A coordinated study of field-aligned currents and Pc5 ULF waves during ejecta 1997

We show examples of long period Pc5 magnetic field pulsations near field-aligned current (FAC) regions in the high-latitude magnetosphere, observed by INTERBALL-Au, and coordinated with POLAR, GOES-9 and ground-based observations during 11 January and 11 April 1997. Identification of corresponding magnetosphere regions and subregions is provided by electrons and protons in the energy-range of 0.01–100 keV measured onboard the spacecraft. The ULF Pc5 wave occurrence is observed in both upward and downward FACs. A fairly good correlation is demonstrated between these ULF Pc5 waves and the consecutive injection of magnetosheath low energy protons. The constancy of the observed frequency peak at 1.8 mHz during quite unsteady solar wind pressure conditions could be reconciled with the surface wave mode model. The 3.1 mHz peak location area probably resembles field-line fluctuations with an interesting appearance of poloidal mode oscillation. It is suggested that the 1.3 mHz wave and its harmonic 2.6 mHz represent global compressional oscillations.     

On the large-scale structure of the tail current as measured by THEMIS

The magnetic field structure and the spatial characteristics of the large-scale currents in the magnetospheric tail were studied during quiet and moderately disturbed geomagnetic conditions in 2009. The magnetic field of the currents other than the tail current was calculated in terms of a paraboloid model of the Earth’s magnetosphere, A2000, and was subtracted from measurements. It was found on the base of obtained tail current magnetic field radial distribution that the inner edge of the tail current sheet is located in the night side magnetosphere, at distances of about 10 R_E and of about 7 R_E during quiet and disturbed periods respectively. During the disturbance of February 14, 2009 (Dst_min ∼ −35 nT), the B_x and the B_z component of the tail current magnetic field near its inner edge were about 60 nT, and −60 nT that means that strong cross-tail current have been developed. The tail current parameters at different time moments during February 14, 2009 have been estimated. Solar wind conditions during this event were consistent with those during moderate magnetic storms with minimum Dst of about −100 nT. However, the magnetospheric current systems (magnetopause and cross-tail currents) were located at larger geocentric distances than typical during the 2009 extremely quiet epoch and did not provide the expected Dst magnitude. Very small disturbance on the Earth’s surface was detected consistent with an “inflated” magnetosphere.     

Comparison of Antarctic riometer radio wave absorption and THEMIS mission energetic electron fluxes

Simultaneous observations of in situ plasma properties in the tail of the Earth’s magnetosphere and of ground based instruments, lying on the same geomagnetic field lines, have recently proved to yield significant new results. In most cases magnetosphere ionosphere interactions during the night-time northern hemisphere conditions are studied. Here, observations of energetic electrons in the tail of the Earth’s magnetosphere made by the THEMIS mission satellites are compared with auroral radio wave absorption determined by riometers in the Antarctic for sunlit conditions. Days for which satellites and riometers are connected by the same geomagnetic field line are selected using a geomagnetic field model. The six days analysed show clear associations between fluxes and absorptions in some cases. However, these do not necessarily correspond to conjugacy intervals. Hours of positive associations are 1.65 times those for negative associations, all hours and days considered (1.42–3.6 on five days and 0.58 on the other day). These computations are assumed appropriate since the footprints of the satellites used approximately follow corrected geomagnetic parallels for all six days studied. The use of a finer parameterization of geomagnetic models to determine conjugacy may be needed.     

上行离子源区卫星探测的轨道需求分析

极区从电离层到磁层的上行粒子流探测研究是空间天气建模中的重要问题,其起源和加速机制是磁层-电离层-热层耦合小卫星星座计划的主要科学目标. 磁层-电离层-热层耦合小卫星星座计划拟定由两颗磁层星和两颗电离层/热层星组成星座对极区进行联合观测. 其中,上行粒子源区附近的就位探测是电离层-热层耦合机制研究的重点,也是电离层/热层星轨道设计的关键. 根据相关空间探测计划和卫星观测结果,通过比较圆轨道和椭圆轨道两种方案,确定电离层/热层星采用椭圆轨道.      

