bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magnetopause surface oscillation frequencies at different solar wind conditions
Authors: Plaschke F. , Glassmeier K.-H. , Sibeck D. G. , Auster H. U. , Constantinescu O. D. , Angelopoulos V. , Magnes W.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. Statistical analyses of the magnetopause (MP) motion observed by THEMIS suggested that the MP oscillates preferably at some prominent (sometimes called "magic") frequencies, which were found to stand out also in ground-based and ionospheric measurements of geomagnetic ultra-low frequency pulsations. In this paper we present an extension to these statistical analyses of the observed MP oscillations examining their dependence on the prevalent interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), solar wind (SW) flow speed and cone angle conditions as well as their local time of occurrence. Our results show enhanced oscillation activity at these frequencies in the noon local time sector during periods of northward IMF, slow or moderate SW speed and low SW cone angle. This combination of conditions supports an interpretation in terms of standing Alfvénic Kruskal-Schwarzschild surface modes on the MP.
Multifractal analysis of low-latitude geomagnetic fluctuations
Authors: Bolzan M. J. A. , Rosa R. R. , Sahai Y.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. The technique of large deviation multifractal spectrum has shown that the high-latitude (77.5° N, 69.2° W) geomagnetic fluctuations can be described from direct dissipation process or loading-unloading regimes of the solar wind-magnetosphere coupling. In this paper, we analyze the H-component of low-latitude (22.4° S, 43.6° W) geomagnetic field variability observed during the month of July 2000 at the Geomagnetic Observatory, Vassouras, RJ, Brazil. The variability pattern during this period is a mixture of quiet and disturbed days including the Bastille Day intense geomagnetic storm on 15 July. Due to the complexity of this data, we pursue a detailed analysis of the geomagnetic fluctuations in different time scales including a multifractal approach using the singular power spectrum deviations obtained from the wavelet transform modulus maxima (WTMM). The results suggest, as observed from high-latitude data, the occurrence of low-latitude multifractal processes driving the intermittent coupling between the solar wind-magnetosphere and geomagnetic field variations. On finer scales possible physical mechanisms in the context of nonlinear magnetosphere response are discussed.
Mirror structures above and below the linear instability threshold: Cluster observations, fluid model and hybrid simulations
Authors: Génot V. , Budnik E. , Hellinger P. , Passot T. , Belmont G. , Trávníček P. M. , Sulem P.-L. , Lucek E. , Dandouras I.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. Using 5 years of Cluster data, we present a detailed statistical analysis of magnetic fluctuations associated with mirror structures in the magnetosheath. We especially focus on the shape of these fluctuations which, in addition to quasi-sinusoidal forms, also display deep holes and high peaks. The occurrence frequency and the most probable location of the various types of structures is discussed, together with their relation to local plasma parameters. While these properties have previously been correlated to the β of the plasma, we emphasize here the influence of the distance to the linear mirror instability threshold. This enables us to interpret the observations of mirror structures in a stable plasma in terms of bistability and subcritical bifurcation. The data analysis is supplemented by the prediction of a quasi-static anisotropic MHD model and hybrid numerical simulations in an expanding box aimed at mimicking the magnetosheath plasma. This leads us to suggest a scenario for the formation and evolution of mirror structures.
Drift-Alfvén waves in space plasmas – theory and mode identification
Authors: Onishchenko O. G. , Pokhotelov O. A. , Krasnoselskikh V. V. , Shatalov S. I.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. The theory of drift-Alfvén waves with the spatial scales comparable to the ion Larmor radius is developed. The dispersion relation, the wave impedance and variations of the plasma density perturbations versus the wave frequency are investigated. The relevance of theoretical results obtained to the Cluster observations in the cusp and near a reconnection X line in the Earth's magnetopause is discussed.
Global structure, seasonal and interannual variability of the migrating semidiurnal tide seen in the SABER/TIMED temperatures (2002–2007)
Authors: Pancheva D. , Mukhtarov P. , Andonov B.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. The present paper is focused on the global spatial (altitude and latitude) structure, seasonal and interannual variability of the migrating semidiurnal tide derived from the SABER/TIMED temperature measurements for 6 years (January 2002–December 2007). The tidal results are obtained by a new analysis method where the tides (migrating and nonmigrating) and the planetary waves (zonally travelling and stationary) are simultaneously extracted from the satellite data. The strongest migrating semidiurnal tide has been derived at tropical latitudes (±20–30°) where it revealed significant amplification between May and August in the lower thermosphere of both hemispheres. On the average, the semidiurnal temperature tide is stronger in the SH (32 K) than that in the NH (30 K) and the tidal amplitudes at 110 km height are nearly a factor of 5 larger than those at 90 km. The migrating semidiurnal tide in both hemispheres revealed remarkable seasonal behavior at the altitude where it maximizes, ~110 km in the NH and ~115 km in the SH, indicating repeatable each year maxima exactly in May–June and August. However, while the main maximum in the NH is that in August, in the SH it is that in May. The vertical wavelengths indicated seasonal variability being larger in summer (~38–50 km) than in winter (~25–35 km). The seasonal behavior of the semidiurnal tide in the middle latitudes (±40°) is dominated by annual variability with a winter maximum in the upper mesosphere (90 km) of both hemispheres and summer one in the lower thermosphere (110 km). The NH summer maximum (June and August peaks) is much stronger than that in the SH (November and March peaks) having amplitudes of ~23 K and ~13–15 K respectively. The vertical wavelengths at both hemispheres indicated slight seasonal changes and a mean vertical wavelength of ~35 km is observed during most of the year. The interannual variability of the semidiurnal tide in the midlatitude lower thermosphere is at least partly connected with the stratospheric QBO as this effect is stronger in the NH.
