Solar–geomagnetic activity and Aa indices toward a standard classification

Legrand and Simon [1989. Solar cycle and geomagnetic activity: a review for geophysicists. Part I. The contributions to geomagnetic activity of shock waves and of the solar wind. Annales Geophysicae 7(6), 565–578] classified one century (1868–1978) of geomagnetic activity, using the Mayaud's Aa index, in four classes related to solar activity: (1) the magnetic quiet activity due to slow solar wind flowing around the magnetosphere, (2) the recurrent activity related to high wind speed solar wind, (3) the fluctuating activity related to fluctuating solar wind and (4) the shock activity due to shock events (CME). In this paper, we use this classification to analyse the solar–geomagnetic activity from 1978 to 2005. We found that during the last three decades the level of geomagnetic quiet activity estimated by Aa indices is decreasing: 2003 is the year of the smallest level of quiet geomagnetic activity since 1868. We compare Legrand and Simon's classification with new in situ solar wind data [Richardson, I.G., Cliver, E.W., Cane, H.V., 2000. Sources of geomagnetic activity over the solar cycle: relative importance of coronal mass ejections, high-speed streams, and slow solar wind. Journal of Geophysical research 105(A8), 18,200–18,213; Richardson, I.G., Cane, H.V., 2002. Sources of geomagnetic activity during nearly three solar cycles (1972–2000). Journal of Geophysical Research 107(A8), 1187] and find a rather good agreement. The differences are only due to minor definitions of the extent of the classes. An attempt is made at defining a more precise standard classification of solar phenomena and at defining time scales of these to understand more precisely the geomagnetic signatures of solar activity.     

A multifactor analysis of parameters controlling solar wind ion flux correlations using an artificial neural network technique

Solar wind plasma and magnetic field observations from multiple spacecraft can be used to separate temporal and spatial variations and to determine the accuracy of predictions of solar wind conditions near Earth based on distant-spacecraft measurements. The study of correlations between the ion fluxes measured by three spatially separated spacecraft (IMP 8, WIND and INTERBALL-1) was one of the first steps in this direction. This paper describes a complex multifactor analysis of different physical, geometrical, and statistical parameters that control such correlations (considered separately and in combination). A linear-regression and an artificial neural network techniques are used for this analysis. The analysis is applied to an extensive array of correlation coefficients for the ion flux in the solar wind and provides estimates of the relative significance of the factors that control these correlation coefficients. The study shows that the most influential parameters are the solar wind density and the standard deviations of solar wind density, solar wind velocity and interplanetary magnetic field. This set of parameters permits us to develop a sufficiently accurate (with a relative error of less than a few per cent) quantitative model for the correlation between the ion fluxes measured on two spatially separated spacecraft.     

The vorticity of Solar photospheric flows on the scale of granulation

We employ time sequences of images observed with a G-band filter (λ4305Å) by the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) on board of Hinode spacecraft at different latitude along solar central meridian to study vorticity of granular flows in quiet Sun areas during deep minimum of solar activity. Using a feature correlation tracking (FCT) technique, we calculate the vorticity of granular-scale flows. Assuming the known pattern of vertical flows (upward in granules and downward in intergranular lanes), we infer the sign of kinetic helicity of these flows. We show that the kinetic helicity of granular flows and intergranular vortices exhibits a weak hemispheric preference, which is in agreement with the action of the Coriolis force. This slight hemispheric sign asymmetry, however, is not statistically significant given large scatter in the average vorticity. The sign of the current helicity density of network magnetic fields computed using full disk vector magnetograms from the Synoptic Optical Long-term Investigations of the Sun (SOLIS) does not show any hemispheric preference. The combination of these two findings suggests that the photospheric dynamo operating on the scale of granular flows is non-helical in nature.     

