2004年3月18日高纬磁层顶多重通量管事件分析

2004-03-18 23:10～23:50 UT期间，“双星（Double Star）”探测一号卫星（TC 1）在向阳面磁层顶高纬晨侧由内向外穿越磁层顶，其时TC_1的GSM坐标为 (75RE, -55RE, -54RE), RE为地球半径.穿越过程中TC_1观测到了8个通量管和1个磁通量传输事件（FTEs）.在此期间Cluster星簇位于向阳面太阳风内，其GSM坐标为(180RE, -31RE, -62RE)，其4颗卫星监测到行星际磁场（IMF）的BZ分量持续南向，BＹ有较大的负值.本文的研究表明：TC_1观测到的前7个通量管具有准周期重现性，周期大约是1～4 min，明显小于以前所观测到的FTEs的平均周期(8～11 min)；所有的通量管都具有较强的核心场.本文分别使用最小方差分析法（MVA）和Grad_Shafranov反演方法（GSR）对通量管的轴向进行了分析和对比，发现所有的通量管主轴基本沿晨昏向，结果显示GSR方法在轴向分析上比MVA优越.本文使用GSR方法对通量管的磁场结构进行了分析，恢复出了通量管的磁场在卫星穿越面的结构图；此外，本文还对这次多重通量管事件进行了deHoffmann Teller(HT)分析，结果表明，所有通量管大致朝南极方向运动，均来源于向日面低纬区域.这说明它们可能起源于向日面低纬区，由该区的磁场分量重联产生.     

2001年1月26日高纬磁层顶通量管事件的观测研究--空间电流密度计算及分析

讨论了三种根据Cluster Ⅱ四颗卫星的磁场测量数据计算空间电流的方法及其误差,论证了这几种方法的内在一致性,并得到了完全相同的计算结果. 进而依据Cluster Ⅱ 磁场探测资料,计算了2001年1月26日多重磁通量管和FTE事件中高纬磁层顶边界层和磁鞘区的电流密度. 结果表明,磁通量管内电流密度较大,可达到约10-8A/m2;计算精度较高,结果可靠. 本文还应用最小方差分析法（MVA）,发现电流方向与通量管的轴向基本一致;论证了电流MVA分析在研究通量管性质时的作用,同时提出了电流管的概念.     

高纬向阳侧磁层顶通量传输事件的特性研究--通量管轴线方位及运动分析

本文分析了2001年2月和3月期间Cluster Ⅱ穿越磁层顶前后的观测资料,检测到13个通量传输事件（FTEs）.用多颗卫星磁场测量资料的最小方差分析（MVAB）方法确定FTE的管轴方向（其中6个方向较可靠）.FTE管轴方向的分布和低纬处不同,在磁顶法线坐标系LMN中对M轴有较大偏离,比较靠近L轴.deHoffmann Teller(HT)分析指出,13个FTEs都存在一个很好的HT参考系,表明它们以一个准稳的MHD结构运动.对垂直于管轴方向的运动分析表明FTEs并不一定和背景等离子体一起对流,它们可快于或慢于背景流,但FTEs的运动和背景流基本沿相同方向,其间可有一不大的夹角.在HT坐标系中,10个FTEs的等离子体速度接近零, 其他3个FTEs的等离子体速度约为局地Alfven波速的14%,都不符合Walen关系.其中北半球事件的Walen曲线为正斜率,南半球事件为负斜率,这说明等离子体沿磁力线（北半球顺着磁场,南半球逆着磁场）流向磁层.     

