Global distribution of energetic proton precipitations equatorward of the boundary of isotropic fluxes

Based on data of the NOAA POES satellite, the global distribution of the occurrence rate of precipitations of energetic protons (E > 30 keV) equatorward of the boundary of isotropic fluxes has been constructed for the first time. It has been shown that the occurrence rate of proton precipitations inside the zone of anisotropic fluxes is maximum in daytime hours (1100–1600 MLT) at latitudes L = 6–9 and decreases in evening and morning hours. Comparison of the obtained results about proton precipitations with the spatial distribution of the occurrence rate of electromagnetic ion–cyclotron (EMIC) waves in the equatorial magnetosphere according to results of satellite observations demonstrates a close relationship between them. This corroborates that precipitations of energetic protons equatorward of the boundary of isotropic fluxes are a consequence of the development of the ion–cyclotron instability in the equatorial magnetosphere.     

Energetic proton precipitation related to ion–cyclotron waves

This brief review summarizes recent findings related to particle precipitation associated with electromagnetic ion–cyclotron (EMIC) waves seen on the ground as geomagnetic Pc1 and IPDP pulsations.Particle precipitation signatures of ion–cyclotron interaction are described as revealed from low-altitude satellite measurements of the energetic proton fluxes as well as from observations of the proton aurora. As a result, localized proton precipitation patterns situated equatorward of the isotropy boundary are disclosed. One of the patterns is a proton precipitation spot in the morning sector, presumably mapped onto plasmapause; another one is an elongated region of the precipitation, presumably mapped onto the plasmaspheric plume.Clear evidence of the pitch-angle scattering associated with the ion–cyclotron wave activity is found near the equatorial plane in the region conjugated with the localized proton precipitation at low altitude.Thus, the revealed precipitation patterns determine the location of the region of intense pitch-angle scattering of energetic protons, and, therefore, their observations can be used to monitor the region of the ion–cyclotron interaction and to study its origin and properties. Some examples of such application of the low-altitude observations of energetic particles are described.     

Simultaneous Observations of EMIC Waves,ELF/VLF Waves,and Energetic Particle Precipitation during Multiple Compressions of the Magnetosphere

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - Simultaneous observations of ELF/VLF and EMIC waves from Van Allen Probe satellites in the daytime Earth’s magnetosphere and on the ground during multiple...     

波粒相互作用导致环电流质子沉降的卫星共轭观测

波粒相互作用是环电流损失的重要机制之一,但波粒相互作用导致的环电流离子沉降而损失迄今为止缺乏直接的观测证据.基于磁层及电离层卫星的协同观测,本文报道了发生在2015年9月7日,由电磁离子回旋波(EMIC波)导致环电流质子沉降的共轭观测事件.在等离子体层的内边界,Van Allen Probe B卫星观测到,存在EMIC波的区域和不存在EMIC波的区域相比,离子通量的投掷角分布的各向异性变弱.我们将Van Allen Probe B卫星沿着磁力线投影到电离层高度,同时在该投影区域内DMSP 16卫星在亚极光区域观测到环电流质子沉降.而且,通过从理论上计算质子弹跳平均扩散系数,我们进一步证实观测的EMIC波确实能将环电流质子散射到损失锥中.本文的研究工作为EMIC波导致环电流质子沉降提供了直接的观测证据,揭示了环电流衰减的重要物理机制:EMIC波将环电流质子散射到损失锥中,从而沉降到低高度大气层中而损失.     

基于CARISMA地磁台链观测的IPDP事件的统计分析

亚暴期间磁尾等离子体片离子注入内磁层能够激发电磁离子回旋(EMIC)波.对应于这种EMIC波,地面磁力仪可观测到周期逐渐减小的地磁脉动(IPDP).利用GOES卫星数据,地磁指数和加拿大CARISMA地磁台站的数据,我们研究了IPDP事件的产生与亚暴磁尾注入的关系.同时利用CARISMA地磁台链中的MCMU和MSTK两个台站,从2005年4月到2014年5月期间的观测数据,统计分析了亚暴期间的IPDP事件,研究了IPDP事件的出现率关于季节和磁地方时的分布特征.我们总共获得128个两个台站同时观测的IPDP事件.该类事件关于季节分布的发生率,冬季最小,为13.28%,春季最大,为32.81%,结果表明IPDP事件关于季节分布的发生率受到电离层电导率及亚暴发生率的影响.两个台站同时观测到的IPDP事件最大出现率出现在15—18 MLT(磁地方时),结果表明IPDP事件主要由亚暴期间产生的能量离子注入内磁层,西向漂移遇到等离子体层羽状结构(Plume)区的高密度等离子体所激发.     