Compressive fluctuations in the solar wind and their polytropic index

Magnetohydrodynamic compressive fluctuations of the interplanetary plasma in the region from 0.3 to 1 AU have been characterized in terms of their polytropic index. Following Chandrasekhar’s approach to polytropic fluids, this index has been determined through a fit of the observed variations of density and temperature. At least three different classes of fluctuations have been identified: (1) variations at constant thermal pressure, in low-speed solar wind and without a significant dependence on distance, (2) adiabatic variations, mainly close to 1 AU and without a relevant dependence on wind speed, and (3) variations at nearly constant density, in fast wind close to 0.3 AU. Variations at constant thermal pressure are probably a subset of the ensemble of total-pressure balanced structures, corresponding to cases in which the magnetic field magnitude does not vary appreciably throughout the structure. In this case the pressure equilibrium has to be assured by its thermal component only. The variations may be related to small flow-tubes with approximately the same magnetic-field intensity, convected by the wind in conditions of pressure equilibrium. This feature is mainly observed in low-velocity solar wind, in agreement with the magnetic topology (small open flow-tubes emerging through an ensemble of closed structures) expected for the source region of slow wind. Variations of adiabatic type may be related to magnetosonic waves excited by pressure imbalances between contiguous flow-tubes. Such imbalances are probably built up by interactions between wind flows with different speeds in the spiral geometry induced by the solar rotation. This may account for the fact that they are mainly found at a large distance from the sun. Temperature variations at almost constant density are mostly found in fast flows close to the sun. These are the solar wind regions with the best examples of incompressible behaviour. They are characterized by very stable values for particle density and magnetic intensity, and by fluctuations of Alfvénic type. It is likely that temperature fluctuations in these regions are a remnant of thermal features in the low solar atmosphere. In conclusion, the polytropic index appears to be a useful tool to understand the nature of the compressive turbulence in the interplanetary plasma, as far as the frozen-in magnetic field does not play a crucial role.     

Solar wind induced processes in the magnetotail

Solar wind/IMF parameters and their variations influence the state and dynamics of the magnetosphere in several different ways, and the plasma sheet plays its own active role to form the magnetotail’s rssponse to external driving. This field is still quite conrtoversial; key unsolved issues are those which probably involve the nonsteady, nonequilibrium and nonlinear character of the system. This paper discusses an interesting development of concepts concerning (1) plasma sheet convection, (2) mechanisms which initiate the substorm onset, and (3) variability of tail dynamics. A remarkable example is a recognition of Bursty Bulk Flows as a basic way for the plasma sheet to sustain the convective transport of plasma, energy and magnetic flux via transient mesoscale dynamic structures. As concerns the substorm onset, the sharp change from the magnetic reconnection (NEL) model to processes in the dipolar-like near tail is now moving into a synthetic stage. Hear non-linear models of different coupled instabilities are actively explored to find a way to excite the tearing mode starting from a singular thin current sheet configuration which seems to form in the near tail prior to breakup. Variable responses to external drivers and the variability of substorms compel a recognition of the magnetotail as a very complicated nonlinear open system which includes a heirarchy of coupled process of different scales. A unique fleet of magnetospheric spacecraft, simultaneously probing different domains and supported by extensive ground observations, global imaging and solar wind monitoring, noe provides a real chance to understand the magnetotail as a global dynamic system.     

Applying Neural Network Classification to Obtain Mangrove Landscape Characteristics for Monitoring the Travel Environment Quality on the Beihai Coast of Guangxi,P. R. China

The spectral characteristics of mangroves on the Beihai Coast of Guangxi, P. R. China are acquired on the basis of spectral data from field measurements. Following this, the 3‐layer reverse‐conversing neural networks (NN) classification technology is used to analyze the Landsat TM5 image obtained on January 8, 2003. It is detailed enough to facilitate the introduction of the algorithm principle and trains project of the neural network. Neural network algorithms have characteristics including large‐scale data handling and distributing information storage. This research firstly analyzes the necessity and complexity of this translation system, and then introduces the strong points of the neural network. Processing mangrove landscape characteristics by using neural network is an important innovation, with great theoretical and practical significance. This kind of neural network can greatly improve the classification accuracy. The spatial resolution of Landsat TM5 is high enough to facilitate the research, and the false color composite from 3‐, 4‐, and 5‐bands has a clear boundary and provides a significant quantity of information and effective images. On the basis of a field survey, the exported layers are defined as mangrove, vegetation, bare land, wetlands and shrimp pool. TM satellite images are applied to false color composites by using 3‐, 4‐, and 5‐bands, and then a supervised classification model is used to classify the image. The processing method of hyper‐spectrum remote sensing allows the spectral characteristics of the mangrove to be determined, and integrates the result with the NN classification for the false color composite by using 3‐, 4‐, and 5‐bands. The network model consists of three layers, i. e., the input layer, the hidden layer, and the output layer. The input layer number of classification is defined as 3, and the hidden layers are defined as 5 according to the function operation. The control threshold is 0.9. The training ratio is 0.2. The maximum permit error is 0.08. The classification precision reaches 86.86%. This is higher than the precision of maximal parallel classification (50.79%) and the spectrum angle classification (75.39%). The results include the uniformity ratio (1.7789), the assembly ratio (0.6854), the dominance ratio (–1.5850), and the fragmentation ratio (0.0325).     

