatorial ionosphere during geomagnetic storms. It is shown that the low-latitude ionosphere dynamics during these moderate storms was defined by the southward direction of the B_z-component of the interplanetary magnetic field. A southward IMF produces the Region I and Region II field-aligned currents (FAC) and polar electrojet current systems. We assume that the short-term ionospheric variations during geomagnetic storms can be explained mainly by the electric field of the FAC. The electric fields of the field-aligned currents can penetrate throughout the mid-latitude ionosphere to the equator and may serve as a coupling agent between the auroral and the equatorial ionosphere.     

Positive ion distributions in the morning auroral zone: Local acceleration and drift effects

We report on the typical structure of the large scale ion precipitation in the morning sector of the auroral zone and associated low frequency electromagnetic waves. Data obtained during near radial passes of the AUREOL-3 satellite point to a distinction between two main precipitation regions: 1) In the poleward part of the auroral zone the latitudinal variation of the average energy (or temperature) of the precipitated ions (mainly H⁺) indicate that they are adiabatically accelerated in the outer magnetosphere. This “high energy” (? 3 to > 20 keV) precipitation is usually associated with a low energy (E < 110 eV) upward flowing 0⁺ and H⁺ component, and 2) near the boundary between discrete and diffuse electron aurorae a drastic change in the ion characteristics is observed. The flux of energetic precipitated H⁺ ions is sharply reduced, which suggests the formation of an Alfvén layer. However, intense fluxes of precipitated H⁺, O⁺, and He⁺ ions with energies < 3 keV are observed equatorward of the Alfvén layer, in coincidence with the diffuse aurora and in association with quasi-monochromatic electromagnetic waves with frequencies around the proton gyrofrequency. As the characteristic convection and bounce times of the low energy upward flowing ion component are comparable (τ > 3 hours) we suggest that the precipitation of ionospheric ions inside the diffuse aurora results from convection and corotation of the ions accelerated to suprathermal energies at higher latitudes.     

A decade of balloon observations of auroral x-rays

Balloon observations of bremsstrahlung x-rays carried out by The University of Calgary over the past decade deal with morphological studies of auroral electron precipitation. The program attempts to deal with the understanding of correlation between parent electrons and secondary x-rays, study of microbursts, East-West and North-South extent of electron precipitation, and precipitation during pulsating aurora. Although the overall program involves the use of both rocket and balloon-borne payloads, here we present only the results of the balloon experiments.     

Space Telescope observations of aurorae on the giant planets

For the distant giant planets, Uranus and Neptune, the observation of aurorae may be the best astronomical technique for the detection of planetary magnetic fields, with implications for the structure and composition of their interiors. Aurorae may be detected by emssion of H I Ly α (1216 Å) and by H₂ bands near 1600 Å. The latter are important for very faint aurorae because there is essentially no planetary, interplanetary or geocoronal scattering of sunlight to contaminate the signal. For Uranus, present IUE results suggest the presence of a strong aurora at Ly α, but the background and instrument noise levels are very high compared to the apparent signal. At 1600 Å, the IUE instrument noise renders the H₂ emission bands on Uranus marginal at best. No aurora has yet been observed on Neptune. For Jupiter, where the existence and general characteristics of the magnetic field are well established, there is disagreement between ground-based infrared and space-borne ultraviolet observations of the location of the aurorae. For all four giant planets, Space Telescope can improve upon the quality of current optical observations. For spectroscopy, the low resolution mode of the High Resolution Spectrograph (HRS) is particularly well suited to auroral observations because of its spectral range, adequate resolution and high sensitivity. For ultraviolet imaging through appropriate filters, the ST spatial resolution, expected to be of order 5 hundredths of an arc second, is also well suited to determine the spatial properties of the aurorae.     

Dynamics of the dayside Aurora Australis

Current dayside optical studies of Aurora Australis from the Amundsen-Scott Research Station at the South Pole (74 degrees magnetic latitude) show some striking differences from optical results reported from Svalbard. A 6-channel meridian scanning photometer operating during the past three austral winters shows, in particular, the 630 nm emission is much lower, on average, than the Arctic dayside aurora and very weak on some days. The 558 nm intensity is higher relative to 630 nm suggesting the incoming electrons have a higher average energy. There are notable differences in auroral forms, giving further evidence of asymmetries in the two dayside ovals.     