地球磁层对磁云边界层的大尺度响应分析——个例研究

主要分析了WIND飞船2004年11月9日探测的磁云边界层引起的大尺度地球磁层活动．磁层响应主要包括以下3个方面：（1）磁云边界层内本身持续较强南向磁场驱动了一个强磁暴的主相．（2）由于磁云边界层内部较强南向磁场持续一段时间后发生向北偏转触发了一个典型磁层亚暴．文中详细分析了亚暴膨胀相发生时夜侧磁层各区域的观测现象,包括极光观测、高纬地磁湾扰、地球同步轨道无色散粒子注入现荆、Pi2脉动突然增强以及等离子体片偶极化现象等．（3）磁云边界层和前面鞘区组成一个动压增强区,此动压增强区强烈压缩磁层,致使磁层顶进入地球同步轨道以内;当磁云边界层扫过磁层时,位于向阳侧地球同步轨道上的两颗GOES卫星大部分时间位于磁层磁鞘中,以致很长时间内直接暴露在太阳风中．利用Shue（1998）模型计算得到当磁云边界层扫过磁层时磁层顶日下点的位置被压缩至距地心最近距离为5．1RE,磁云边界层的强动压结构以及强间断面决定了磁云边界层对磁层的强压缩效应．强动压结构、多个强间断结构以及持续较长时间的强南向磁场是许多磁云边界层的共性,这里以此磁云边界层事件为例分析了磁云边界层的地球磁层响应．     

2001年3月2日磁通量传输事件特性的研究

2001年3月2日11:00 至11:15 UT 期间,Cluster Ⅱ在南半球极尖区晨侧附近磁鞘内探测到3个通量传输事件（简称FTEs）. 本文利用Cluster Ⅱ星簇4颗卫星观测到的磁场和等离子体资料研究了这些通量传输事件的磁场形态和粒子特征. 并利用它们探测到的空间磁场梯度资料由安培定律直接求出星簇所在区域的电流分布. 结果指出：（1）BY占优势的行星际磁场结构在磁层顶的重联可以在极尖区附近发生;（2）FTEs通量管形成初期内外总压差和磁箍缩应力不一定平衡,达到平衡有一发展过程;（3）FTEs通量管截面在L M平面内的线度约为1.89RE;（4）FTEs通量管中等离子体主要沿轴向场方向流动,整个通量管以慢于背景等离子体的速度沿磁层顶向南向尾运动;（5）FTEs通量管中不仅有轴向电流,也存在环向电流. 轴向电流基本沿轴向磁场方向流动. 轴向和环向电流在管内均呈体分布,因而轴向电流产生的环向磁场接近管心时不断减小到零,而环向电流生成的轴向场则不断增大到极值;（6）在通量管的磁鞘部分观测到磁层能量粒子流量的增强,这表明通量管通过磁层顶将磁鞘和磁层内部连通起来了.     

2003年11月20日磁暴主相期间磁鞘的观测研究

2003年11月20日磁暴主相期间,Cluster卫星正好处在黄昏侧的磁鞘附近.在主相期间磁鞘磁场Bz分量大约为-60 nT,这和ACE卫星观测值基本一致.同时,磁鞘中的离子速度分布对磁鞘中的磁场方向有很强的依赖性.行星际电场Ey在磁鞘中大约是50 mV/m.磁鞘中这些极端的磁场,电场和离子的流动驱动了迄今23个太阳活动周期中最大的磁暴,其Dst指数是-472 nT.Cluster卫星观测发现磁鞘中离子的数密度比较低,这可能是由磁云经过地球时太阳风的低密度造成的.磁鞘中能量范围为1～10 keV的H+,He+和He2+的数密度主要是由磁鞘中太阳风的数密度决定的.同时,对磁鞘中存在大量的1～10 keV氧离子进行了讨论.在极端的南向行星际磁场条件下,磁层顶受到很强的压缩.氧离子可以利用较大的回旋半径,在强压缩的磁层顶和磁鞘对流的共同影响下进入磁鞘.这也表明了磁层对极端行星际条件的一种响应.Cluster卫星在11月20日磁暴事件中的观测研究,对进一步全面认识大磁暴事件有很重要的作用.     