Response of currents in Earth’s and Saturn’s dayside magnetopause to a sudden change in the solar wind density

When the effect of a solar wind dynamic pressure pulse on the magnetospheric and ionospheric dynamics is studied, it is usually difficult to detect the effect of a sudden change in the density against the background of the other varying solar wind parameters, which often play a most pronounced role. Cases in which the solar wind plasma density gradient dominated in the dynamics of the different parameters of an interplanetary medium and its magnetic field are considered in this work. Variations in the Earth’s dayside magnetopause current caused by a change in the solar wind ion density are presented for two such cases (February 11 and January 11, 1997) based on the method developed by us previously. Variations in the dayside magnetopause current for collisions of the magnetosphere with corotating interacting flows in January 2004, studied in detail by us previously, are also presented for Saturn. The estimates are comparable with the current values in the transitional three-dimensional current systems of Saturn that were previously calculated by us.     

中近磁尾等离子体片统计特性研究

本文使用Cluster-C1卫星的CIS仪器和FGM仪器测量得到的质子通量数据和计算的β数据,判断Cluster卫星在地球磁尾不同位置位于等离子体片内的概率.使用2001—2004年7—11月的Cluster-C1数据,分别在行星际磁场南向和北向时,得出X-10RE区域内卫星位于等离子体片的概率在Y-Dz平面的分布图(Dz是卫星到中性片的距离).通过对比行星际磁场南向和北向时的卫星位于等离子体片的概率的分布图,我们发现等离子体片在行星际磁场南向时比在行星际磁场北向时要薄,并且这个效应在磁尾晨昏两侧比在午夜附近明显,同时我们还发现等离子体片在晨侧比在昏侧厚.     

Surface current patterns observed by HF radar: methodology and analysis of currents to the north of the Yaeyama Islands,East China Sea

A new method was developed to compare the classifications of different kind of data maps based on the self-organizing map (SOM) analysis. The surface current maps of the northern coast of Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands, East China Sea, observed by high-frequency (HF) radar were classified by SOM. Winds, sea surface temperatures (SST), and reanalysis data were also classified by SOM. The optimum area for classification was determined objectively by the new method, which relates these patterns to HF radar current patterns. We found two typical surface patterns: the first was that northeastward flows are dominant in the observation area and the second was that a clockwise eddy was also dominant in this area. The southwestward wind pattern was strongly related to the dominant clockwise eddy pattern of the HF radar current field.     

等离子体湍流对电子的加速

本文讨论了等离子体湍流对电子加速的两种模型:（1）假定在空间中存在一个空间均匀的等离子体湍流区,当具有一定初始分布的电子束通过此湍流区时,研究湍流场对电子束的加速过程;（2）在某一封闭的区域中,存在着具有一定初始分布和空间均匀的等离子体,当某种类型的等离子体波突然传入此等离子体区,然后考察此区中电子的加速过程。在这两种模型中,可能存在着某种电子消失机制。假定湍谱是幂指数形式,我们给出了不同类型湍流扩散系数的普遍形式。利用较简单的数学方法,求解了包括消失过程的一维准线性动力学方程,对于给定的初始分布,得出了分布函数的解析解,并给出了平均能量时间关系的表达式。另外,对于特定的湍谱指数,解出了当平行电场和湍流同时存在时的分布函数。最后,对所得结果进行了数值分析和讨论。     