Proton interaction with quasi-electrostatic whistler mode waves in an inhomogeneous plasma (magnetosphere)

We study the interaction between energetic protons of the Earth’s radiation belts and quasi-electrostatic whistler mode waves. The nature of these waves is well known: whistler waves, which are excited in the magnetosphere due to cyclotron instability, enter the resonant regime of propagation and become quasielectrostatic, while their amplitude significantly increases. Far enough from the equator where proton gyrofrequency and transversal velocity increase the nonlinear interaction between these waves and energetic protons becomes possible. We show that plasma inhomogeneity may destroy cyclotron resonance between wave and proton on the time scale of the order of particle gyroperiod which in fact means the absence of cyclotron resonance; nevertheless, the interaction between waves and energetic particles remains nonlinear. In this case, particle dynamics in the phase space has the character of diffusion; however, the diffusion coefficients are determined by the averaged amplitude of the wave field, but not by its resonant harmonics. For real parameters of the waves and magnetospheric plasma, proton pitch-angle diffusion leading to their precipitation from the magnetosphere becomes essential.     

Relativistic electron losses related to EMIC waves during CIR and CME storms

The losses of radiation belt electrons to the atmosphere due to wave–particle interactions with electromagnetic ion-cyclotron (EMIC) waves during corotating interaction region (CIR) storms compared to coronal mass ejections (CME) storms is investigated. Geomagnetic storms with extended ‘recovery’ phases due to large-amplitude Alfvén waves in the solar wind are associated with relativistic electron flux enhancements in the outer radiation belt. The corotating solar wind streams following a CIR in the solar wind contain large-amplitude Alfvén waves, but also some CME storms with high-speed solar wind can have large-amplitude Alfvén waves and extended ‘recovery’ phases. During both CIR and CME storms the ring current protons are enhanced. In the anisotropic proton zone the protons are unstable for EMIC wave growth. Atmospheric losses of relativistic electrons due to weak to moderate pitch angle scattering by EMIC waves is observed inside the whole anisotropic proton zone. During storms with extended ‘recovery’ phases we observe higher atmospheric loss of relativistic electrons than in storms with fast recovery phases. As the EMIC waves exist in storms with both extended and short recovery phases, the increased loss of relativistic electrons reflects the enhanced source of relativistic electrons in the radiation belt during extended recovery phase storms. The region with the most unstable protons and intense EMIC wave generation, seen as a narrow spike in the proton precipitation, is spatially coincident with the largest loss of relativistic electrons. This region can be observed at all MLTs and is closely connected with the spatial shape of the plasmapause as revealed by simultaneous observations by the IMAGE and the NOAA spacecraft. The observations in and near the atmospheric loss cone show that the CIR and CME storms with extended ‘recovery’ phases produce high atmospheric losses of relativistic electrons, as these storms accelerate electrons to relativistic energies. The CME storm with short recovery phase gives low losses of relativistic electrons due to a reduced level of relativistic electrons in the radiation belt.     

NOAA系列卫星高能粒子数据一致性统计分析

顶部电离层是低轨道卫星的运行空间,是能量粒子沉降的重要区域,认识这个空间的能量粒子分布特征对研究各种空间天气事件、地震、火山以及其他人类活动引起的扰动具有重要的现实意义.本文利用位于顶部电离层的5颗NOAA系列卫星数据,统计研究了100~300keV的电子和80~2500keV的质子的全球分布特征.研究发现:高能电子和质子主要分布在两极辐射带和南大西洋异常区,两极辐射带观测到的高能电子通量比南大西洋异常区高几倍到一个数量级,而质子则相反;高能电子在两极辐射带地区通量分布具有不对称性,主要表现为在北辐射带西经75°到东经90°存在低值区,相对应的是粒子主要聚集在其磁共轭区,且其边界和南大西洋异常区相交;高能质子两极辐射带对称分布,在南半球东经0°至东经50°存在高值区.利用概率密度统计分析发现,各颗卫星在南大西洋异常区和两极辐射带的高能电子和高能质子通量总体上均呈正态分布.在南大西洋异常区,NOAA-15观测到的高能电子通量比其他卫星的低,NOAA-16观测的高能电子通量比其他卫星的高,各卫星的高能质子观测结果基本相同.在两极辐射带,各卫星观测的高能电子通量结果基本相同,NOAA-18和NOAA-19观测的质子通量最高,NOAA-16和NOAA-17次之,NOAA-15最低,其中NOAA-19比NOAA-15观测到的质子通量要高一个数量级左右.在磁暴期间顶部电离层高能电子的变化表明地磁指数Dst和空间粒子通量变化具有时间同步性.本文的研究成果将为我国下一代电磁卫星设计提供基础依据.     

