Multi-instrument probing of the polar ionosphere under steady northward IMF

Observations are presented of the polar ionosphere under steady, northward IMF. The measurements, made by six complementary experimental techniques, including radio tomography, all-sky and meridian scanning photometer optical imaging, incoherent and coherent scatter radars and satellite particle detection, reveal plasma parameters consistent with ionospheric signatures of lobe reconnection. The optical green-line footprint of the reconnection site is seen to lie in the sunward plasma convection of the lobe cells. Downstream in the region of softer precipitation the reverse energy dispersion of the incoming ions can be identified. A steep latitudinal density gradient at the equatorward edge of the precipitation identifies the general location of an adiaroic boundary, separating the open field lines of polar lobe cells from the closed field of viscous-driven cells. Enhancements in plasma density to the south of the gradient are interpreted as ionisation being reconfigured as it is thrust against the boundary by the antisunward flow of the viscous cells near noon. Each of the instruments individually provides valuable information on certain aspects of the ionosphere, but the paper demonstrates that taken together the different experiments complement each other to give a consistent and comprehensive picture of the dayside polar ionosphere.On sabbatical leave from Artic Geophysics, University Courses on Svalbard, N-9170 Longyearbyen, Norway     

IMF北向时磁层顶重联的模拟研究

本文基于自己开发的全球三维磁层模型,模拟研究了IMF(Interplanetary Magnetic Field)北向时磁层顶重联及磁尾结构.结果发现磁层顶附近存在两种典型的重联过程:一是高纬极尖区IMF与地球磁场的重联,这与空间观测证据和前人的模拟结果是一致的;二是重联后一端在太阳风中另一端与地球相连的磁力线在向磁尾运动中,会发生弯曲、拖曳,在磁尾晨昏侧低纬区域可与尾瓣开放磁力线满足重联条件而再次发生重联.我们认为前一重联会使磁尾等离子片产生与IMF时钟角方向相反的旋转;而后者可重新形成闭合磁力线,可能是LLBL(Low Latitude Boundary Layer)形成的重要原因.     

Polar cap response to the solar wind density jump under constant southward IMF

Sharp changes of the solar wind parameters determining the dynamic pressure jump lead to strong magnetosphere-ionosphere disturbances. Here the effect on the Earth’s ionospheric high latitudes of the solar wind dynamic pressure pulse caused only by the increase of the interplanetary plasma density under southward constant IMF is considered. We investigate reaction of the cross-polar cap potential on the increase of AL index and/or jump of the solar wind density. It is found that for the case of 10 January 1997 the main contribution to the polar cap potential drop increase gave the growth of AL index relative to the input of the solar wind density jump. We also study the influence of the solar wind density increase on the crosspolar cap potential for the quiet magnetospheric conditions. It occurred that the polar cap potential difference decreases with the great increase of the interplanetary plasma density. For the disturbed magnetosphere the main role in the polar cap potential drop increase plays increase of AL. Thus, we found the change of the cross-polar cap potential due to the AL index variations and/or the solar wind density drop even in a case when the interplanetary electric field is constant.     

Dependence of the power consumed by the magnetosphere on the solar wind parameters

The results of the previous studies, where the expressions were obtained for the electric current, which is generated at the bow shock front and is closed through the magnetosphere, and for the magneto-pause potential as a function of such solar wind parameters as the plasma density and velocity and the IMF intensity, are used. The power (W) consumed by the magnetosphere is equal to the Poynting vector flux S through the magnetopause. According to the special case of the Poynting theorem applied by Heikkila to the-magnetosphere, the energy flux can be expressed in terms of the electric potential (the integration is carried out over the entire surface of the magnetosphere). As a result, the required dependence, which is quadratic with respect to the IMF B _z component, has been obtained for W. It is discussed why the magnetosphere is energy-isolated at the northward IMF B _z component despite this.     

Transformation and absorption of magnetosonic waves generated by solar wind in the magnetosphere

Resonant transformation of fast magnetosonic (FMS) wave flux into Alfven and slow magnetosonic (SMS) oscillations is investigated in the one-dimensionally inhomogeneous magnetosphere. Spatial distribution of energy absorption rate of FMS oscillations penetrating into the magnetosphere from the solar wind is studied. The FMS wave energy absorption rate caused by magnetosonic resonance excitation is shown to be several orders of magnitude greater than that caused by Alfven resonance excitation at the same surface. It is connected with the spectrum of incident FMS waves. The Kolmogorov spectrum is used in numerical calculations. Magnitude of the Fourier harmonics exciting resonant Alfven oscillations is much smaller than that of the harmonics driving lower-frequency magnetosonic resonance. It is shown that resonant transformation of FMS waves into SMS oscillations can be an effective mechanism of energy transfer from the solar wind to the magnetosphere.     