地球磁层对磁云边界层的大尺度响应分析——个例研究

主要分析了WIND飞船2004年11月9日探测的磁云边界层引起的大尺度地球磁层活动.磁层响应主要包括以下3个方面:(1)磁云边界层内本身持续较强南向磁场驱动了一个强磁暴的主相.(2)由于磁云边界层内部较强南向磁场持续一段时间后发生向北偏转触发了一个典型磁层亚暴.文中详细分析了亚暴膨胀相发生时夜侧磁层各区域的观测现象,包括极光观测、高纬地磁湾扰、地球同步轨道无色散粒子注入现象、Pi2脉动突然增强以及等离子体片偶极化现象等.(3)磁云边界层和前面鞘区组成一个动压增强区,此动压增强区强烈压缩磁层,致使磁层顶进入地球同步轨道以内;当磁云边界层扫过磁层时,位于向阳侧地球同步轨道上的两颗GOES卫星大部分时间位于磁层磁鞘中,以致很长时间内直接暴露在太阳风中.利用Shue(1998)模型计算得到当磁云边界层扫过磁层时磁层顶日下点的位置被压缩至距地心最近距离为5.1RE,磁云边界层的强动压结构以及强间断面决定了磁云边界层对磁层的强压缩效应.强动压结构、多个强间断结构以及持续较长时间的强南向磁场是许多磁云边界层的共性,这里以此磁云边界层事件为例分析了磁云边界层的地球磁层响应.     

太阳风压力系数的研究

利用全球磁流体力学(MHD)的模拟结果,研究了太阳风压力系数与上游太阳风参数和日下点磁层顶张角的相关性.在识别出日下点附近磁层顶位置后,通过拟合得到日下点附近的磁层顶张角.在考虑上游太阳风中的磁压和热压以及磁层顶外侧的太阳风动压的情况下,计算了太阳风压力系数.通过分析行星际磁场不同方向时太阳风动压在日地连线上与磁压和热压的转化关系,详细研究了太阳风参数和日下点磁层顶张角对太阳风压力系数的影响,得到以下相关结论:(1) 在北向行星际磁场较大(B_z≥5 nT)时,磁层顶外侧磁压占主导,南向行星际磁场时磁层顶外侧热压占主导;(2) 太阳风压力系数随着行星际磁场的增大而增大,随着行星际磁场时钟角的增大而减小;并且在行星际磁场大小和其他太阳风条件相同时,北向行星际磁场时的太阳风压力系数要大于南向行星际磁场时的;北向行星际磁场时,太阳风压力系数随着太阳风动压的增大而减小,南向行星际磁场时,太阳风压力系数随着太阳风动压的增大而增大;以上结论是对观测结果的扩展;(3) 最后,我们还发现太阳风压力系数随着日下点磁层顶张角的增大而增大.     

磁层相对论电子通量变化与磁暴/亚暴的关系

本文分析了1 AU处的行星际磁场、太阳风速度、Kp指数、Dst和AE的变化关系，以及它们和地球同步轨道附近相对论电子通量的变化关系.分析说明，当行星际磁场Bz分量出现南向扰动和太阳风速度增大超过500 km/s时，地球磁层中常常发生磁暴/亚暴活动.在磁暴主相期间，相对论电子(能量E≥1 MeV)通量下降；而在磁暴恢复相期间，相对论电子通量恢复上升.但是，只有在伴随有高强度（AE≥500 nT）的持续性亚暴活动的磁暴恢复相期间，相对论电子的通量才能增长到超过暴前通量值，且能量低于300 keV的亚暴电子的通量越高，相对论电子的通量越高，反之则越低.亚暴注入电子数的多少很大程度上决定了磁暴恢复相期间相对论电子数的多少，这说明亚暴活动注入能量低于300 keV的亚暴电子是磁层相对论电子的一个重要来源.     