Proton Auroras Equatorward of the Oval as a Manifestation of the Ion-Cyclotron Instability in the Earth’s Magnetosphere (Brief Review)

Different types of proton auroras observed by the IMAGE satellite equatorward of the proton aurora oval are briefly reviewed. These auroras are caused by the precipitation of energetic protons from the Earth’s magnetosphere during the development of the ion-cyclotron instability. In addition to the previously considered types of proton auroras (spots, evening arcs, and dayside flashes), a new type is described: longlasting proton auroras on the dayside. The scheme of interrelation between different proton auroras equatorward of the oval with the distribution of cold plasmaspheric plasma is given.     

Dayside isotropic precipitation of energetic protons

Recently it has been shown that isotropic precipitation of energetic protons on the nightside is caused by a non-adiabatic effect, namely pitch-angle scattering of protons in curved magnetic field lines of the tail current sheet. Here we address the origin of isotropic proton precipitation on the dayside. Computations of proton scattering regions in the magnetopheric models T87, T89 and T95 reveal two regions which contribute to the isotropic precipitation. The first is the region of weak magnetic field in the outer cusp which provides the 1–2° wide isotropic precipitation on closed field lines in a 2–3 hour wide MLT sector centered on noon. A second zone is formed by the scattering on the closed field lines which cross the nightside equatorial region near the magnetopause which provides isotropic precipitation starting 1.5–2 h MLT from noon and which joins smoothly the precipitation coming from the tail current sheet. We also analyzed the isotropic proton precipitation using observations of NOAA low altitude polar spacecraft. We find that isotropic precipitation of >30 to > 80 keV protons continues around noon forming the continuous oval-shaped region of isotropic precipitation. Part of this region lies on open field lines in the region of cusp-like or mantle precipitation, its equatorward part is observed on closed field lines. Near noon it extends 1–2° below the sharp boundary of solar electron fluxes (proxy of the open/closed field line boundary) and equatorward of the cusp-like auroral precipitation. The observed energy dispersion of its equatorward boundary (isotropic boundary) agrees with model predictions of expected particle scattering in the regions of weak and highly curved magnetic field. We also found some disagreement with model computations. We did not observe the predicted split of the isotropic precipitation region into separate nightside and dayside isotropic zones. Also, the oval-like shape of the isotropic boundary has a symmetry line in 10–12 MLT sector, which with increasing activity rotates toward dawn while the latitude of isotropic boundary is decreasing. Our conclusion is that for both dayside and nightside the isotropic boundary location is basically controlled by the magnetospheric magnetic field, and therefore the isotropic boundaries can be used as a tool to probe the magnetospheric configuration in different external conditions and at different activity levels.     

FY2G卫星新一代高能带电粒子探测器观测数据分析

风云二号系列卫星是我国开展动态空间天气事件和空间环境监测及预警业务的重要观测平台,各系列星上均安装有高能带电粒子探测仪器开展卫星轨道空间带电粒子辐射环境连续实时的动态监测.FY2G卫星于2015年1月发射,星上采用了全新的高能粒子探测器,包括:一台高能电子探测器可监测200keV-4 MeV的高能电子,一台高能质子重离子探测器可监测4~300 MeV的高能质子,从而实现对带电粒子更宽、更精细能谱的监测.本文给出了FY2G高能带电粒子探测器在2015年1月至2015年10月期间几起典型的带电粒子动态观测结果,结合太阳和地磁活动相关参数,对高能带电粒子通量在亚暴、磁暴和太阳爆发等扰动影响下细节变化过程和特征作出了较为详细的分析描述,展现了FY2G卫星高能带电粒子探测器对轨道空间粒子环境动态变化的准确响应能力,表明观测数据可开展更加精细的轨道粒子环境评估.针对FY2G高能带电粒子探测结果进一步开展了与GOES系列卫星同期观测的比对分析,结果反映出在较小的扰动条件下多星观测到的带电粒子响应和通量变化可基本趋于一致或保持相对稳定的偏差,而扰动条件的显著变化会加大多星观测带电粒子响应和通量变化的差异,这些结果可为今后开展多星数据同化应用提供参考,也为发展磁层对扰动响应的更加复杂的图像提供了新的可能.     