Magnetosheath Interaction with the High Latitude Magnetopause

We present both statistical and case studies of magnetosheath interaction with the high-latitude magnetopause on the basis of Interball-1 and other ISTP spacecraft data. We discuss those data along with recently published results on the topology of cusp-magnetosheath transition and the roles of nonlinear disturbances in mass and energy transfer across the high-latitude magnetopause. For sunward dipole tilts, a cusp throat is magnetically open for direct interaction with the incident flow that results in the creation of a turbulent boundary layer (TBL) over an indented magnetopause and downstream of the cusp. For antisunward tilts, the cusp throat is closed by a smooth magnetopause; demagnetized ‘plasma balls’ (with scale ∼ few R_E, an occurrence rate of ∼25% and trapped energetic particles) present a major magnetosheath plasma channel just inside the cusp. The flow interacts with the ‘plasma balls’ via reflected waves, which trigger a chaotization of up to 40% of the upstream kinetic energy. These waves propagate upstream of the TBL and initiate amplification of the existing magnetosheath waves and their cascade-like decays during downstream passage throughout the TBL. The most striking feature of the nonlinear interaction is the appearance of magnetosonic jets, accelerated up to an Alfvenic Mach number of 3. The characteristic impulsive local momentum loss is followed by decelerated Alfvenic flows and modulated by the TBL waves; momentum balance is conserved only on time scales of the Alfvenic flows (1/f_A ∼12 min). Wave trains at f_A∼1.3 mHz are capable of synchronizing interactions throughout the outer and inner boundary layers. The sonic/Alfvenic flows, bounded by current sheets, control the TBL spectral shape and result in non-Gaussian statistical characteristics of the disturbances, indicating the fluctuation intermittency. We suggest that the multi-scale TBL processes play at least a comparable role to that of macro-reconnection (remote from or in the cusp) in solar wind energy transformation and population of the magnetosphere by the magnetosheath plasma. Secondary micro-reconnection constitutes a necessary chain at the small-scale (∼ion gyroradius) edge of the TBL cascades. The thick TBL transforms the flow energy, including deceleration and heating of the flow in the open throat, ‘plasma ball’ and the region downstream of the cusp.     

第23太阳活动周期太阳风参数及地磁指数的统计分析

日冕物质抛射(Coronal Mass Ejection,简称CME)和共转相互作用区(Corotating Interaction Region,简称CIR)是造成日地空间行星际扰动和地磁扰动的两个主要原因,提供了地球磁暴的主要驱动力,进而显著影响地球空间环境.为深入研究太阳风活动及受其主导影响的地磁活动的时间分布特征,本文对大量太阳风参数及地磁活动指数的数据进行了详细分析.首先,采用由NASA OMNIWeb提供的太阳风参数及地磁活动指数的公开数据,通过自主编写matlab程序对第23太阳活动周期(1996-01-01—2008-12-31)的数据包括行星际磁场Bz分量、太阳风速度、太阳风质子密度、太阳风动压等重要太阳风参数及Dst指数、AE指数、Kp指数等主要的地磁指数进行统计分析,建立了包括269个CME事件和456个CIR事件列表的数据库.采用事例分析法和时间序列叠加法分别对两类太阳活动的四个重要太阳风参数(IMF Bz、太阳风速度、太阳风质子密度、太阳风动压)和三个主要地磁指数(Dst、AE、Kp)进行统计分析,并研究了其统计特征.其次,根据Dst指数最小值确定了第23太阳活动周期内的355个孤立地磁暴事件,并以Dst指数最小值为标准将这些磁暴进一步分类为145个弱磁暴、123个中等磁暴、70个强磁暴、12个剧烈磁暴和5个巨大磁暴.最后,采用时间序列叠加法对不同强度磁暴的太阳风参数和地磁指数进行统计分析.统计分析表明,对于CME事件,Nsw/Pdyn(Nsw表示太阳风质子密度,Pdyn表示太阳风动压)线性拟合斜率一般为正;对于CIR事件,Nsw/Pdyn线性拟合斜率一般为负,这可作为辨别CME和CIR事件的一种有效方法.从平均意义上讲,相较于CIR事件,CME事件有更大的南向IMF Bz分量、太阳风动压Pdyn、AE指数、Kp指数以及更小的Dstmin.一般情况下,CME事件有更大的可能性驱动极强地磁暴.总体而言,对于不同强度的地磁暴,Dst指数的变化呈现出一定的相似性,但随着地磁暴强度的增强,Dst指数衰减的速度变快.CME和CIR事件以及其各自驱动的地磁暴事件有着很多不同,因此,需要将CME事件驱动的磁暴及CIR事件驱动的磁暴分开研究.建立CME、CIR事件及地磁暴的数据库以及获取的统计分析结果,将为深入研究地球磁层等离子体片、辐射带及环电流对太阳活动的响应特征提供有利的帮助.     