Relationship between the IMF azimuthal angle and solar wind velocity

The relationship between the IMF azimuthal angle and plasma velocity has been studied independently for three types of solar wind streams (recurrent and transient high-speed streams and low-speed background wind) based on the interplanetary medium parameters measured in the near-Earth orbits in 1964–1996. The relationships between the IMF azimuthal angle cotangent and plasma velocity are close to linear but strongly differ from one another and from the theoretical relationship for all types of streams. These differences area caused by the magnetic field disturbance on the time scales smaller than a day, and the effect of this disturbance has been studied quantitatively. The effective periods of rotation of the IMF sources on the Sun, depending on the solar cycle phase, have been obtained from the relations between the IMF azimuthal angle cotangent and plasma velocity. During the most part of the solar cycle, the periods of rotation of the IMF sources are close to the period of rotation of the solar equator but abruptly increase to the values typical of the solar circumpolar zones in the years of solar minimums.     

基于行星际/太阳风和地磁条件的紫外极光卵边界建模和预测

极光卵的尺度大小与太阳风-磁层-电离层能量耦合过程紧密相关,准确预测其大小对空间天气研究和预报具有非常重要的意义.本文基于模糊c均值聚类算法,从Polar卫星紫外极光图像中自动提取极光卵边界数据(~1215000个赤道向边界点和~3805000极向边界点),统计分析其与太阳风等离子体、行星际磁场、地磁指数等之间的相关特性,并构建了以行星际、太阳风为模型参数(模型1)和以行星际、太阳风及地磁指数为模型参数(模型2)的2种极光卵边界多元回归模型.以模型预测的极光卵边界与实际极光卵边界之间的平均绝对误差作为模型评价标准,将本文预测模型与Carbary(2005)模型和Milan(2009)模型进行了对比.结果表明,模型2对极光卵极向、赤道向边界预测的平均绝对误差为1.55和1.66地磁纬度,优于Carbary和Milan模型(Carbary模型极向、赤道向边界的平均绝对误差为2.18和5.47地磁纬度,Milan模型极向、赤道向边界的平均绝对误差为1.71地磁纬度和1.90地磁纬度).     

Variations in the IMF vertical component in isolated solar wind streams

The regularities of the variations in the IMF B _z component have been studied based on the data on the solar wind streams and their solar sources. Isolated solar wind streams such as magnetic clouds and shock layers before them, undisturbed heliospheric current sheets (HCSs), leading edges and bodies of high-speed streams from coronal holes (HSSs from CHs) have been considered. It has been revealed that each type of isolated streams in the interplanetary medium has it own features in the variations in the value and direction of the B _z component related to the stream immanent properties and conditions of propagation in the interplanetary plasma. The appearance of the southward B _z component is obligatory for all these streams which are, therefore, geoeffective.     

地球磁层的磁场模型

1958年卫星探测发现了磁层,至今已有半个世纪,对磁层电场、电流体系、磁场、粒子分布和等离子体波的探测研究构成了空间物理的重要内容,其结果是各种磁层模型的出现.本文简要综述磁层磁场建模的基本原理、方法和发展历史,对十几种重要的磁层模型的特点、局限性和适用范围进行了对比分析,以Tyganenko模型为例,讨论了磁层模型发展的趋势.     