Cluster and Double Star multipoint observations of a plasma bubble
Authors: Walsh A. P. , Fazakerley A. N. , Lahiff A. D. , Volwerk M. , Grocott A. , Dunlop M. W. , Lui A. T. Y. , Kistler L. M. , Lester M. , Mouikis C. , Pu Z. , Shen C. , Shi J. , Taylor M. G. G. T. , Lucek E. , Zhang T. L. , Dandouras I.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. Depleted flux tubes, or plasma bubbles, are one possible explanation of bursty bulk flows, which are transient high speed flows thought to be responsible for a large proportion of flux transport in the magnetotail. Here we report observations of one such plasma bubble, made by the four Cluster spacecraft and Double Star TC-2 around 14:00 UT on 21 September 2005, during a period of southward, but BY-dominated IMF. In particular the first direct observations of return flows around the edges of a plasma bubble, and the first observations of plasma bubble features within 8 RE of the Earth, consistent with MHD simulations (Birn et al., 2004) are presented. The implications of the presence of a strong BY in the IMF and magnetotail on the propagation of the plasma bubble and development of the associated current systems in the magnetotail and ionosphere are discussed. It is suggested that a strong BY can rotate the field aligned current systems at the edges of the plasma bubble away from its duskward and dawnward flanks.
Interplanetary fast forward shocks and energetic storm particle events above 1.5 MeV
Authors: Huttunen-Heikinmaa K. , Valtonen E.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. Interplanetary (IP) shock passages are usually identified by abrupt changes in the plasma parameters, but sometimes they are also associated with energetic storm particles (ESPs). The maximum observed energies of ESPs usually reach a few MeVs per nucleon and occasionally even a few hundred MeVs per nucleon. We have carried out a statistical study of ESP events observed by SOHO/ERNE above 1.5 MeV during the seven-year period between May 1996 and April 2003. In the first stage, we gathered a comprehensive database of IP shock candidates using several ready-made shock lists. We defined a qualitative classification for the ESP signals and studied their association with fast forward shocks. We present a survey of the overall statistics of ESP associations with fast forward shocks and the yearly amount of the shocks and associated ESP events during the 7-year study period. Our most important findings are that only 40% of the observed interplanetary fast forward shocks accelerate ESPs to energies greater than 1.5 MeV and that the high-energy ESP-effectiveness of the fast forward shocks has a solar cycle dependence. The yearly ESP-effectiveness varied from 11%, in May 1996–April 1997 (~activity minimum), to 53% in May 2000–April 2001 (~activity maximum). We also performed a quantitative analysis of the proton power law spectra at the time of the shock passage. We found that the average spectral index of ESPs was −3.6 with the standard deviation of the distribution of 1.3. The ESP events had significantly larger power law factors than the reference spectra, calculated every day at a certain time for comparison.
Reconstruction of a large-scale reconnection exhaust structure in the solar wind
Authors: Teh W.-L. , Sonnerup B. U. Ö. , Hu Q. , Farrugia C. J.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. We recover two-dimensional (2-D) magnetic field and flow field configurations from three spacecraft encounters with a single large-scale reconnection exhaust structure in the solar wind, using a new reconstruction method (Sonnerup and Teh, 2008) based on the ideal single-fluid MHD equations in a steady-state, 2-D geometry. The reconstruction is performed in the rest frame of the X-line, where the flow into, and the plasma jetting within, the exhaust region are clearly visible. The event was first identified by Phan et al. (2006) in the ACE, Cluster, and Wind data sets; they argued that quasi-steady reconnection persisted for over 2 h at a long (390 RE) X-line. The reconnection exhaust is sandwiched between two discontinuities, both of which contain elements of intermediate- and slow-mode behavior; these elements are co-located rather than being spatially separated. These composite discontinuities do not satisfy the coplanarity condition or the standard MHD jump conditions. For all three spacecraft, the Walén regression line slope was positive (negative) for the leading (trailing) discontinuity. Our MHD reconstruction shows that: (1) the X-line orientation was close to the bisector of the overall magnetic shear angle and exhibited a slow rotating motion toward the Sun-Earth line; (2) the X-line moved earthward, dawnward, and southward; (3) the reconnection electric field was small (~0.02 mV/m on average) and gradually decreased from the first crossing (ACE) to the last (Wind). The magnetic field and flow field configurations recovered from ACE and Cluster are similar while those recovered from Wind also include a magnetic island and an associated vortex. Reconnection persisted for at least 2.4 h involving inflow into the exhaust region from its two sides. Time-dependence in the reconnection electric fields seen by ACE and Wind indicates local temporal variations in the field configuration. In addition to the reconstruction results, we provide a description and analysis of many details from the crossings by the spacecraft.