高纬磁层顶位形统计分析

本文收集了1226个来自Cluster、Geotail、GOES、IMP8、Interball、LANL、Polar、TC1、THEMIS和Wind卫星磁层顶穿越事例,并主要利用时间推移使上游行星际磁场clock angle或等离子体变化特征与磁鞘中的相吻合方法为这些数据配对上来自ACE或Wind卫星5 min平均值太阳风数据.通过对这些数据以及网上公布的1482个Hawkeye卫星磁层顶穿越点数据分析研究,发现：（1）高纬磁层顶在极隙区存在内凹结构,其内凹范围比较大;（2）磁层顶内凹位置明显受地磁偶极倾角控制,最内凹点所对应的天顶角和地磁偶极倾角大致呈线性关系,这种关系在南北半球大致呈反对称;（3）磁层顶内凹深度、内凹范围以及内凹中心不变纬度基本不受地磁偶极倾角影响.     

Multiple Flux Rope Events at the High-Latitude Magnetopause: Cluster/Rapid Observation on 26 January, 2001

Cluster measurements of the cusp and high latitude magnetopause boundary on 26 January, 2001 confirm that the cusp is a dynamic region full of energetic charged particles and turbulence. An energetic ion layer at high-latitudes beyond and adjacent to the duskside magnetopause exists when the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) has a southward orientation. Multiple energetic ion flux bursts were observed in the energetic ion layer. Each energetic ion flux burst was closely related to a magnetic flux rope. The axes of the flux ropes lie in the direction pointing duskward/tailward and somewhat upward. An intense axis-aligned current flows inside the ropes, with the current density reaching ∼10⁻⁸ A/m². The main components of the energetic ions are protons, helium and CNO ions, which originate from the magnetosphere, flowing out into the magnetosheath along the axis of the flux ropes. The velocity of the magnetosheath thermal plasma relative to the deHoffman-Teller (DHT) frame is found to be basically along the axis of the flux ropes also, but towards the magnetosphere. These flux ropes seem to be produced somewhere away via magnetic reconnection and move at similar DHT velocities passing over the spacecraft. These observations further confirm that the high-latitude magnetopause boundary region plays an important role in the solar wind-magnetopause coupling.     

Solar wind effects on ionospheric convection: a review

The solar wind, magnetosphere, and ionosphere are intrinsically coupled through magnetic field lines. The electrodynamic state of the high-latitude ionosphere is controlled by several geophysical processes, such as the location and rate of magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause and in the magnetotail, and the energisation and precipitation of solar wind and magnetospheric plasmas. Amongst the most observed ionospheric manifestation of solar wind/magnetospheric processes are the convection bursts associated with the so-called flux transfer events (FTEs), magnetic impulse events (MIEs), and travelling convection vortices (TCVs). Furthermore, the large-scale ionospheric convection configuration has also demonstrated a strong correspondence to variations in the interplanetary medium and substorm activity. This report briefly discusses the progress made over the past decade in studies of these transient convection phenomena and outlines some unsettled questions as well as future research directions.     

Reconnection driven lobe convection: Interball tail probe observations and global simulations

We present Interball Tail Probe observations from the high latitude mid-tail magnetopause which provide evidence of reconnection between the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and lobe field lines during a 6 h interval of stable northward and dawnward IMF on October 19, 1995. Results from a global magnetohydrodynamic simulation for this interval compare well with the Interball observations. With the simulations, we provide an extended global view of this event which gives us insight into the reconnection and convection dynamics of the magnetosphere. We find that reconnection occurs in a region of limited spatial extent near the terminator and where the IMF and the lobe field are anti-parallel. Reconnected IMF field lines drape over the dayside magnetosphere, convect along the flanks into the nightside, and enter the magnetotail through a small entry window that is located in the flank opposite to the reconnection site. Ionospheric convection is consistent with previous observations under similar IMF conditions and exhibits a two cell pattern with a dominant lobe cell over the pole. The magnetic mapping between the ionosphere and the lobe boundary is characterized by two singularities: the narrow entry window in the tail maps to a 6 h wide section of the ionospheric lobe cell. A singular mapping line cuts the lobe cell open and maps to almost the entire tail magnetopause. By this singularity the magnetosphere avoids having a stagnation point, i.e., the lobe cell center maps to a tailward convecting field line. The existence of singularities in the magnetic mapping between the ionosphere and the tail has important implications for the study of tail–ionosphere coupling via empirical magnetic field models. Because the lobe–IMF reconnection cuts away old lobe flux and replaces it with flux tubes of magnetosheath origin, solar wind plasma enters the lobes in a process that is similar to the one that operates during southward IMF.     

