太阳风扰动对极光电急流和环电流指数的影响

利用WIND卫星的太阳风观测数据和地磁活动指数, 研究了太阳风扰动对环电流SYM-H指数, 西向极光电急流AL指数和东向极光电急流AU指数的影响. 结果表明, 太阳风动压增长和减少能够同步或延迟引起地磁活动指数的强烈扰动, 其包括环电流指数的上升, 西向极光电急流指数的下降和东向极光电急流指数的上升. 太阳风动压的突然剧烈增加还能够触发超级亚暴和大磁暴. 太阳风动压脉冲引起的地磁效应具有复杂的表现形式, 这说明太阳风动压脉冲的地磁效应不仅与太阳风动压脉冲大小和持续时间有关, 还与磁层本身所处的状态有关. 时间尺度较长, 消耗能量较大的磁暴只有大的持续时间较长的太阳风动压脉冲才能激发.      

亚暴起始位置和膨胀相持续时间对行星际磁场Bz分量的响应

磁层亚暴是太阳风–磁层–电离层耦合过程中的重要爆发性事件,其特性受太阳风参数的影响很大。本文利用对IMAGE卫星在2000 － 2005年观测到的4193个亚暴起始事件,统计研究了在不同的行星际磁场（IMF）B_z 条件下亚暴起始位置和膨胀相持续时间。结果表明,南向IMF发生的亚暴比北向IMF下发生的亚暴要多。南向IMF条件下亚暴AE指数最大值的平均值基本上>600 nT,并有随南向IMF持续时间增大而增大的趋势。北向IMF条件下亚暴AE指数最大值的平均值基本上<500 nT,并有随北向IMF持续时间增大而减小的趋势。亚暴的起始磁纬度基本上位于65° － 70°之间。当南向IMF或北向IMF的持续时间增大,超过80 min时,北半球的亚暴起始磁纬度会降低。亚暴起始磁地方时大部分位于22:15 － 23:15 MLT之间。但整体分布比较分散,显示不出特别清晰的随IMF B_z持续时间变化的趋势。相比于南向的IMF,北向IMF期间发生亚暴的平均膨胀相持续时间增大了将近10 min,表明南向IMF期间,亚暴强度虽然较大,但其膨胀相持续时间较短,亚暴能量释放和耗散的速度更快。      

地球磁层亚暴统计分析

利用AL和AE指数对第24个太阳活动周发生的亚暴事件进行统计分析.主要统计了关于磁层亚暴的强度,亚暴初值与恢复值的关系,亚暴持续时间,亚暴恢复相与增长相（包括膨胀相）持续时间的关系等.统计结果表明:在第24个太阳活动周中2008-2016年发生的亚暴事件大部分比较剧烈,其峰值大都在200～1200nT;初值和恢复值大都在30～100nT,并且事件占比符合正态分布;大部分亚暴都能恢复到亚暴初值60nT以内,并且差值越小,事件的占比越大.大部分亚暴的持续时间较长,在100～400min之间,其中增长相（包括膨胀相）持续时间均在120min以内,并且持续时间越长,其事件占比越小;大部分亚暴事件的恢复相持续时间在60～300min之间,并且呈现出正态分布特征.绝大多数亚暴事件的恢复相持续时间为增长相持续时间的10倍以下,其中约一半亚暴事件的恢复相持续时间为增长相持续时间的1～4倍.这说明亚暴的能量聚集速度约为能量释放速度的1～4倍.      

2004年12月13日IMF北向期间极区亚暴电离层电动力学特征

利用KRM地磁反演方法, 结合北半球中高纬度地磁台站数据, 研究了2004年12月13日行星际磁场北向期间发生的亚暴事件, 极区电离层电动力学参量(电流矢量、等效电流函数以及电势)的分布特征. 结果表明, 在该亚暴膨胀相起始后, 午夜之前西向电集流急剧增强, 且等效电流体系表现为夜侧双涡, 同时伴随夜侧增强的南向电场. 由于极弱的直接驱动过程, 卸载过程引起的电离层效应得到清楚显示. 卸载过程在膨胀相期间起绝对主导性作用. 同时, 夜侧电导率的增强是电集流区域电流急剧增强的主要原因.      