Signatures of mesospheric particles in ionospheric data
Authors: Friedrich M. , Torkar K. M. , Singer W. , Strelnikova I. , Rapp M. , Robertson S.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. The state of the ionosphere during the 2007 ECOMA/MASS campaign is described by in-situ observations by three sounding rockets launched from the Andøya Rocket Range and by ground based observations. The ground based measurements included the incoherent scatter radar EISCAT near Tromsø (both on UHF and VHF), as well as an MF radar, a meteor radar and an imaging riometer all located in the close vicinity of the rocket range. The pronounced electron density bite-outs seen by two of the rockets could not be detected from the ground, but the associated PMSE (Polar Mesospheric Summer Echoes) provide indirect evidence of pronounced perturbations of mesospheric electron densities.
Geotail observations of FTE velocities
Authors: Korotova G. I. , Sibeck D. G. , Rosenberg T.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. We discuss the plasma velocity signatures expected in association with flux transfer events (FTEs). Events moving faster than or opposite the ambient media should generate bipolar inward/outward (outward/inward) flow perturbations normal to the nominal magnetopause in the magnetosphere (magnetosheath). Flow perturbations directly upstream and downstream from the events should be in the direction of event motion. Flows on the flanks should be in the direction opposite the motion of events moving at subsonic and subAlfvénic speeds relative to the ambient plasma. Events moving with the ambient flow should generate no flow perturbations in the ambient plasma. Alfvén waves propagating parallel (antiparallel) to the axial magnetic field of FTEs may generate anticorrelated (correlated) magnetic field and flow perturbations within the core region of FTEs. We present case studies illustrating many of these signatures. In the examples considered, Alfvén waves propagate along event axes away from the inferred reconnection site. A statistical study of FTEs observed by Geotail over a 3.5-year period reveals that FTEs within the magnetosphere invariably move faster than the ambient flow, while those in the magnetosheath move both faster and slower than the ambient flow.
Seasonal variability and descent of mid-latitude sporadic E layers at Arecibo
Authors: Christakis N. , Haldoupis C. , Zhou Q. , Meek C.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. Sporadic E layers (Es) follow regular daily patterns in variability and altitude descent, which are determined primarily by the vertical tidal wind shears in the lower thermosphere. In the present study a large set of sporadic E layer incoherent scatter radar (ISR) measurements are analyzed. These were made at Arecibo (Geog. Lat. ~18° N; Magnetic Dip ~50°) over many years with ISR runs lasting from several hours to several days, covering evenly all seasons. A new methodology is applied, in which both weak and strong layers are clearly traced by using the vertical electron density gradient as a function of altitude and time. Taking a time base equal to the 24-h local day, statistics were obtained on the seasonal behavior of the diurnal and semidiurnal tidal variability and altitude descent patterns of sporadic E at Arecibo. The diurnal tide, most likely the S(1,1) tide with a vertical wavelength around 25 km, controls fully the formation and descent of the metallic Es layers at low altitudes below 110 km. At higher altitudes, there are two prevailing layers formed presumably by vertical wind shears associated mainly with semidiurnal tides. These include: 1) a daytime layer starting at ~130 km around midday and descending down to 105 km by local midnight, and 2) a less frequent and weaker nighttime layer which starts prior to midnight at ~130 km, descending downwards at somewhat faster rate to reach 110 km by sunrise. The diurnal and semidiurnal-like pattern prevails, with some differences, in all seasons. The differences in occurrence, strength and descending speeds between the daytime and nighttime upper layers are not well understood from the present data alone and require further study.
Naturally enhanced ion-line spectra around the equatorial 150-km region
Authors: Chau J. L. , Woodman R. F. , Milla M. A. , Kudeki E.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. For many years strong radar echoes coming from 140–170 km altitudes at low latitudes have been associated to the existence of field-aligned irregularities (FAIs) (the so called 150-km echoes). In this work, we present frequency spectra as well as angular distribution of 150-km echoes. When the 150-km region is observed with beams perpendicular to the magnetic field (B) the observed radar spectra are very narrow with spectral widths between 3–12 m/s. On the other hand, when few-degrees off-perpendicular beams are used, the radar spectra are wide with spectral widths comparable to those expected from ion-acoustic waves at these altitudes (>1000 m/s). Moreover the off-perpendicular spectral width increases with increasing altitude. The strength of the received echoes is one to two orders of magnitude stronger than the expected level of waves in thermal equilibrium at these altitudes. Such enhancement is not due to an increase in electron density. Except for the enhancement in power, the spectra characteristics of off-perpendicular and perpendicular echoes are in reasonable agreement with expected incoherent scatter spectra at these angles and altitudes. 150-km echoes are usually observed in narrow layers (2 to 5). Bistatic common volume observations as well as observations made few kilometers apart show that, for most of the layers, there is very high correlation on power fluctuations without a noticeable time separation between simultaneous echoes observed with Off-perpendicular and Perpendicular beams. However, in one of the central layers, the echoes are the strongest in the perpendicular beam and absent or very weak in the off-perpendicular beams, suggesting that they are generated by a plasma instability. Our results indicate that most echoes around 150-km region are not as aspect sensitive as originally thought, and they come from waves that have been enhanced above waves in thermal equilibrium.