MHD model of magnetosheath flow: comparison with AMPTE/IRM observations on 24 October, 1985

We compare numerical results obtained from a steady-state MHD model of solar wind flow past the terrestrial magnetosphere with documented observations made by the AMPTE/IRM spacecraft on 24 October, 1985, during an inbound crossing of the magnetosheath. Observations indicate that steady conditions prevailed during this about 4 hour-long crossing. The magnetic shear at spacecraft entry into the magnetosphere was 15°. A steady density decrease and a concomitant magnetic field pile-up were observed during the 40 min interval just preceding the magnetopause crossing. In this plasma depletion layer (1) the plasma beta dropped to values below unity; (2) the flow speed tangential to the magnetopause was enhanced; and (3) the local magnetic field and velocity vectors became increasingly more orthogonal to each other as the magnetopause was approached (Phan et al., 1994). We model parameter variations along a spacecraft orbit approximating that of AMPTE/IRM, which was at slightly southern GSE latitudes and about 1.5 h postnoon Local Time. We model the magnetopause as a tangential discontinuity, as suggested by the observations, and take as input solar wind parameters those measured by AMPTE/IRM just prior to its bow shock crossing. We find that computed field and plasma profiles across the magnetosheath and plasma depletion layer match all observations closely. Theoretical predictions on stagnation line flow near this low-shear magnetopause are confirmed by the experimental findings. Our theory does not give, and the data on this pass do not show, any localized density enhancements in the inner magnetosheath region just outside the plasma depletion layer.     

A flux transfer event observed at the magnetopause by the Equator-S spacecraft and in the ionosphere by the CUTLASS HF radar

Observations of a flux transfer event (FTE) have been made simultaneously by the Equator-S spacecraft near the dayside magnetopause whilst corresponding transient plasma flows were seen in the near-conjugate polar ionosphere by the CUTLASS Finland HF radar. Prior to the occurrence of the FTE, the magnetometer on the WIND spacecraft ≈226 R_E upstream of the Earth in the solar wind detected a southward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) which is estimated to have reached the subsolar magnetopause ≈77 min later. Shortly afterwards the Equator-S magnetometer observed a typical bipolar FTE signature in the magnetic field component normal to the magnetopause, just inside the magnetosphere. Almost simultaneously the CUTLASS Finland radar observed a strong transient flow in the F region plasma between 78° and 83° magnetic latitude, near the ionospheric region predicted to map along geomagnetic field lines to the spacecraft. The flow signature (and the data set as a whole) is found to be fully consistent with the view that the FTE was formed by a burst of magnetopause reconnection.     

Magnetopause stand-off distance in dependence on the magnetosheath and solar wind parameters

A model of the magnetosheath structure proposed in a recent paper from the authors is extended to estimate the magnetopause stand-off distance from solar wind data. For this purpose, the relationship of the magnetopause location to the magnetosheath and solar wind parameters is studied. It is shown that magnetopause erosion may be explained in terms of the magnetosheath magnetic field penetration into the magnetosphere. The coefficient of penetration (the ratio of the magnetospheric magnetic field depression to the intensity of the magnetosheath magnetic field B_mz = -B_m sin²/2, is estimated and found approximately to equal 1. It is shown that having combined a magnetosheath model presented in an earlier paper and the magnetosheath field penetration model presented in this paper, it is possible to predict the magnetopause stand-off distance from solar wind parameters.