Interrelation between localized energetic particle precipita ion and cold plasma inhomogeneities in the magnetosphere

Situations when localized precipitation of energetic (E > 30 keV) protons and electrons, associated with the development of cyclotron instability in the magnetosphere, is recorded during one satellite pass are identified in the data of particle flux observations on the NOAA-12 low-orbiting satellite. Such events were observed only in the evening sector of the magnetosphere. This precipitation is compared with the data on the cold (E < 10 eV) plasma density obtained on the LANL geostationary satellites. The comparison showed that the precipitation of energetic particles is related to the presence of cold plasma with a density of 20–100 cm^?3 in geostationary orbit in the evening sector of the magnetosphere. The conclusion has been made that the localized precipitation of energetic particles is generated at the edges of small-scale structures of cold plasma, forming the so-called “plasmaspheric tail,” i.e., the cold plasma region extending from the evening plasmapause toward the Sun.     

Effect of magnetospheric convection on the energy distribution of protons from the Earth radiation belts

The structure of energetic protons from the Earth radiation belts, averaged for a magnetically quiet period, can be explained by the equilibrium between the radial diffusion transfer, loss due to Coulomb collisions, charge exchange with ambient neutral hydrogen of the geocorona, and drift of protons under the influence of magnetospheric convection. By transfer we mean diffusion owing to fluctuations related to substorms in the large-scale electric and magnetic fields. Equatorially mirroring protons with energies of 1–750 keV have been considered, and the theoretical predictions of the proton energy spectra for L = 1.0−6.6 have been compared with the observations on several satellites.     

Exact solutions of magnetohydrodynamics for describing different structural disturbances in solar wind

We use analytical methods of magnetohydrodynamics to describe the behavior of cosmic plasma. This approach makes it possible to describe different structural fields of disturbances in solar wind: shock waves, direction discontinuities, magnetic clouds and magnetic holes, and their interaction with each other and with the Earth’s magnetosphere. We note that the wave problems of solar–terrestrial physics can be efficiently solved by the methods designed for solving classical problems of mathematical physics. We find that the generalized Riemann solution particularly simplifies the consideration of secondary waves in the magnetosheath and makes it possible to describe in detail the classical solutions of boundary value problems. We consider the appearance of a fast compression wave in the Earth’s magnetosheath, which is reflected from the magnetosphere and can nonlinearly overturn to generate a back shock wave. We propose a new mechanism for the formation of a plateau with protons of increased density and a magnetic field trough in the magnetosheath due to slow secondary shock waves. Most of our findings are confirmed by direct observations conducted on spacecrafts (WIND, ACE, Geotail, Voyager-2, SDO and others).     

A quantitative model for cyclotron wave-particle interactions at the plasmapause

The formation of a zone of energetic electron precipitation by the plasmapause, a region of enhanced plasma density, following energetic particle injection during a magnetic storm, is analyzed. Such a region can also be formed by detached cold plasma clouds appearing in the outer magnetosphere by restructuring of the plasmasphere during a magnetic storm. As a mechanism of precipitation, wave-particle interactions by the cyclotron instability between whistler-mode waves and electrons are considered. In the framework of the self-consistent equations of quasi-linear plasma theory, the distribution function of trapped electrons and the electron precipitation pattern are found. The theoretical results are compared with experimental data obtained from NOAA satellites.     

