Dynamics of the radiation belt formed by solar protons during magnetic storms

Experimental proofs of the existence of the formation and destruction mechanisms of solar proton belts in the inner magnetosphere at a rapid change in the penetration boundary of solar protons are presented. An analysis of the measurements of solar protons and alpha-particles on board the Coronas-F low-altitude polar satellite during the magnetic storms in October–November 2003 is performed. During this period, formation and destruction of the belts of solar cosmic rays was observed several times. The compression of the magnetosphere during a storm makes possible the direct penetration of solar protons deep into the inner magnetosphere. The proton trajectories outside the penetration boundary are open, and the preliminary captured particles can easily leave the magnetosphere. During the recovery of the magnetospheric configuration, when the penetration boundary goes away from the Earth, the solar protons and alpha-particles with relatively low velocity of the magnetic drift remain stably captured, whereas the particles of higher energies follow the motion of the penetration boundary. That is why the energy range of the captured protons is limited from above in contrast to the effect of injection during ineffective SC in the low-energy region.     

Diagnostics of the magnetosphere based on the outer belt relativistic electrons and penetration of solar protons: A review

The present-day state of the studies of the outer radiation belt relativistic electrons and the boundary of the solar proton penetration into the magnetosphere during magnetic storms is briefly reviewed. The main attention is paid to the results from studying the interrelation between these structural formations and other magnetospheric plasma structures. It has been indicated that the relationship between the position of the maximum of belt of relativistic electrons injected during magnetic storms (L _max) and the magnetic storm amplitude (|Dst|_max = 2.75 × 10⁴/L _max⁴) can be used to predict the extreme latitudinal position of such magnetospheric plasma formations as a trapped radiation region boundary, the nighttime equatorial boundary of the auroral oval, and westward electrojet center during a storm. Using the examples of still rare studies of the solar proton boundary dynamics in the magnetosphere based on the simultaneous measurements on several polar satellites, it has been demonstrated that a change in the geomagnetic field topology during magnetic storms can be diagnosed.     

Relation of geomagnetic disturbances to the dynamics of the magnetosphere and the parameters of the interplanetary medium

The results of studying the dependence of the earthward shift of the magnetospheric boundaries on the magnetic storm power are generalized. The magnetosphere saturation effect, a sharp deceleration of the boundary shift at an increase in the ring current power above a certain critical level, is discussed. The geoeffectiveness of the solar wind parameters is discussed.     

Energy balance during intense and super-intense magnetic storms using an Akasofu ε parameter corrected by the solar wind dynamic pressure

Geomagnetic storms are large disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere caused by enhanced solar wind–magnetosphere energy transfer. One of the main manifestations of a geomagnetic storm is the ring current enhancement. It is responsible for the decrease in the geomagnetic field observed at ground stations. In this work, we study the ring current dynamics during two different levels of magnetic storms. Thirty-three events are selected during the period 1981–2004. Eighteen out of 33 events are very intense (or super-intense) magnetic storms (Dst ⩽−250 nT) and the remaining are intense magnetic storms (−250<Dst ⩽−100 nT). Interplanetary data from spacecraft in the solar wind near Earth's orbit (ACE, IMP-8, ISEE-3) and geomagnetic indices (Dst and Sym-H) are analyzed. Our aim is to evaluate the interplanetary characteristics (interplanetary dawn–dusk electric field, interplanetary magnetic field component B_S), the ε parameter, and the total energy input into the magnetosphere (Wε) for these two classes of magnetic storms. Two corrections on the ε energy coupling function are made: the first one is an already known correction in the magnetopause radius to take into account the variation in the solar wind pressure. The second correction on the Akasofu parameter, first proposed in this work, accounts for the reconnection efficiency as a function of the solar wind ram pressure. Geomagnetic data/indices are also employed to study the ring current dynamics and to search for the differences in the storm evolution during these events. Our corrected ε parameter is shown to be more adequate to explain storm energy balance because the energy input and the energy dissipated in the ring current are in better agreement with modern estimates as compared with previous works. For super-intense storms, the correction of the Akasofu ε is on average a scaling factor of 3.7, whilst for intense events, this scaling factor is on average 3.4. The injected energy during the main phase using corrected ε can be considered a criterion to separate intense from very intense storms. Other possibilities of cutoff values based on the energy input are also investigated. A threshold value for the input energy is much more clear when a new classification on Dst=−165 nT is considered. It was found that the energy input during storms with Dst<−165 nT is double of the energy for storms with Dst>−165 nT.     