基于广义回归神经网络的行星际/太阳风参数和地磁指数的紫外极光强度建模

极光卵极光强度的空间分布是太阳风-磁层-电离层能量耦合过程的重要表现,并且随着空间环境参数和地磁指数的变化而变化,是空间天气的重要指示器.建立合适的极光强度模型对亚暴的预测以及磁层动力学的研究具有重要意义.本文基于Polar卫星的紫外极光成像仪（Ultraviolet Imager,UVI）数据,采用两种不同的极光强度表征方法,即曲线拟合方法（从UVI图像数据中提取极光强度沿磁余纬方向上的曲线特征,Curve Feature along the Magnetic Co-latitude Direction of the Auroral Intensity,CFMCD_AI）和网格化方法（从UVI图像数据中提取极光强度的网格化特征,Gridding Feature of the Auroral Intensity,GF_AI）,来构造极区极光强度特征数据库.然后,利用该数据库,采用广义回归神经网络（Generalized Regression Neural Network,GRNN）构建了以行星际/太阳风参数（行星际磁场三分量、太阳风速度和密度）和地磁指数（AE指数）为输入参数的两种极光强度预测模型（GRNN_CFMCD_AI模型和GRNN_GF_AI模型）.利用图像质量评价指数结构相似度（structure similarity,SSIM）作为极光强度模型预测结果和对应的UVI图像的相似性评价标准（完全相似为1,不相似为0,一般认为SSIM大于0.5是具有较好的相似性）,对两种极光强度模型进行了性能评价.结果显示,GRNN_GF_AI模型预测结果对应的SSIM值范围为0.36~0.77,均值为0.54,性能优于GRNN_CFMCD_AI模型的.

     

太阳风在地球激波前兆区减速的统计研究

本文首次利用完全相同两颗卫星（CLUSTER C1和C3）的数据对地球激波前兆区太阳风的减速和偏转特性进行了统计研究.结果表明,在激波前兆坐标系中,太阳风减小的速度随观测点到激波的距离D_BS增大而减小,随行星际磁场与激波法向夹角θ_BN增大也减小,在ULF波动区深度D_WS小于6R_e(R_e为地球半径)的范围内最为显著;伴随着太阳风减速的另外一个现象——太阳风的偏转,也存在相似的规律.其最大减速和最大偏转角度分别为10 km/s和3°.太阳风减速和偏转,以及随之变化的太阳风动压,可能会引起地球磁层顶位置和形状发生改变,同时也为激波前兆区弥散（diffuse）离子的起源及加热提供了一种可能的机制.     

Poleward expansion of the westward electrojet depending on the solar wind and IMF parameters

The effect of the interplanetary parameters on the latitudinal position of the substorm westward electrojet is studied in the work. The data from the IMAGE chain of magnetic stations and POLAR and WIND satellites for the period close to the solar activity minimum (1995–1996) and for the period of the solar activity maximum (2000) have been used for this purpose. It has been indicated that the electrojet poleward edge reaches, on average, higher latitudes at a higher solar wind velocity and at a larger (B _s ) IMF southward component. It has been indicated that the average latitude of the westward electrojet center increases with increasing solar wind velocity and decreases with increasing IMF southward component, as a result of which the electrojet center is, specifically, not observed at high geomagnetic latitudes at large values of the IMF southward component.     

Multiparticle statistical model of the solar wind

A multiparticle statistical approach to plasma (gas) modeling is presented, in which the fact that the macroscopic parameters are measured with finite resolution scales is taken into account [Minkova, 2004; 2005; 2007]. This approach is based on the Liouville theorem formulated for a stationary open system in the approximation of detailed dynamic balance with its surroundings. When the finite resolution scales of measuring instruments are taken into account, the plasma (gas) is described by multiparticle distribution functions. The latter are used to derive the probability distribution functions of fluctuations and the average values of macroscopic parameters. The multiparticle statistical approach allows a stationary solar wind model to be constructed under a number of simplifying assumptions. Its results for the average values of macroscopic parameters coincide with those of the two-particle kinetic model [Vasenin et al., 2003] and agree with inecliptic observational data.     

Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) numerical simulations on the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetosphere: A review

The magnetosphere is the outermost layer of the geospace, and the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetosphere is the key element of the space weather cause-and-effect chain process from the Sun to Earth, which is one of the most challenging scientific problems in the geospace weather study. The nonlinearity, multiple component, and time-dependent nature of the geospace make it very difficult to describe the physical process in geospace using traditional analytic analysis approach. Numerical simulations, a new research tool developed in recent decades, have a deep impact on the theory and application of the geospace. MHD simulations started at the end of the 1970s, and the initial study was limited to two-dimensional (2D) cases. Due to the intrinsic three-dimensional (3D) characteristics of the geospace, 3D MHD simulations emerged in the 1980s, in an attempt to model the large-scale structures and fundamental physical processes in the magnetosphere. They started to combine with the space exploration missions in the 1990s and make comparisons with observations. Physics-based space weather forecast models started to be developed in the 21st century. Currently only a few space-power countries such as USA and Japan have developed 3D magnetospheric MHD models. With the rapid advance of space science in China, we have developed a new global MHD model, namely PPMLR-MHD, which has high order spatial accuracy and low numerical dissipation. In this review, we will briefly introduce the global 3D MHD modeling, especially the PPMLR-MHD code, and summarize our recent work based on the PPMLR-MHD model, with an emphasis on the interaction of interplanetary shocks with the magnetosphere, large-scale current systems, reconnection voltage and transpolar potential drop, and Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) instability at the magnetopause.     