日侧外磁层ULF波调制EMIC波的MMS观测

磁层多尺度卫星(MMS-1)在日侧06:30 MLT(磁地方时,Magnetic Local Time)外磁层大于2Re(L为7.5～10.1)的范围内观测到多达21个波包的准周期性电磁离子回旋波(EMIC)事件.超低频(ULF)波和能量质子温度各向异性准周期性增强也被同步观测到.频率分析显示,ULF波的周期、质子各向...     

Study of waves in the magnetotail region with cluster and DSP

The study of the neutral sheet is of fundamental importance in understanding the dynamics of the Earth’s magnetosphere. From the earliest observation of the magnetotail, it has been found that the neutral sheet frequently appears to be in motion due to changing solar wind conditions and geomagnetic activity. Multiple crossings of the neutral sheet by spacecraft have been attributed to a flapping motion of the neutral sheet in the north–south direction, a wavy profile either along the magnetotail or the dawn–dusk direction. Cluster observations have revealed that the flapping motions of the Earth’s magnetotail are of internal origin and that kink-like waves are emitted from the central part of the tail and propagate toward the tail flanks. This flapping motion is shown here to propagate at an angle of ∼45° with x_GSM. A possible assumption that the flapping could be created by a wake travelling away from a fast flow in the current sheet is rejected. Other waves in the magnetotail are found in the ULF range. One conjunction event between Cluster and DoubleStar TC1 is presented where all spacecraft show ULF wave activity at a period of approximately 5 min during fast Earthward flow. These waves are shown to be Kelvin–Helmholtz waves on the boundaries of the flow channel. Calculations show that the conversion of flow energy into magnetic energy through the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability can contribute to a significant part of flow breaking between Cluster and DoubleStar TC1.     

Magnetospheric Physics in China During the Period of 2004 - 2006

Their brief report presents the advances of the magnetospheric physics researches in China during the period of 2004-2006. During the past two years, China-ESA cooperation DSP (Double Star Program) satellites were successively launched. In addition, China also participated in the scientific research of ESA's Cluster mission. The DSP and Cluster missions provide Chinese space physicists high quality data to study multiscale physical process in the magnetosphere. The work made based on the data of DSP is presented in the paper of "Progress of Double Star Program" of this issue.     

1998年5月空间天气大事件的地磁场响应

地磁场与1998年5月空间大事件相对应的是5月1日至16日发生的大磁暴（k=8)。磁暴主相开始的几个小时伴随有丰富的Pc型地磁脉动，包括P c2,Pc3,Pc4等。在增暴的恢复相，甚至还有Pc5巨型脉动，在行星标磁场Bz由北向转向南向时，磁暴主相开始；南向分量达到最大值后大约2小时，地磁H分量达到最小值，恢复相开始，并且，这次磁暴与太阳风电场也存在一定的对应关系。     

Occurrence features of simultaneous H+- and He+-band EMIC emissions in the outer radiation belt

As an important loss mechanism of radiation belt electrons, electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves show up as three distinct frequency bands below the hydrogen (H⁺), helium (He⁺), and oxygen (O⁺) ion gyrofrequencies. Compared to O⁺-band EMIC waves, H⁺- and He⁺-band emissions generally occur more frequently and result in more efficient scattering removal of <～5?MeV relativistic electrons. Therefore, knowledge about the occurrence of these two bands is important for understanding the evolution of the relativistic electron population. To evaluate the occurrence pattern and wave properties of H⁺- and He⁺-band EMIC waves when they occur concurrently, we investigate 64 events of multi-band EMIC emissions identified from high quality Van Allen Probes wave data. Our quantitative results demonstrate a strong occurrence dependence of the multi-band EMIC emissions on magnetic local time (MLT) and L-shell to mainly concentrate on the dayside region of L?=?～4–6. We also find that the average magnetic field amplitude of H⁺-band waves is larger than that of He⁺-band waves only when L?<?4.5 and AE¹?<?300?nT, and He⁺-band emissions are more intense under all other conditions. In contrast to 5 events that have average H⁺-band amplitude over 2 nT, 19 events exhibit >2 nT He⁺-band amplitude, indicating that the He⁺-band waves can be more easily amplified than the H⁺-band waves under the same circumstances. For simultaneous occurrences of the two EMIC wave bands, their frequencies vary with L-shell and geomagnetic activity: the peak wave frequency of H⁺-band emissions varies between 0.25 and 0.8 f_cp with the average between 0.25 and 0.6 f_cp, while that of He⁺-band emissions varies between 0.03 and 0.23 f_cp with the average between 0.05 and 0.15 f_cp. These newly observed occurrence features of simultaneous H⁺- and He⁺-band EMIC emissions provide improved information to quantify the overall contribution of multi-band EMIC waves to the loss processes of radiation belt electrons.     

