Multi-point observations and modeling of subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) and double-peak subauroral ion drifts (DSAIDs): A case study

While subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) are well recognized as representatively one of the most important features of magnetosphere-ionosphere (M-I) coupling processes in the subauroral region, the double-peak subauroral ion drifts (DSAIDs) is a newly recognized ionospheric phenomenon, categorized as a subset of subauroral ion drifts (SAIDs). In this study, we investigate both SAPS and DSAIDs that appear during the storm main phase of the 17 March 2015 event through a combination of multi-point observations and numerical simulations. We find that when SAPS/DSAIDs are observed by the DMSP spacecraft near the dusk subauroral region, strong electric fields are detected minutes later by the Van Allen Probes almost in the same conjugate region near the equatorial plane. Numerical simulations are carried out not only to reveal the global context and dynamic evolution of the SAPS in both the magnetospheric and ionospheric systems, but also to aid the understanding of the effect of conductance on the DSAIDs. Our results confirm that SAPS are indeed associated with Region 2 field-aligned currents (FACs) flowing into the low conductance region. On the other hand, the DSAIDs may be related to the double-conductance-trough in the subauroral region.