模拟IMF北向且By分量占主导时磁层顶重联

本文基于自己开发的全球三维磁层模型, 模拟研究了IMF(Interplanetary Magnetic Field)北向并且B_y分量较大(时钟角为60°)时磁层顶三维结构及其重联图像. 结果发现, IMF B_y为正时, 在北极隙区附近尾-昏侧存在IMF与地磁场之间稳定持续的重联现象;参与重联的地球磁场既有闭合磁力线也有开放磁力线;IMF在北极隙区与地球闭合磁力重联后一端与南磁极相连的磁力线在尾向运动时还可能与北尾瓣的开放磁力线重联而重新闭合, 这种重联与磁力线循环过程不同于同一条IMF磁力线分别在南北半球与地磁场重联的模型. 南极隙区的重联发生在尾-晨侧, 其动力学过程与北极隙区情形类似. 我们的模拟结果表明, IMF B_y较大时不可能发生IMF同一条磁力线分别在南北极隙区重联的情形, 也不会因此而减少尾瓣的开放磁力线.     

Topology of currents in the high-latitude magnetosphere and magnetospheric response to variations in solar wind parameters

We consider a number of new approaches that arise when the topology of currents in the high-latitude magnetosphere is investigated. We note that the high correlation between magnetospheric processes and solar wind parameters is a well-known feature of the magnetospheric dynamics. The proposed explanations of the observed dependences run into difficulties related to the high level of observed turbulence in the magnetosheath and inside the magnetosphere. The topology of the high-latitude magnetosphere in the transition region from dipole magnetic field lines to those extending into the tail is also poorly known. We consider the topology of transverse magnetospheric currents using satellite measurements of the plasma pressure distribution. The currents of the nearest plasma sheet are shown to be closed inside the magnetosphere. The generation of field-aligned currents in Iijima and Potemra region currents 1 and large-scale magnetospheric convection are discussed.     

Effect of the solar wind and IMF parameters on the formation of long-period irregular pulsation burst regimes

The excitation of long-period irregular pulsations in the 2.0–6.0 mHz range (ipcl pulsation series) in the Earth’s magnetosphere, depending on the set of solar wind plasma and IMF parameters, has been studied experimentally. It has been found that burst regimes are observed when the solar wind dynamic pressure and velocity are higher than V ∼ 320 km/s and P ∼ 1 nPa, respectively. It has been indicated that the dynamics of the ipcl pulsation intensity and fractal structure largely depend on the solar wind plasma velocity and magnetic pressure, respectively. An analysis of the relationship between the appearance of ipcl pulsation burst series and large-scale solar wind streams and polar coronal holes made it possible to identify solar geoeffective regions, which can cause solar wind streams and Alfvén waves that promote the generation of burst regimes. On the basis of the studied conditions of the interplanetary medium, favourable for the excitation of ipcl pulsation burst series, and generalization of morphological patterns, the possible mechanisms of their generation have been considerded. It has been demonstrated that ipcl burst regimes are most probably generated as wind instability in hydrodynamics (the Miles-Phillips mechanism). The Miles-Phillips instability is related to different factors in the solar wind stream, among which turbulence, the threshold velocity value, and pressure fluctuations play a defining role. Precisely these regularities are typical of the ipcl burst regime generation conditions.     

Magnetic field behavior in the magnetosheath when the IMF slightly differs from the solar wind velocity vector

The magnetic field behavior in the magnetosheath, when the IMF and the solar wind velocity are almost collinear, has been analyzed based on the perturbation method. Magnetic disturbances are considered against a background of the stationary MHD solar wind flow around the magnetosphere when the magnetic field and the solar wind velocity are strictly collinear. It has been indicated that the angle between the magnetic field and velocity vectors increases considerably in a relatively thin layer near the magnetopause. The angle rise factor profiles have been determined for different distances from the subsolar point. The thickness of the layer, where the angle reaches values of about unity and more, has been estimated. It is important to take this layer into account when the magnetopause stability with respect to Kelvin-Helmholtz waves is analyzed.