极光电激流中的暂态过程

本义分析了极光电激流建立阶段的物理过程，认为在此期间存在着一个正反馈，从而导致一种暂态过程的产生。使用一种简化的物理模型，模拟了极光电激流在建立阶段的物理过程，计算结果表明，极光电激流中的暂态过程确实存在，电流、净电荷和电导率在治极光电激流的方向上均存在着传播的阶跃结构.计算结果与有关观测资料符合得很好.     

行星际磁场（IMF）By分量对磁正午前后区极光嘶声发生率的调制

利用南极极点站（磁纬约７５°）１９８６年３１－３８ｋＨｚ频率的ＶＬＦ波数据和卫星观测的ＩＭＦＢｙ分量数据，分析研究了ＩＭＦ晨昏分量Ｂｙ对高纬ＶＬＦ极光嘶声统计发生率周日分布的影响。结果发现，Ｂｙ对极光嘶声的统计发生率的磁地方对（ＭＬＴ）分布有明显的调制作用。磁正午前后的ＶＬＦ统计发生率不对称，Ｂｙ为正，午后发生率大于午前，Ｂｙ为负，午前发生率大于午后，Ｂｙ极性对夜侧ＶＬＦ发生频次的磁地方时分布也有     

Near real-time assimilation in IRI of auroral peak E-region density and equatorward boundary

The paper describes the method and initial results of assimilating the auroral peak E-region density (NmE) and the auroral equatorward boundary (EB) into the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI). The NmE and EB are obtained using a FUV based auroral model or FUV measurements in near real-time. Initial results show that the auroral NmE is often significantly larger than the NmE due to the solar EUV. This indicates the importance of including the contribution of precipitating electrons in IRI. The global equatorial boundary helps to improve the specification of the sub-auroral ionosphere trough in IRI. An IDL software package has been developed to interactively display the IRI parameters with assimilated NmE and EB. It can serve as an operational tool for space weather monitoring.     

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.     

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.     

Mean solar quiet daily variations in the earth’s magnetic field along East African longitudes

Solar quiet daily (Sq) variation in the earth’s magnetic field along the East African meridian was studied using data of the H, D and Z components recorded with Magnetic Data Acquisition System of SERC. One year data recorded at ten African geomagnetic observatories was used in the analysis of worldwide solar quiet daily variation (Wsq). The study revealed that the focus of Sq (H) in the southern hemisphere lies at the boundary of low and middle latitude region. Noon-time enhancement of Sq (H) was generally noticed at all stations along the meridian, though it is latitudinal dependent in terms of magnitude as it reduces with distance from dip equator. In addition, night-time variations also occur in small magnitude along African meridian in Sq (H) and Sq (Z) which could be attributed to non-ionospheric sources. Semi-diurnal variation was noticed in Sq (D) at all stations except in AAB that is under the influence of electrojet current. Dusk sector calm condition of Sq (D) current was notice in some stations and the same condition was also noticed at dawn sector in some other stations. The usual sunrise maximum and sunset minimum for D component at stations north of dip equator as well as sunrise minimum and sunset maximum was found to increase with distance away from dip equator. Day-time perturbation of Sq current was noticed to be more pronounced in all the three field elements. Mass plots of annual mean hourly value show contrasting phase pattern about the focus in H element and the results of the variations at each region with the associated standard error. It was concluded from the result of correlation coefficients computed that different currents system flowing in opposite directions could be responsible for contrasting patterns.     

Initial phase of mid-latitude aurora during strong geomagnetic storms

Analysing the initial mid-latitude aurora phase during strong geomagnetic storms we found that the initial phase of the mid-latitude aurorae observed at 630 nm emission during the strong geomagnetic storms on March 24, 1991, April 6, 2000, October 30 and November 20, 2003 is characterized by a short (∼1 h) wave-like disturbance. This disturbance corresponds to the beginning of main phase of the magnetic storms. The marked effect of the mid-latitude aurorae is analyzed using data on magnetosphere and ionosphere conditions in observation periods. The features of the dynamics of the 630 nm emission intensity and its connection with the dynamics of magnetospheric–ionospheric structures are considered. Possible excitation mechanisms of the atomic oxygen emission (630 nm) during these disturbances are discussed.     

Space Weather in the Equatorial Ionosphere

The ‘scintillations’ observed on signals received in the equatorial region from GPS satellites are due to plasma instabilities in the F region of the ionosphere, also detected as spread F. These instabilities give rise to depletions of ionisation or ‘bubbles’. The occurrence of these events and their relation to the equatorial electrojet are reviewed. Possibilities of short-term forecasting are examined with particular attention to problems encountered in modelling the equatorial electrojet. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Superthermal electron’s effects on lump solitons structures in magnetized auroral plasma

Based on the considerations of the acknowledgements of the numerous space observations by satellites in the auroral plasma, astrophysics plasmas, spacecraft observations, various plasma models have been framed and revealed different interesting features, like electrostatic structures, solitary waves, double layers, supersolitons, etc. Soliton theory is a very efficient and competent way to describe nonlinear features. Using Viking satellite data in the auroral plasma, we have derived lump soliton solutions of the Kadomstev-Petviashvili (KP) equation by employing Hirota bilinear method. Due to its wide range of applications, the study of lump soliton is very attractive and important too. It has been shown that the lump solitons structures as well as in the one-dimensional form of lump soliton are varied with associated parameters in the auroral magnetized plasma. During the analysis of the features of the lump solitons, it is found that the system parameters play a pivotal role on the lump solitons structures.