Quasi-periodic patterns coupling the Sun,solar wind and the Earth

The spectrum of velocity and magnetic fields in the solar wind is self-similar (power-law type) in the frequency range greater than >1/day indicating well-mixed turbulence. But it loses self-similarity for lower frequencies indicating the presence of large-scale patterns, which are intermittently generated inside the Sun and propagate from the Sun to the Earth.Here we discuss the spatia–temporal characteristics and origin of the 1.3-year quasi-periodic pattern found inside the Sun by helioseismic methods and detected in the solar wind. To identify and characterize this pattern on the Sun we use time series of solar magnetic Carrington maps generated at the Wilcox Solar Observatory and independent component data analysis. This analysis shows the latitudinal distribution of the pattern, its variable frequency and intermittent appearance.     

Spatial distribution of oscillations in filaments

The velocity field in the region of quiescent filaments has been studied based on the observations performed at Sayan Solar Observatory. The spectral observations of the velocity field have been performed simultaneously at two levels of the solar atmosphere in lines Hβ (λ = 486.1 nm, the chromosphere) and FeI (λ = 486.3 nm, the photosphere). The character of stable and oscillatory plasma motions in different filament parts at two levels of the solar atmosphere have been analyzed based on the maps of two-dimensional velocity distribution.     

Dispersion in the Yucatan coastal zone: Implications for red tide events

The mechanisms governing dispersion processes in the northern Yucatan coast are investigated using a barotropic numerical model of coastal circulation, which includes wind-generated and large scale currents (i.e. Yucatan Current). This work provides the foundations for studying the dispersion of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the area. Modelling experiments include effects of climatic wind (from long term monthly mean NCEP reanalysis), short term wind events (from in situ point measurements), and Yucatan Current (YC) characteristics. Its magnitude was approximated from published reports, and its trajectory from geostrophic current fields derived from altimeter data. These provided a range of real and climatic conditions to study the routes in which phytoplankton blooms may travel. The 2-D model results show that a synthetic and conservative bloom seeded in the Cabo Catoche (CC) region (where it usually grows), moves along the coast to the west up to San Felipe (SF), where it can either move offshore, or carry on travelling westwards. The transport to the west up to SF is greatly influenced by the trajectory, intensity and proximity of the YC jet to the peninsula, which enhances the westward circulation in the Yucatan Shelf. Numerical experiments show that patch dispersion is consistently to the west even under the influence of northerly winds. When the YC flows westward towards the Campeche Bank, momentum transfer caused by the YC jet dominates the dispersion processes over wind stress. On the other hand, when it flows closer to Cuba, the local processes (i.e. wind and bathymetry) become dominant. Coastal orientation and the Coriolis force may be responsible for driving the patch offshore at SF if external forcing decreases.     

The plasma sheet source groove

A test particle study of the ionospheric source of plasma in the Earth’s plasma sheet has been performed, in an effort to understand an apparent inconsistency between the results of forward and backward (in time) test particle calculations. Most, if not all, forward calculations of polar wind ion outflows result in energetic plasma sheet ion populations; yet most, if not all, backward trajectory calculations from typical plasma sheet ion populations lead elsewhere than to low energy polar cap outflows. Using a trajectory discovered through forward calculation to connect these two regions, we found that the trajectory was only accurately reversible within an extremely narrow range of energy, pitch angle and gyrophase angle in the plasma sheet, referred to herein as ‘the source groove’. This implies that ionospheric plasma tends to appear in the plasma sheet within narrow regions of velocity space, but is effectively diffused by fluctuations to form the observed more isotropic plasma sheet populations. The implications for backtracking test particle studies are discussed, and it is concluded that test particle backtracking from highly chaotic regions is impractical and should be supported by forward modeling of plasma flows up to the boundaries of such regions.     