用场向电流的观测结果研究高纬电离层电场

本文从Triad卫星观测到的场向电流日变化的统计结果出发, 利用场向电流日变化的付里叶级数展开和简单模式法分别求出电导率均匀时和极光带电导率增强时高纬电离层电位的分析解.结果表明, 电场集中在极光区是由2区场向电流引起的.在本文所用的场向电流分布形式下, 加上Pederson电导率的升高。极光区Hall电导率的增大反而有助于电场向中纬穿透.|AL|≥100γ时, 场向电流分布对对流圈位置西向旋转起一定作用, 但极光带Hall电导率的变化是造成大角度旋转的主要原因.Perdson电导率的增大, 对旋转角无影响.结果还表明, 在不考虑电导率日夜不均匀时, 由于场向电流复杂的日变化, 也可出现对流圈的晨昏不对称性.以上的电场分布形态, 与观测的电场形态基本相符。      

D_(st)指数和AE指数的相关关系

本文对1972年7月至1974年12月的D~(st)指数和AE指数(时均值)作了初步的统计分析。每半年的资料所得到的相关系数在0.5到0.6之间。当地磁场扰动程度增大时,即D~(st)指数的值减小时,相关系数的值减小。因为D~(st)指数主要反映赤道环电流的强度,AE指数主要反映极光带电急流的强度,因此这两个指数间的关系有可能反映这两个电流体系之间的关系。行星际磁场的南北分量Bz对这种关系没有明显的影响。     

基于紫外极光图像的极光电集流指数模型

极光电集流指数AE是描述地磁亚暴强弱的重要指标,且与极区磁层扰动及极光粒子沉降过程密切相关。因此,建立更加准确的极光电集流指数模型对空间天气的研究具有重要意义。利用1997年POLAR卫星紫外极光图像数据探究了紫外极光图像中极光强度IAP的空间分布与AE指数在不同季节的相关性,并在此基础上提出了基于紫外极光图像的AE指数模型。以网格化方法提取极光强度空间分布特征,采用广义回归神经网络,通过相关系数法和方差选择法构建Cor-GRNN和Var-GRNN两种AE指数模型,并针对冬至月份、夏至月份、分点月份3个季节分别进行训练。研究结果表明,AE指数与IAP具有相似的半年变化趋势,其相关性在不同季节差异较大。相比于太阳风驱动下的AE指数神经网络预测模型,基于极光图像的AE指数模型在ERMS和R2标准上均优于其他模型,其中归一化ERMS小于0.1,模型对于AE指数变化的可解释度提升了10%左右。     

利用THEMIS卫星观测结果分析亚暴期间等离子体片尾向膨胀

利用THEMIS卫星观测结果,分析2008年3月13日10:40UT-12:10UT的一次中等亚暴事件在磁尾的全球演化过程.在该过程中,THEMIS的5颗卫星在午夜区附近沿x轴依次排列,离地心距离约8.7~13.2R_e.亚暴触发开始后,磁场偶极化和等离子体片的膨胀依次被在磁尾不同位置的卫星观测到.等离子体尾向膨胀的平均速度约为140km·s-1.在此次亚暴事件中可观测到两种类型的偶极化.一种为偶极化锋面,其与爆发性整体流（BBF）密切相关;另一种为全球偶极化,其与等离子体片的膨胀密切相关.亚暴触发开始约7min后,THEMIS卫星在低中高纬都可以观测到Pi2脉动的发生,且Pi2脉动的振幅随着纬度的升高逐渐变大.此次亚暴事件中的离子整体流速度主要是由离子电漂移速度引起的,测得的电场为局地磁通量变化导致的感应电场.      