Large mesospheric ice particles at exceptionally high altitudes
Authors: Megner L. , Khaplanov M. , Baumgarten G. , Gumbel J. , Stegman J. , Strelnikov B. , Robertson S.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. We here report on the characteristics of exceptionally high Noctilucent clouds (NLC) that were detected with rocket photometers during the ECOMA/MASS campaign at Andøya, Norway 2007. The results from three separate flights are shown and discussed in connection to lidar measurements. Both the lidar measurements and the large difference between various rocket passages through the NLC show that the cloud layer was inhomogeneous on large scales. Two passages showed a particularly high, bright and vertically extended cloud, reaching to approximately 88 km. Long time series of lidar measurements show that NLC this high are very rare, only one NLC measurement out of thousand reaches above 87 km. The NLC is found to consist of three distinct layers. All three were bright enough to allow for particle size retrieval by phase function analysis, even though the lowest layer proved too horizontally inhomogeneous to obtain a trustworthy result. Large particles, corresponding to an effective radius of 50 nm, were observed both in the middle and top of the NLC. The present cloud does not comply with the conventional picture that NLC ice particles nucleate near the temperature minimum and grow to larger sizes as they sediment to lower altitudes. Strong up-welling, likely caused by gravity wave activity, is required to explain its characteristics.
A novel code for numerical 3-D MHD studies of CME expansion
Authors: Kleimann J. , Kopp A. , Fichtner H. , Grauer R.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. A recent third-order, essentially non-oscillatory central scheme to advance the equations of single-fluid magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) in time has been implemented into a new numerical code. This code operates on a 3-D Cartesian, non-staggered grid, and is able to handle shock-like gradients without producing spurious oscillations. To demonstrate the suitability of our code for the simulation of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and similar heliospheric transients, we present selected results from test cases and perform studies of the solar wind expansion during phases of minimum solar activity. We can demonstrate convergence of the system into a stable Parker-like steady state for both hydrodynamic and MHD winds. The model is subsequently applied to expansion studies of CME-like plasma bubbles, and their evolution is monitored until a stationary state similar to the initial one is achieved. In spite of the model's (current) simplicity, we can confirm the CME's nearly self-similar evolution close to the Sun, thus highlighting the importance of detailed modelling especially at small heliospheric radii. Additionally, alternative methods to implement boundary conditions at the coronal base, as well as strategies to ensure a solenoidal magnetic field, are discussed and evaluated.
Local influence of magnetosheath plasma beta fluctuations on magnetopause reconnection
Authors: Laitinen T. V. , Khotyaintsev Y. V. , André M. , Vaivads A. , Rème H.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. We present observations from two subsolar Cluster magnetopause crossings under southward interplanetary magnetic field and strong mirror mode fluctuations in the magnetosheath. In both events the reconnection outflow jets show strong variations on the timescale of one minute. We show that at least some of the recorded variations are truly temporal, not spatial. On the same timescale, mirror mode fluctuations appear as strong magnetic fluctuations in the magnetosheath next to the magnetopause. This suggests that mirror modes can cause the variations either through modulation of continuous reconnection or through triggering of bursty reconnection. Using a theoretical scaling law for asymmetric reconnection we show that modulation of reconnection at a single x-line can explain the observations of the first event. The second event cannot be explained by a single modulated x-line: there the evidence points to patchy and bursty reconnection.
Electronic kinetics of molecular nitrogen and molecular oxygen in high-latitude lower thermosphere and mesosphere
Authors: Kirillov A. S.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. Total quenching rate coefficients of Herzberg states of molecular oxygen and three triplet states of molecular nitrogen in the collisions with O2 and N2 molecules are calculated on the basis of quantum-chemical approximations. The calculated rate coefficients of electronic quenching of O2* and N2* molecules show a good agreement with available experimental data. An influence of collisional processes on vibrational populations of electronically excited N2 and O2 molecules is studied for the altitudes of high-latitude lower thermosphere and mesosphere during auroral electron precipitation. It is indicated that molecular collisions of metastable nitrogen N2(A3Σu*) with O2 molecules are principal mechanism in electronic excitation of both Herzberg states c1Σu&minus, A'3Δu, A3Σu+ and high vibrational levels of singlet states a1Δg and b1Σg+ of molecular oxygen O2 at these altitudes.
Characteristics of VLF atmospherics near the resonance frequency of the Earth-ionosphere waveguide 1.6–2.3 kHz by observations in the auroral region
Authors: Ostapenko A. A. , Titova E. E. , Nickolaenko A. P. , Turunen T. , Manninen J. , Raita T.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. Recordings of ELF-VLF waves with the right-hand (RH) and the left-hand (LH) circular polarization were made in Northern Finland. Analysis showed a difference between the RH and LH polarized waves. A pronounced maximum of the wave amplitude was observed at the first critical frequency of the Earth-ionosphere waveguide (the first transverse resonance) around 1.6–2.3 kHz. The wave had the circular LH polarization at this maximum. To interpret observations, we computed the characteristics of the waveguide modes by using the full wave solution in the night model of the ionosphere. Computations show that the spectral maximum at the first transverse resonance frequency arises from a small absorption of the LH polarized radio wave in the magnetized ionosphere plasma, forming the upper boundary of the Earth-ionosphere waveguide.