Recalibration of the long-term NOAA/MEPED energetic proton measurements

The MEPED instruments onboard the low-altitude polar orbiting NOAA/POES satellites have measured energetic particles since 1978, offering a nearly continuous series of energetic particle fluxes in the magnetosphere during three solar cycles. However, there are several problems in using these data for long-term studies, the most significant one being that the solid state detectors of the MEPED proton instruments suffer significant radiation damage. This causes the effective energy thresholds of the instrument to increase, leading to underestimated particle fluxes already a couple of years after satellite launch. Before the MEPED data can reliably be used in any long-term study the data have to be recalibrated taking into account the decay of the detectors. In this paper we present quantified estimates of the degree of radiation damage for all NOAA/POES satellites, a method for correcting the MEPED proton measurements, and give an estimate of energetic proton fluxes from 1978 to present.     

A contribution to the theory of the equatorial noise generation in the Earth’s magnetosphere

This work is devoted to the study of the generation of the equatorial noise—electromagnetic emission below the LHR frequency observed near the equatorial plane of the magnetosphere at distances of ~4R_E. According to accepted views, the generation of the equatorial noise is related to the instability of ring current protons. In this work, a logarithmic distribution of energetic protons over the magnetic moment with an empty loss cone is proposed, and arguments for the formation of such a distribution are presented. The main result of the work is the calculation and analysis of the instability growth rate of waves forming the equatorial noise. The growth rate obtained in this work significantly differs from that encountered in the literature.     

On the remote sensing of plasma sheet from low-altitude spacecraft

The possibility to estimate plasma sheet parameters from low-altitude measurements looks quite attractive, but it critically depends on how isotropic the plasma pressure is in the flux tube. To evaluate the ion pressure anisotropy we compare the values of pressure in the ionospheric and equatorial parts of the field line. Ionospheric values were computed from proton measurements at NOAA low-altitude satellites, they were compared with pressure estimates computed from empirical magnetic field models as well as with average values known from direct plasma sheet measurements. Three different methods of mapping the plasma pressure from plasma sheet to low altitude have been tried; each uses the particle isotropic boundaries observed at low altitudes and/or computed from magnetospheric models. Excluding observations obtained during substorm expansion, from these comparisons we conclude that in the plasma sheet, at geocentric distances 9–20R_E, the pressure estimates in the ionospheric and equatorial parts of the plasma sheet flux tube agree very well, suggesting a good pressure isotropy and thus justifying a possibility to monitor the plasma sheet parameters based on low-altitude measurements. The results also illustrate the usefulness of isotropic boundaries as a label of tail current intensity and as reliable tool for establishing mapping between magnetosphere and ionosphere.     

Satellite observations of Pc 1 pearl waves: The changing paradigm

Pc 1 pearls have been observed on the ground for about 70 years. During this time numerous publications have been written on the various properties of Pc 1 pearl waves, the related theory, and possible applications. Pc 1 waves with a clear pearl structure are only a fraction of all Pc 1 waves observed on ground, and this fraction depends on the latitude of observations, increasing from high to low latitudes. In fact, the spatial and temporal occurrence of Pc 1 pearls is closely connected with the location and development of the plasmapause. While it has been known roughly 40 years that Pc 1 waves are electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves generated by anisotropic, energetic ions in the near-equatorial magnetosphere, the formation of pearl structure is still largely in question. In situ observations of Pc 1 waves in the Earth's magnetosphere have been made since the 1970s by various satellites in different orbits. However, satellite observations of clear Pc 1 pearls are still rather few. Here we review a few crucial satellite-based observations of Pc 1 pearls, and evaluate their contribution to the understanding of pearl formation. We show that the long-held paradigm of the bouncing wave packet model is in serious contradiction with satellite observations and therefore outdated. Instead, observations support the idea that Pc 1 wave growth rate is successively modulated at the equator by long-period ULF waves.     

Ion drift in the earth’s inner plasmasphere during magnetospheric disturbances and proton temperature dynamics

Based on the thermal plasma measurements in the Earth’s inner plasmasphere on the INTER-BALL-2 and MAGION-5 satellites it has been indicated that the plasmaspheric ion temperature as a rule decreases during the main phase of magnetic storms; in this case the plasma density increases or remains at the level typical of undisturbed conditions. The physical mechanism by which the ion drift during a magnetic storm results in a temperature decrease is described. It is shown that the third adiabatic invariant also remains in processes with a characteristic time shorter than the period of charged particle drift around the Earth for cold equatorial plasma. The constructed model of the drift shell displacement from the Earth caused by a decrease in the magnetic field in the inner magnetosphere during the development of a magnetic storm satisfactorily describes the decrease in the proton temperature near the equatorial plane.