使用地磁脉动参数定量预报地球同步轨道相对论电子通量的建模研究

磁层超低频波(ULF波)对种子电子的加速机制是磁层相对论电子产生的一个重要机制, 而地磁脉动参数可以作为此机制的有效指标. 本文采用地磁脉动参数作为输入参数, 借鉴线性预测滤波器技术, 构建一个多参量非线性函数, 进而利用此函数以及卡尔曼滤波技术, 建立一个地球同步轨道相对论电子通量日积分值预报模式, 提供提前一天的预报值. 使用2004年数据对该模式进行训练, 预报结果的预报效率为0.73, 线性相关系数为0.85. 使用2005-2006年的数据对该模式进行测试, 预报值与实测值之间的线性相关系数为0.83, 预报效率为0.69, 相比Persistence模式具有较大提升, 与仿REFM模式的预报效率相当      

Multi-Scale Physical Process in the Magnetosphere

The brief report presents a part of the research results of the magnetospheric physics researches in China during the period of 2006--2008.During the past two years,China-ESA cooperation DSP(Double Star Program)satellites were basically operating normally in its extended lifetime.The DSP and Cluster missions provide Chinese space physicists high quality data to study multi-scale physical process in the magnetosphere.The work made based on the data of DSP is presented in the paper of"Progress of Double Star Program"of this issue.      

Voyager 2 plasma wave observations at Uranus

At Uranus, the Voyager 2 plasma wave investigation observed very significant phenomena related to radio emissions, dust impacts and magnetospheric wave-particle interactions. On January 19, 1986 (R= 270R_U) the plasma wave investigation detected an intense radio burst at 31 and 56 kHz, and this provided the first indication that Uranus had a magnetosphere. During the encounter we observed more of these sporadic bursts, along with relatively continuous radio emissions extending down to 10 kHz, and a sporadic narrowband radio signal with f near 5 kHz. As Voyager passed through the ring plane, the plasma wave investigation recorded a large number of dust impacts. The dust ring was relatively diffuse (thickness of several thousand kilometers) and the peak impact rate was near 50 hits/second. The Voyager 2 plasma wave instrument also detected many strong electromagnetic and electrostatic plasma waves, with intensity peaks in the region within 12 Uranus adii. These waves have characteristics that can interact strongly with the local plasma and with the trapped energetic particles, leading to precipitation into the atmosphere, charged particle acceleration, and charged particle diffusion. In addition we detected strong wave activity in the region of the bow shock and moderate levels in the magnetic tail.     

广州地磁Z分量日变幅的谱特征

利用1972—1993年广州地磁资料，分析了Z分量日变幅的年平均、年变化和半年变化等低频成分的逐年变化，以及小于60天的短周期变化特征．同时对1972—1993年的F10.7日均值进行了谱分析．结果指出，广州地磁Z分量日变幅的年平均与太阳活动指数F10．7的年平均存在良好的线性相关；具有幅度大约5nT夏季极大的年变化，与太阳活动没有明显相关，是一种季节效应；存在春秋分极大的半年变化，幅度与太阳活动有关，高年的幅度明显大于低年；具有明显的与太阳自转相关的27天左右的变化和明显的与行星波有关的接近16日、10日、5日、2日等短周期变化．广州地磁Z分量日变幅的这些谱特征，有助于更深入地了解中低层大气对电离层影响的物理机制．     