Error analysis of Abel retrieved electron density profiles from radio occultation measurements
Authors: Yue X. , Schreiner W. S. , Lei J. , Sokolovskiy S. V. , Rocken C. , Hunt D. C. , Kuo Y.-H.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. This letter reports for the first time the simulated error distribution of radio occultation (RO) electron density profiles (EDPs) from the Abel inversion in a systematic way. Occultation events observed by the COSMIC satellites are simulated during the spring equinox of 2008 by calculating the integrated total electron content (TEC) along the COSMIC occultation paths with the "true" electron density from an empirical model. The retrieval errors are computed by comparing the retrieved EDPs with the "true" EDPs. The results show that the retrieved NmF2 and hmF2 are generally in good agreement with the true values, but the reliability of the retrieved electron density degrades in low latitude regions and at low altitudes. Specifically, the Abel retrieval method overestimates electron density to the north and south of the crests of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA), and introduces artificial plasma caves underneath the EIA crests. At lower altitudes (E- and F1-regions), it results in three pseudo peaks in daytime electron densities along the magnetic latitude and a pseudo trough in nighttime equatorial electron densities.
Global estimates of plasmaspheric losses during moderate disturbance intervals
Authors: Spasojevic M. , Sandel B. R.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. For a set of five moderate disturbance events, we calculate the total number of He+ ions removed the plasmasphere using calibrated global EUV images. In each of the events, between ~0.6 and 2.2×1030 He+ ions are removed from a region of the inner magnetosphere from L=1.5 to 5.5. This loss constitutes between 20% and 42% of the initial He+ distribution. The lost percentage is correlated with the number of hours of strongly positive solar wind electric field (Ey>2.5 mV/m). Also, the total amount of material removed from the plasmasphere is estimated by using several values of the He+ to H+ number density ratio. The total mass lost is found to be in the range of 20 to 80 metric tons although for each individual case the estimate can vary by over 50% depending on assumed density ratio. We also attempt to distinguish between losses to the ionosphere and losses to the dayside boundary layers by estimating losses interior and exterior to the newly formed plasmapause boundary. For the events studied, losses inside the new plasmapause constitute between 24% to 54% of the total number of He+ ions lost.
Impact of the Southeast Asian summer monsoon strength on the outflow of aerosols from South Asia
Authors: Zhang L. , Liao H. , Li J.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. We chose a relatively weak Southeast Asian summer monsoon (SEASM) year (1998) and a relatively strong year (2002) to examine the impact of the monsoon strength on the transport of organic carbon (OC) aerosol emitted from the South Asia (75°–105° E, 10°–25° N) by using the global 3-D chemical transport model GEOS-Chem driven by the assimilated meteorological fields. Simulated surface layer concentrations and column burdens of OC indicate that OC levels are much higher in the weak SEASM year 1998 than in the strong SEASM year 2002. The sensitivity experiments with global OC emissions turned off except those over the South Asia show that OC aerosol emitted from South Asia contributes to 50–70% of OC mass over southern China and 20–50% of OC over the western North Pacific between 850 hPa and 400 hPa in 1998. The outflow of OC from the South Asia is larger in 1998 than in 2002. Three factors contribute to the larger buildup of summer time OC in the weak SEASM year of 1998. The first is the weakened summer monsoon rainfall over the Southeast Asia that leads to less wet deposition and higher OC concentrations. The second is the enhancement of deep convection in the western Indian continent and the weakened upward lifting over the western North Pacific. The last and the most important factor is the abnormal circulation in the lower and middle troposphere that contributes to the long-range transport of OC from South Asia to Southern China and the western North Pacific.
Comparison of eight years magnetic field data from Cluster with Tsyganenko models in the inner magnetosphere
Authors: Zhang Q.-H. , Dunlop M. W. , Holme R. , Woodfield E. E.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. Eight years of magnetic field data, taken while the four Cluster spacecraft pass through, or adjacent to, the equatorial ring current, have been surveyed to investigate the effects on the Earth's magnetic field of the externally driven current systems connecting the ionosphere, cusp and ring current regions. This study extends previous work to cover a greater range of orbit location and external conditions. We compare the modeled magnetic field from different global field models (Tsyganenko, 1989, 1996, and 2001, hereafter T89, T96 and T01) with data from the four Cluster spacecraft. Comparing with the different models allow us not only to characterize each model's performance, but also provides insight into the physical sources of observed signals. The data generally deviate much less from the expected model field during the years close to the solar minimum, implying that the models perform better during weaker geomagnetic activity. There are particular deviations from the models associated with the ring current (well-defined smooth trends) and region 2 field aligned currents (FACs) or low-altitude cusp FACs (sharp bipolar signatures). During the ring current crossings (through perigee, at 4–5 RE), the T96 model always overestimates the ring current, while the T01 and T89 models sometimes underestimate it. The sharp bipolar signatures are not always sampled, implying a localized extent, but only the T96 and T01 models include forms for the region 2 FACs and T01 appears to model these better. Overall, all deviations from T01 are much smaller than for the other models, indicating that this model achieves the best fit to the data. The 4 Cluster spacecraft observe nearly the same signatures at small separations (during the early years of the mission) but do sample different signatures at the large separations (during the later years). Using the four-spacecraft technique, we infer that the region 2 FACs, with a transverse thickness of ~0.17–0.54 RE, and cusp FACs, with a thickness of ~0.06–0.12 RE, are very stable in size and location.