Ionospheric and field-aligned current systems in the auroral zone: a concise review

During the last few years our knowledge about the real three-dimensional current flow in the auroral zone has been significantly increased due to new improved measurements, especially those made by ground-based magnetometer networks, coherent and incoherent auroral radars, sounding rockets and low-altitude satellites. Combination of two or even more of those data sets (e.g. electron densities and electric and magnetic fields) allowed for a rather accurate determination of the distribution of Hall, Pedersen and Birkeland currents in the auroral zone. In this review an attempt is made to summarize the present knowledge about the distribution of conductivity, electric field and current flow in the auroral zone as well for the large-scale electrojet systems as for the comparatively smaller current systems associated with quiet and active aurora, i.e. discrete arcs, auroral break-ups, westward travelling surges and omega bands.     

Traveling ionospheric disturbances observed at South African midlatitudes during the 29–31 October 2003 geomagnetically disturbed period

This paper presents traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) observations from GPS measurements over the South African region during the geomagnetically disturbed period of 29–31 October 2003. Two receiver arrays, which were along two distinct longitudinal sectors of about 18°-20° and 27°-28° were used in order to investigate the amplitude, periods and virtual propagation characteristics of the storm induced ionospheric disturbances. The study revealed a large sudden TEC increase on 28 October 2003, the day before the first of the two major storms studied here, that was recorded simultaneously by all the receivers used. This pre-storm enhancement was linked to an X-class solar flare, auroral/magnetospheric activities and vertical plasma drift, based on the behaviour of the geomagnetic storm and auroral indices as well as strong equatorial electrojet. Diurnal trends of the TEC and foF2 measurements revealed that the geomagnetic storm caused a negative ionospheric storm; these parameters were depleted between 29 and 31 October 2003. Large scale traveling ionospheric disturbances were observed on the days of the geomagnetic storms (29 and 31 October 2003), using line-of-sight vertical TEC (vTEC) measurements from individual satellites. Amplitude and dominant periods of these structures varied between 0.08–2.16 TECU, and 1.07–2.13 h respectively. The wave structures were observed to propagate towards the equator with velocities between 587.04 and 1635.09 m/s.     

Ionospheric response of equatorial and low latitude F-region during the intense geomagnetic storm on 24–25 August 2005

In this investigation, we present and discuss the response of the ionospheric F-region in the South American and East Asian sectors during an intense geomagnetic storm in August 2005. The geomagnetic storm studied reached a minimum Dst of −216 nT at 12:00 UT on 24 August. In this work ionospheric sounding data obtained of 24, 25, and 26 August 2005 at Palmas (PAL; 10.2° S, 48.2° W; dip latitude 6.6° S), São José dos Campos (SJC, 23.2° S, 45.9° W; dip latitude 17.6° S), Brazil, Ho Chi Minh City, (HCM; 10.5° N, 106.3° E; dip latitude 2.9° N), Vietnam, Okinawa (OKI; 26.3° N, 127.8° E; dip latitude 21.2° N), Japan, are presented. Also, the GPS observations obtained at different stations in the equatorial and low-latitude regions in the Brazilian sector are presented. On the night of 24–25 August 2005, the h′F variations show traveling ionospheric disturbances associated with Joule heating in the auroral zone from SJC to PAL. The foF2 variations show a positive storm phase on the night of 24–25 August at PAL and SJC during the recovery phase. Also, the GPS-VTEC observations at several stations in the Brazilian sector show a fairly similar positive storm phase on 24 August. During the fast decrease of Dst (between 10:00 and 11:00 UT) on 24 August, there is a prompt penetration of electric field of magnetospheric origin that result in abrupt increase (∼12:00 UT) in foF2 at PAL, SJC (Brazil) and OKI (Japan) and in VTEC at IMPZ, BOMJ, PARA and SMAR (Brazil). OKI showed strong oscillations of the F-region on the night 24 August resulted to the propagation of traveling atmospheric disturbances (TADs) by Joule heating in the auroral region. These effects result a strong positive observed at OKI station. During the daytime on 25 August, in the recovery phase, the foF2 observations showed positive ionospheric storm at HCM station. Some differences in the latitudinal response of the F-region is also observed in the South American and East Asian sectors.