热流效应对场向电流确定的影响

给出了任意速度分布函数条件下复频率的介电函数和色散关系的求解方法. 讨论了16矩近似条件下, 场向热流对电子速度分布函数, 介电函数实部与虚部, 以及离子与电子谐振频率和阻尼率的影响, 并与平衡态时麦克斯韦分布等离子体的计算结果进行了比较. 忽略场向热流效应, 正向电子漂移速度条件下, 上行等离子线探测, 会过高估计场向电流; 负向电子漂移速度条件下, 上行等离子线探测会过低估计场向电流. 对上下行等离子线同时探测情况, 忽略热流效应同样会过高估计场向电流.      

高纬极区电离层中离子声波谱线增强的解释

大量的实验研究表明, 在顶部极光区电离层, 利用EISCAT非相干散射雷达和Millstone Hill雷达可以观测到不对称、增强的离子声波谱线. 考虑到低能H+离子束沉降到背景电离层, 以及电离层顶部O+离子的外流事件, 采用含有场向热流项的双麦克斯韦分布描述H+离子束的分布函数, 进而基于离子－离子双流不稳定性理论来解释增强的离子声波谱线. 场向热流的引入可以减小离子声波谱线的不对称现象, 这样得到的结果更符合实际.      

Sawtooth substorms generated under conditions of the steadily high solar wind energy input into the magnetosphere: Relationship between PC, AL and ASYM indices

Periodicity in occurrence of magnetic disturbances in polar cap and auroral zone under conditions of steady and powerful solar wind influence on the magnetosphere is analyzed on the example of 9 storm events with distinctly expressed sawtooth substorms (N = 48). Relationships between the polar cap magnetic activity (PC-index), magnetic disturbances in the auroral zone (AL-index) and value of the ring current asymmetry (ASYM index) were examined within the intervals of the PC growth phase and the PC decline phase inherent to each substorm. It is shown that the substorm sudden onsets are always preceded by the PC growth and that the substorm development does not affect the PC growth rate. On achieving the disturbance maximum, the PC and AL indices are simultaneously fall down to the level preceding the substorm, so that the higher the substorm intensity, the larger is the AL and PC drop in the decline phase. The ASYM index increases and decreases in conformity with the PC and AL behavior, the correlation between ASYM and PC being better than between ASYM and AL. Level of the solar wind energy input into the magnetosphere determines periodicity and intensity of disturbances: the higher the coupling function E_KL, the higher is substorm intensity and shorter is substorm length. Taking into account the permanently high level of auroral activity and inconsistency of aurora behavior and magnetic onsets during sawtooth substorms, the conclusion is made that auroral ionosphere conductivity is typically high and ensures an extremely high intensity of field-aligned currents in R1 FAC system. The periodicity of sawtooth substorms is determined by recurrent depletions and restorations of R1 currents, which are responsible for coordinated variations of magnetic activity in the polar cap and auroral zone.     

Auroral Electrojet Event Associated With Magnetospheric Substorms

The auroral electrojet index is an important index in monitoring and predicting substorms. A substorms usually includes auroral breakup, auroral electrojet event marked by AE increase, energetic particle injection at geosynchronous orbit, mid-low latitude Pi2, etc. However the question whether an auroral electrojet event corresponds to a substorm remains unanswered. Using the auroral electrojet index in 2004, we analyzed five auroral electrojet events and studied their relation with substorms. The results show that there are three kinds of auroral electrojet events: (1) simultaneous rapid increase of westward auroral electrojet and eastward auroral electrojet; (2) rapid increase of westward auroral electrojet and almost unchangeable eastward auroral electrojet; (3) rapid increase of eastward auroral electrojet and almost unchangeable westward auroral electrojet. Most of auroral electrojet events correspond to substorms. However a few auroral electrojet events are not accompanied by substorms. This situation most often occurs for the auroral electrojet event in which eastward auroral electrojet dominates.      