Density enhancements associated with equatorial spread F
Authors: Krall J. , Huba J. D. , Joyce G. , Yokoyama T.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. Forces governing the three-dimensional structure of equatorial spread-F (ESF) plumes are examined using the NRL SAMI3/ESF three-dimensional simulation code. As is the case with the equatorial ionization anomaly (IA), density crests within the plume occur where gravitational and diffusive forces are in balance. Large E×B drifts within the ESF plume place these crests on field lines with apex heights higher than those of the background IA crests. Large poleward field-aligned ion velocities within the plume result in large ion-neutral diffusive forces that support these ionization crests at altitudes higher than background IA crest altitudes. We show examples in which density enhancements associated with ESF, also called "plasma blobs," can occur within an ESF plume on density-crest field lines, at or above the density crests. Simulated ESF density enhancements reproduce all key features of those that have been observed in situ.
Solar eclipse effects of 22 July 2009 on Sporadic-E
Authors: Chen G. , Zhao Z. , Zhou C. , Yang G. , Zhang Y.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. The total solar eclipse of 22 July 2009, was visible from some regions of China and the intense sporadic-E (Es) that broke out during the solar eclipse period over the eastern China provided a unique chance to study solar eclipse effects on the Es-layer. The ground based high-frequency (HF) vertical-incidence and oblique-incidence backscatter radio systems in Wuhan and an HF oblique receivers located in Suzhou were operated to detect the Es-layer. The vertical, oblique and backscatter ionograms of 22 and 23 July were recorded, processed and analyzed. The analyzing results show that the critical frequency of Es, the hop number and power of the rays transmitted from Wuhan to Suzhou as well as the Doppler frequency shift of the one-hop oblique-incidence waves reflected by the Es-layer all increased during the solar eclipse period. These variations are displayed in the paper and explained to be induced by the wind-field, which is produced by the powerful meridional air flows from the sunshine region to the moon's shadow.
A study of L-dependent Pc3 pulsations observed by low Earth orbiting CHAMP satellite
Authors: Ndiitwani D. C. , Sutcliffe P. R.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. Field line resonances (FLR) driven by compressional waves are an important mechanism for the generation of ULF geomagnetic pulsations observed at all latitudes during local daytime. References to observations of toroidal standing Alfvén mode oscillations with clearly L-dependent frequencies from spacecraft in the outer magnetosphere for L>3 are limited in the literature. Such observations in the inner magnetosphere for L<3 have not yet been reported in the literature. This study offers two interesting case studies of observations of ULF waves by the low Earth orbiting CHAMP satellite. The magnetic field measurements from CHAMP, which are of unprecedented accuracy and resolution, are compared to Hermanus magnetometer data for times when CHAMP crosses the ground station L-shell, namely for 13 February 2002 and 18 February 2003. The data were analysed for Pc3 pulsation activity using the Maximum Entropy Spectral Analysis (MESA) method to visualise FLRs in the vector magnetometer data. For the first time observations of Pc3 toroidal oscillations with clearly L-dependent frequencies for lower L-shell values (L<3) observed by an LEO satellite are reported. These observations show FLR frequencies increasing as a function of decreasing latitude down to L=1.6 and then decreasing as a result of the larger plasma density of the upper ionosphere. The L-dependent frequency oscillations were observed in the presence of a broadband compressional wave spectrum. Our observations thus confirm the well-known magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) wave theoretical prediction of a compressional wave being the driver of the field line resonance.
Predicting amplitude of solar cycle 24 based on a new precursor method
Authors: Yoshida A. , Yamagishi H.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. It is shown that the monthly smoothed sunspot number (SSN) or its rate of decrease during the final years of a solar cycle is correlated with the amplitude of the succeeding cycle. Based on this relationship, the amplitude of solar cycle 24 is predicted to be 84.5±23.9, assuming that the monthly smoothed SSN reached its minimum in December 2008. It is further shown that the monthly SSN in the three-year period from 2006 through 2008 is well correlated with the monthly average of the intensity of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). This correlation indicates that the SSN in the final years of a solar cycle is a good proxy for the IMF, which is understood to reflect the magnetic field in the corona of the sun, and the IMF is expected to be smallest at the solar minimum. We believe that this finding illuminates a physical meaning underlying the well-known precursor method for forecasting the amplitude of the next solar cycle using the aa index at the solar minimum or its average value in the decaying phase of the solar cycle (e.g. Ohl, 1966), since it is known that the geomagnetic disturbance depends strongly on the intensity of the IMF. That is, the old empirical method is considered to be based on the fact that the intensity of the coronal magnetic field decreases in the late phase of a solar cycle in parallel with the SSN. It seems that the precursor method proposed by Schatten et al. (1978) and Svalgaard et al. (2005), which uses the intensity of the polar magnetic field of the sun several years before a solar minimum, is also based on the same physical phenomenon, but seen from a different angle.