利用Cluster资料对经验及抛物面磁场模式性能的研究

Cluster的观测区包括太阳风与磁层相互作用的关键区域.本文将Tsyganenko经验模式T96,T01及Alexeev抛物面模式A2000的模拟结果与Cluster的磁场资料进行了详细对比,研究了两种模式对于近地点分别位于日侧及夜侧磁层的不同Cluster轨道上磁场的模拟性能.结果表明: (1)Cluster近地点附近轨道上的磁场主要受Birkland电流影响,T96,T01能很好地估计电流系位置,但对其强度模拟有所偏差,由于A2000不包含Ⅱ区场向电流,因此模拟不出近地点附近的磁场扰动; (2)对于0＞Dst＞-100 nT情况,T96与T01性能相当,但由于缺少部分环电流,T96对于日侧昏线附近的磁场模拟偏差大; (3)T96与T01对夜侧近地点轨道上磁场模拟的均方根相对误差为40%左右,受极尖区电流影响,日侧时误差上升到50%,而A2000均方根相对误差明显偏大,均为58%左右.      

Simultaneous observations of Pc 1 micropulsation activity and stratospheric electrodynamic perturbations on 27 January 2003

The 2nd Polar Patrol Balloon campaign (2nd-PPB) was carried out at Syowa Station in Antarctica during 2002–2003. Identical stratospheric balloon payloads were launched as close together in time as allowed by weather conditions to constitute a cluster of balloons during their flights. A very pronounced negative ion conductivity enhancement was observed at 32 km in the stratosphere below the auroral zone on 27 January 2003 from 1500 to 2200 UT. During this event, the conductivity doubled for an interval of about 7 h. This perturbation was associated with an extensive Pc 1 or Pi 1 wave event that was observed by several Antarctic ground stations, balloon PPB 10, and the Polar spacecraft. No appreciable X-ray precipitation was observed in association with this event, which would point to >60 Mev proton precipitation as a possible magnetosphere–stratosphere coupling mechanism responsible for the conductivity enhancement. Such precipitation is consistent with the wave data. During the latter half of the event, E_z was briefly positive. There was a tropospheric Southern Ocean storm system underneath the balloon during this interval. If the event was associated with this storm system and not energetic proton precipitation, the observations imply an electrified Southern Ocean storm and major perturbations in stratospheric conductivity driven by a tropospheric disturbance. This event represents a poorly understood source for global circuit current. Precipitating energetic proton data from Akebono and NOAA POES spacecraft show significant >16 MeV precipitation was occurring at the location of PPB 8 but not PPB 10, suggesting that proton precipitation was, in fact, the responsible coupling mechanism.     

Furthering our understanding of electrostatic solitary waves through Cluster multispacecraft observations and theory

Nonlinear isolated electrostatic solitary waves (ESWs) are observed routinely at many of Earth’s major boundaries by the Wideband Data (WBD) plasma wave receivers that are mounted on the four Cluster satellites. The current study discusses two aspects of ESWs: their characteristics in the magnetosheath, and their propagation in the magnetosheath and in the auroral acceleration (upward current) region. The characteristics (amplitude and time duration) of ESWs detected in the magnetosheath are presented for one case in which special mutual impedance tests were conducted allowing for the determination of the density and temperature of the hot and cold electrons. These electron parameters, together with those from the ion experiment, were used as inputs to an electron acoustic soliton model as a consideration for the generation of the observed ESWs. The results from this model showed that negative potential ESWs of a few Debye lengths (10–50 m) could be generated in this plasma. Other models of ESW generation are discussed, including beam instabilities and spontaneous generation out of turbulence. The results of two types of ESW propagation (in situ and remote sensing) studies are also presented. The first involves the propagation of bipolar type ESWs from one Cluster spacecraft to another in the magnetosheath, thus obtaining the velocity and size of the solitary structures. The structures were found to be very flat, with large scale perpendicular to the magnetic field (>40 km) and small scale parallel to the field (<1 km). These results were then discussed in terms of various models which predict such flat structures to be generated. The second type of propagation study uses striated Auroral Kilometric Radiation (SAKR) bursts, observed on multiple Cluster satellites, as tracers of ion solitary waves in the upward current region. The results of all studies discussed here (pulse characteristics and ESW velocity, lifetime, and size) are compared to in situ measurements previously made on one spacecraft and to theoretical predictions for these quantities, where available. The primary conclusion drawn from the propagation studies is that the multiple spacecraft technique allows us to better assess the stability (lifetime) of ESWs, which can be as large as a few seconds, than can be achieved with single satellites.     