Observations of thermospheric neutral winds within the polar cusp and the auroral oval using a Doppler imaging system (DIS)

Two Doppler imaging systems (DIS) or wide-field imaging Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPI), have recently been commissioned, one at the Auroral Station, Adventdalen, Longyearbyen, Svalbard, and the second at the IRF, Kiruna, Sweden. These instruments can provide wide-field (600 * 800 km) images of neutral wind flows in the upper thermosphere, by measuring the Doppler shift of the atomic oxygen forbidden near 630 nm, which is emitted from an altitude of approximately 240 km. From the instrument in Svalbard, at mid-winter, it is possible to observe the dayside polar cusp and the polar cap throughout the entire day, whereas from Kiruna, the night-time auroral oval is observable during the hours of darkness. Measurements of thermospheric dynamics from the DIS can be used in conjunction with observations of ionospheric plasma flows and thermal plasma densities by the EISCAT-Svalbard radar (ESR) and by EISCAT, along with other complementary observations by co-located instruments such as the auroral large-scale imaging system (ALIS). Such combined data sets will allow a wide range of scientific studies to be performed concerning the dynamical response of the thermosphere and ionosphere, and the important energetic and momentum exchange processes resulting from their complex interactions. These processes are particularly important in the immediate vicinity of the polar cusp and within the auroral oval. Early results from Svalbard in late 1995 will be discussed. The DIS in Kiruna observed two interesting geomagnetic disturbances in early 1997, the minor geomagnetic storm of 10, 11 January, and the disturbed period from 7–10 February. During these events, the thermospheric wind response showed some interesting departures from the average behaviour, which we attribute to the result of strong and variable Lorenz forcing (ion drag) and Joule and particle heating during these geomagnetic disturbances.     

On the solar cycle dependence of winds and planetary waves as seen from mid-latitude D1 LF mesopause region wind measurements

At the Collm Observatory of the University of Leipzig LF D1 low-frequency total reflection nighttime wind measurements have been carried out continuously for more than two decades. Using a multiple regression analysis to derive prevailing winds, tides and the quasi-2-day wave from the half-hourly mean values of the horizontal wind components, monthly mean values of mesopause wind parameters are obtained that can be analysed with respect to long-term trends and influences of solar variability. The response of the prevailing wind to the 11-year solar cycle differs throughout the year. While in winter no significant correlation between the zonal prevailing wind and solar activity is found, in spring and summer a negative correlation between the TWC can be seen from the measurements. This is connected with stronger vertical gradients of the zonal prevailing wind during solar maximum than during solar minimum. Since the amplitude of the quasi-2-day wave is dependent on the zonal mean wind vertical gradient, this is connected with a positive correlation between solar activity and quasi-two-day wave activity.Paper Presented at the Second IAGA/ICMA (IAMAS) Workshop on Solar Activity Forcing of the Middle Atmosphere, Prague, August 1997     

Generation and propagation of solar disturbances: a magnetohydrodynamic simulation

It has been recognized that there are three basic physical agents, namely (i) electromagnetic radiation, (ii) high-energy charged particles, and (iii) enhanced solar wind, resulting from solar activity, which affect the near-Earth and terrestrial environment. In this paper, we restrict our discussion to the subject of the enhanced solar wind. In this context, it is well-known that the most appropriate tool to investigate the generation and propagation of solar disturbances is magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) theory. The most recent progress during the period of the Solar Terrestrial Energy Program (STEP) in these aspects will be presented. In particular, the induced transport of momentum and energy, by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), from the solar surface to the Earths environment (i.e. at 1 AU) will be illustrated by using a self-consistent MHD model of streamer and flux-rope interactions.     

High-speed streams of the stationary solar wind and the possible mechanism by which they are generated

The velocities of the stationary extra-ecliptic solar wind are analyzed depending on the heliolatitudes, heliocentric distances, and solar activity. An analysis has been performed using the direct measurements of the solar plasma flux velocities onboard Ulysses and the simultaneous ground-based IPS observations. The arguments for the hypothesis that primary high-speed (V ∼ 900 km/s) flows exist at the corona bottom and are directly related to the photosphere and solar magnetic fields are presented. The possible mechanism by which high-speed streams are generated is generally considered.