Morphological features and variations of temperature in the upper thermosphere simulated by a whole atmosphere GCM
Authors: Fujiwara H. , Miyoshi Y.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. In order to illustrate morphological features and variations of temperature in the upper thermosphere, we performed numerical simulations with a whole atmosphere general circulation model (GCM) for the solar minimum and geomagnetically quiet conditions in March, June, September, and December. In previous GCMs, tidal effects were imposed at the lower boundaries assuming dominant diurnal and semi-diurnal tidal modes. Since the GCM used in the present study covers all the atmospheric regions, the atmospheric tides with various modes are generated within the GCM. The global temperature distributions obtained from the GCM are in agreement with ones obtained from NRLMSISE-00. In addition, the GCM also represents localised temperature structures which are superimposed on the global day-night distributions. These localised structures, which vary from hour to hour, would be observed as variations with periods of about 2–3 h at a single site. The amplitudes of the 2–3 h variations are significant at high-latitude, while the amplitudes are small at low-latitude. The diurnal temperature variation is more clearly identified at low-latitude than at high-latitude. When we assume the same high-latitude convection electric field in each month, the temperature calculated in the polar cap region shows diurnal variation more clearly in winter than in summer. The midnight temperature maximum (MTM), which is one of the typical low-latitude temperature structures, is also seen in the GCM results. The MTMs in the GCM results show significant day-to-day variation with amplitudes of several 10s to about 150 K. The wind convergence and stream of warm air are found around the MTM. The GCM also represent the meridional wind reversals and/or abatements which are caused due to local time variations of airflow pattern in the low-latitude region.
Relationships between pre-sunset electrojet strength, pre-reversal enhancement and equatorial spread-F onset
Authors: Uemoto J. , Maruyama T. , Saito S. , Ishii M. , Yoshimura R.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. The virtual height of the bottom side F-region (h'F) and equatorial spread-F (ESF) onsets at Chumphon (10.7° N, 99.4° E; 3.3° N magnetic latitude) were compared with the behaviour of equatorial electrojet (EEJ) ground strength at Phuket (8.1° N, 98.3° E; 0.1° N magnetic latitude) during the period from November 2007 to October 2008. Increase in the F-layer height and ESF onsets during the evening hours were well connected with the EEJ ground strength before sunset, namely, both the height increase and ESF onsets were suppressed when the integrated EEJ ground strength for the period from 1 to 2 h prior to sunset was negative. The finding suggests observationally that the pre-sunset E-region dynamo current and/or electric field are related to the F-region dynamics and ESF onsets around sunset.
Coherence between radar observations of magnetospheric field line resonances and discrete oscillations in the solar wind
Authors: Stephenson J. A. E. , Walker A. D. M.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. Field line resonances have been observed for decades by ground-based and in situ instruments. The driving mechanism(s) are still unclear, although previous work has provided strong grounds that coherent waves in the solar wind may be a source. Here we present further evidence, with the use of multitaper analysis, a sophisticated spectrum estimation technique. A set of windows (dpss tapers) is chosen with characteristics that best suit the width of the narrowband peaks to be identified. The orthogonality of the windows allows for a confidence level (of say 95%) against a null hypothesis of a noisy spectrum, so that significant peaks can be identified. Employing multitaper analysis we can determine the phase and amplitude coherence at the sampling rate of the data sets and, over their entire duration. These characteristics make this technique superior to single windowing or wavelet analysis. A high degree of phase and amplitude (greater then 95%) coherence is demonstrated between a 2.1 mHz field line resonance observed by the SHARE radar at Sanae, Antarctica and the solar wind oscillation detected by WIND and ACE satellites.
Global lightning distribution and whistlers observed at Dunedin, New Zealand
Authors: Collier A. B. , Bremner S. , Lichtenberger J. , Downs J. R. , Rodger C. J. , Steinbach P. , McDowell G.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. Whistlers observed at Dunedin, New Zealand, are an enigma since they do not conform to the classical model of whistler production developed by Storey (1953). It is generally accepted that the causative lightning stroke for a whistler observed on the ground at a particular location was located in the neighbourhood of the conjugate point, and generated an electromagnetic signal which propagated in a plasmaspheric duct stretched along a magnetic field line linking the two hemispheres. The causative stroke is thought to have occurred within reasonable proximity of one footpoint of this field line, while the observer was located in the vicinity of the other footpoint. Support for this model has come from a number of previous studies of whistler-lightning observations and whistler-induced particle precipitation. However, as demonstrated here, this model does not always apply. Whistlers detected at Dunedin are nearly as common as those at Tihany, Hungary, despite there being at least 3 orders of magnitude more lightning in Tihany's conjugate region compared to that of Dunedin. Furthermore, whereas Tihany whistlers are generally observed at night, consistent with historical observations, Dunedin whistlers occur predominantly during the day. This paper aims to resolve two paradoxes regarding whistler occurrence at Dunedin: (i) an observation rate which is at variance with conjugate lightning activity, and (ii) a diurnal occurrence peak during daylight. The technique developed by Collier et al. (2009) is used to diagnose the location of the source lightning for Dunedin whistlers. It is found that the majority of the causative strokes occur within a region extending down the west coast of Central America.