Solar wind dependence of the Pc1 wave activity

There are a host of factors influencing the excitation of Pc1 geomagnetic pulsations, which are ULF waves in the frequency range between 0.2 and 5 Hz. We have studied carefully the dependence of the pearl-type Pc1 activity at Sodankylä, Finland (L = 5.1) on the plasma density N in front of the magnetosphere, the bulk velocity V of the solar wind, and the intensity B of the IMF. The result is as follows: high values of N and reduced values of V are favorable to appearance of Pc1, whereas the dependence of Pc1 activity on B is practically absent. We also show that the probability of Pc1 occurrence decreases with the interplanetary electric field, and increases with solar wind impact pressure and with the plasma to magnetic pressure ratio “beta”.     

关于磁层中磁力线几何结构的研究

磁层磁场的几何结构是空间物理中的重要研究内容.本文采用曲率半径分析方法,结合Cluster立体探测的相关知识和背景,利用Cluster立体探测的优势,通过对Cluster 2001年的立体探测数据的研究,分析了磁层各区域的磁力线结构,包括背阳面、Cusp区以及昏侧,得出各区域中磁力线的曲率半径大小,曲率矢量以及磁力线密切面的法线矢量的方向.利用这些参量直接确定出该区域中磁力线的空间几何构型,进而揭示了该区域磁场的三维立体结构.所得结果也验证了曲率半径分析方法的正确性.在科学探测数据完备的情况下,将这一研究方法应用到磁层中其他所有区域,可以得到整个磁层的详细三维结构模型,这具有重要的科学意义.      

Statistical characteristics of low latitude Pc4s: Influence of solar wind and IMF parameters

Pc4 signatures for the year 2013, extracted from geomagnetic north–south and east–west components of induction coil magnetometer (LEMI 30) from low latitude station Desalpar (DSP), operated by Institute of Seismological Research (ISR), India have been investigated vis-à-vis the prevalent interplanetary parameters (IMF) as well as the geomagnetic activity indices. A clear dominance of Pc4-5 (467 events) over Pc3 (17 events) is observed. Local time variation of Pc4 shows a peak in the noon sector in both X and Y components. Our investigations show that the dominant peak frequency is 10 mHz at low latitude region. Correlations with solar wind and IMF parameters illustrate highest occurrence of Pc4 for a solar wind speed of 300–400 km/s and average IMF B field of 3–6 nT. The amplitude of Pc4s at DSP shows an increase with increasing solar wind speed, plasma density, solar wind dynamic pressure and average B field which is also reflected in the trend of frequency variation of these pulsations. We report that IMF clock angle at low latitude does not have influence on Pc4 occurrence. Based on the characteristics of these events, detected in latitudinally distributed stations from low and mid-latitudes from northern and southern hemisphere, we infer that modes were compressional, which could be driven by K-H instability or solar wind dynamic pressure, as compressional modes can propagate to low latitude with little attenuation.     

行星际激波导致的磁尾等离子片中ULF波动事件

磁层中的超低频（ULF）波动在太阳风和磁层之间的能量输运过程中具有重要作用.ULF波动主要发生在内磁层，且内磁层中ULF波动影响粒子的加速及沉降，而在夜侧磁层尤其是磁尾等离子片中观测到的ULF波动比较少.基于中国自主磁层探测卫星TC-1的观测数据，发现了两例行星际激波导致的磁尾中心等离子片中ULF波动事件，并发现这两例ULF事例都包含很强的环向模驻波分量，与以往THEMIS卫星报道的同类事件观测特征相符.根据ULF波的观测特征，分析了这两例ULF波动的可能触发机制.研究结果有助于深入理解磁层对行星际激波的全球响应.