On the association of quiet-time Pi2 pulsations with IMF variations

The association of quiet-time Pi2 pulsations with the variations of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) has been examined by using three reported events, occurring during extremely quiet intervals, of which the first was on 10 March 1997, the second 27 December 1997, and the third 11 May 1999. For the first event, the onset time of ground Pi2s maps to the IMF structure bearing a variation cycle of north-to-south and north again as seen by Wind in the upstream region and Geotail in the magnetosheath. Likewise, the second and the third events have respectively, four and three recurrent turnings propagating to the Earth sensed by multiple satellites. The comparison of geomagnetic perturbations, auroral brightenings, and energetic particle data in the magnetotail with the IMF observations shows successive substorm-like activations accompanied by ground Pi2 onsets. For a clear variation cycle, the first Pi2 burst appears 36 ± 8 min after southward turning of the IMF and the second one follows14 ± 4 min after a northward turning. Moreover, ground Pi2 onsets recur under low IMF clock angle conditions. These observational results can be interpreted with the prevailing models of externally triggered substorm. But the solar wind coupling to the magnetosphere under quiet conditions proceeds in a less efficient way than under substorm time conditions. Consequently, we suggest that recurrent quiet-time Pi2s can be associated with IMF variations and their cause can be the same as those for substorm times.     

Case study of September 24–26, 1998 magnetic storm

We compute global magnetospheric parameters based upon solar wind data obtained from the WIND spacecraft upstream. Using the paraboloid magnetospheric model, calculations of the dynamic global magnetospheric current systems have been made. The solar wind dynamic pressure, the interplanetary magnetic field, the strength of the tail current, and the ring current control the polar cap and auroral oval size and location during the magnetic storm. The model calculations demonstrate that the polar cap and the auroral oval areas are mainly controlled by the tail current. The substorm onset at 0630 UT on September 25, 1998 happened near the minimum in the main phase field depression. The substorm expansion onset time is also marked by a sudden enhancement in the solar wind dynamic pressure and an enhancement in the tail current. The magnetic signatures of these two effects cancel each other, which explains why the D_st profile shows no strong time variation during the substorm. Evidence for the substorm expansion includes not only the signature in the AL index but also the strong asymmetry of the low latitude magnetic disturbances (substorm positive bay signature). Model calculations were checked by comparison with the GOES 8 and 10 magnetic field measurements.     

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.     

利用BP神经网络预测AE指数

采用的预报模式是一种全连接的BP网络模型,利用太阳风及行星际磁场的观测数据预报AE指数.神经网络输入选用ACE卫星数据,取5 min平均值,通过比较,选用4个预报参量.构造了预报参量时续为20 min,40 min和60 min依次递增的三个网络,分别进行训练和预测,并对行星际参量对AE指数影响的时续性进行了探讨.预报结果表明,全连接BP神经网络在AE指数的短期预报中是比较有效的,同时还提出了需要进一步改进的环节.      

A statistical analysis of substorm associated tail activity

Substorm onset timing is a critical issue in magnetotail dynamics research. Solar wind energy is accumulated in the magnetosphere and the configuration of the magnetosphere evolves toward an unstable state during the growth phase. At some point, the expansion phase begins and the stored energy is released through a variety of processes that return the magnetosphere to a lower energy state. In recovery the various processes die away. Unfortunately, the ground and magnetospheric signatures of onset, i.e. energy release, can be seen both in the growth phase prior to onset and in the expansion phase after onset. Some investigators refer to each of these events as a substorm. Tail observations suggest that most substorms have one event that differentiates the behavior of the tail field and plasma. We refer to this time as the “main substorm onset”. Each substorm associated phenomenon is timed independently and then compared with main substorm onsets. ISEE-2 tail observations are used to examine the tail lobe magnetic conditions associated with substorms because ISEE-2 orbit has a high inclination and frequently observes lobe field. Approximately 70 ∼ 75% of tail lobe B_t and B_z change are associated with the main substorm onset. If the satellite is more than 3 Re above (below) the neutral sheet, 86% (57%) of plasma pressure dropouts are associated with substorms. We interpret our results as evidence that the effect of the growth phase is to drive the magnetosphere towards instability. As it approaches global instability local regions become temporarily unstable but are rapidly quenched. Eventually one of these events develops into the global instability that releases most of the stored energy and returns the magnetosphere to a more stable configuration.