Statistical analysis of the dependence of large-scale Birkeland currents on solar wind parameters
Authors: Korth H. , Anderson B. J. , Waters C. L.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. The spatial distributions of large-scale field-aligned Birkeland currents have been derived using magnetic field data obtained from the Iridium constellation of satellites from February 1999 to December 2007. From this database, we selected intervals that had at least 45% overlap in the large-scale currents between successive hours. The consistency in the current distributions is taken to indicate stability of the large-scale magnetosphere–ionosphere system to within the spatial and temporal resolution of the Iridium observations. The resulting data set of about 1500 two-hour intervals (4% of the data) was sorted first by the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) GSM clock angle (arctan(By/Bz)) since this governs the spatial morphology of the currents. The Birkeland current densities were then corrected for variations in EUV-produced ionospheric conductance by normalizing the current densities to those occurring for 0° dipole tilt. To determine the dependence of the currents on other solar wind variables for a given IMF clock angle, the data were then sorted sequentially by the following parameters: the solar wind electric field in the plane normal to the Earth–Sun line, Eyz; the solar wind ram pressure; and the solar wind Alfvén Mach number. The solar wind electric field is the dominant factor determining the Birkeland current intensities. The currents shift toward noon and expand equatorward with increasing solar wind electric field. The total current increases by 0.8 MA per mV m−1 increase in Eyz for southward IMF, while for northward IMF it is nearly independent of the electric field, increasing by only 0.1 MA per mV m−1 increase in Eyz. The dependence on solar wind pressure is comparatively modest. After correcting for the solar dynamo dependencies in intensity and distribution, the total current intensity increases with solar wind dynamic pressure by 0.4 MA/nPa for southward IMF. Normalizing the Birkeland current densities to both the median solar wind electric field and dynamic pressure effects, we find no significant dependence of the Birkeland currents on solar wind Alfvén Mach number.
Centrifugal acceleration in the magnetotail lobes
Authors: Nilsson H. , Engwall E. , Eriksson A. , Puhl-Quinn P. A. , Arvelius S.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. Combined Cluster EFW and EDI measurements have shown that cold ion outflow in the magnetospheric lobes dominates the hydrogen ion outflow from the Earth's atmosphere. The ions have too low kinetic energy to be measurable with particle instruments, at least for the typical spacecraft potential of a sunlit spacecraft in the tenuous lobe plasmas outside a few RE. The measurement technique yields both density and bulk velocity, which can be combined with magnetic field measurements to estimate the centrifugal acceleration experienced by these particles. We present a quantitative estimate of the centrifugal acceleration, and the velocity change with distance which we would expect due to centrifugal acceleration. It is found that the centrifugal acceleration is on average outward with an average value of about of 5 m s−2. This is small, but acting during long transport times and over long distances the cumulative effect is significant, while still consistent with the relatively low velocities estimated using the combination of EFW and EDI data. The centrifugal acceleration should accelerate any oxygen ions in the lobes to energies observable by particle spectrometers. The data set also put constraints on the effectiveness of any other acceleration mechanisms acting in the lobes, where the total velocity increase between 5 and 19 RE geocentric distance is less than 5 km s−1.
A gravity waves study close to the Andes mountains in Patagonia and Antarctica with GPS radio occultation observations
Authors: Alexander P. , Luna D. , Llamedo P. , de la Torre A.
Published: June 2010

Abstract. We first study the seasonal and geographical behavior of gravity wave activity in the lower stratosphere over the southernmost Andes mountains and their prolongation in the Antarctic Peninsula by global positioning system (GPS) radio occultation (RO) temperature profiles, obtained between years 2002 and 2005 by the CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) mission. The observed features complement observations in the same zone by other satellite passive remote sensing instruments, which are able to detect different height regions and other spectral intervals of the wave spectrum. Comparisons with previous GPS RO studies in smaller areas than the one covered in our analysis are also established. Significant seasonal variation of wave activity is observed in our work, in agreement with results from other instruments. The locations of significant cases indicate that topography is an important source. Some strong wave activity is also found over open ocean. Critical level filtering is shown to have an attenuation effect, implying that a large fraction of the observed activity can be considered to be an outcome of mountain waves. The studied region has a significant advantage as compared to other regions of our planet: it generates wavefronts nearly aligned with the North-South direction (almost parallel to the mountains), whereby this geometry favors the wave detection by the nearly meridional line of sight characterizing most of the GPS RO observations used. A distribution of the observed gravity waves in terms of amplitudes and wavelengths is also presented.