Structure of the latitudinal profile of solar cosmic rays in the Earth’s magnetosphere during substorm activity on October 26–27, 2003

The structure of penetration of solar cosmic rays (SCRs) with energies of 1–100 MeV into the Earth’s magnetosphere before a strong magnetic storm of October 29–31, 2003, is studied based on the CORONAS-F satellite data. The effect of north-south asymmetry was observed in the polar caps for more than 12 h, which made it possible to study the dynamics of the boundary between the polar cap (the magnetotail) and the auroral zone (the quasi-trapping region). A previously unknown effect of dropouts in the SCR intensity latitudinal profile during the substorm active phases has been detected in the auroral magnetosphere. The mechanism by which dropouts are formed owing to the local distortion of the magnetic field line configuration, resulting in radial diffusion of particles from this region, has been proposed.     

Geomagnetic storm intensity forecast caused by magnetic clouds of solar wind

Method of short-term forecast intensity of geomagnetic storms, expected by effect Solar wind magnetic clouds in the Earth’s magnetosphere is developed. The method is based calculation of the magnetic field clouds distribution, suitable to the Earth, the initial satellite measurements therein components of the interplanetary magnetic field in the solar ecliptic coordinate system. Conclusion about the magnetic storm intensity is expected on the basis of analysis of the dynamics of the reduced magnetic field Bz component clouds and established communication intensity of geomagnetic storms on Dst-index values and Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field vector.     

Erosion of the inner magnetosphere during geomagnetic storms

Using the empirical magnetic field model dependent on the Dst index and solar wind dynamic pressure, we calculated the behaviour of the contour B = B_s in the equatorial plane of the magnetosphere where B_s is the magnetic field in the subsolar point at the magnetopause. The inner domain of the magnetosphere outlined by this contour contains the bulk of geomag-netically trapped particles. During quiet time the boundary of the inner magnetosphere passes at the distance ∼10R_E at noon and at ∼7R_E at midnight. During very intense storms this distance can be reduced to 4–5 R_E for all MLT. The calculation results agree well with the satellite measurements of the magneto-pause location during storms. The ionospheric projection of the B = B_s contour calculated with the Euler potential technique is close to the equatorward edge of the auroral oval.     

Indicators of an increase in the flux of relativistic electrons in geostationary orbit during geomagnetic storms

The relation of the fluxes of relativistic electrons in geostationary orbit during magnetic storms to the state of the magnetosphere and variations in the solar wind parameters is studied based on the GOES satellite data (1996–2000). It has been established that, in ～52–65% of all storms, the fluxes of electrons with energies higher than 0.6 and 2 MeV during the storm recovery phase are more than twice as high as the electron fluxes before a storm. It has been indicated that the probability of such cases is closely related to the prestorm level of fluxes and to a decrease in fluxes during the storm main phase. It has been found that the solar wind velocity on the day of the storm main phase and the geomagnetic activity indices at the beginning of the storm recovery phase are also among the best indicators of occurrence of storms with increased fluxes at the storm recovery phase.     

Dynamics of magnetospheric current systems during magnetic storms of different intensity

The dynamics of the magnetospheric magnetic field during the magnetic storms of different intensity has been studied. The magnetic field variations on the Earth’s surface were calculated using the paraboloid model of the magnetosphere, taking into account the induction currents flowing in the diamagnetically conductive Earth. Dst and its components have been calculated for ten magnetic storms. It has been indicated that relative contributions of magnetospheric sources to Dst change depending on the storm power. For weak and moderate storms, the contribution of the magnetotail current sheet can reach values comparable with the ring current contribution and, sometimes, can even exceed this contribution. For strong storms, the ring current field dominates over the tail current field, the absolute value of which does not exceed 150 nT (also achieved during less intense storms). For storms with minimum Dst exceeding-200 nT, the tail current field is saturated, whereas the ring current can continue developing.     

On the relationship of SAPS to storm-enhanced density

We use magnetic field-aligned mapping between the ionosphere and the magnetosphere to intercompare ground-based observations of storm enhanced density (SED), and plasmasphere drainage plumes imaged from space by the IMAGE EUV imager, with the enhanced inner-magnetosphere/ionosphere SAPS electric field which develops during large storms. We find that the inner edge of the SAPS electric field overlaps the erosion plume and that plume material is carried sunward in the SAPS overlap region. The two phenomena, SED in the ionosphere and the erosion plume at magnetospheric heights, define a common trajectory for sunward-propagating cold plasma fluxes in the midnight—dusk–postnoon sector. The SAPS channel at ionospheric heights and its projection into the equatorial plane serve to define the sharp outer boundary of the erosion plume. The SAPS electric field abuts and overlaps both the plasmasphere boundary layer and the plasmasphere erosion plume from pre-midnight through post-noon local times.     

中低纬度电离层对太阳风状态的响应

本文讨论了行星际磁场B₂分量变化时内磁层和中低纬度电离层的响应.指出B₂变化引起的磁层大尺度对流电场的变化在一定条件下有可能透入内磁层,并沿磁力线映射到中低纬度电离层,在那里产生电场和电流体系,从而使S_q电流体系发生畸变,并在地面磁场中反映出来.数值计算表明,当△B₂<0时,S_q电流体系的焦点向东和向高纬移动,地面磁场会观测到数伽马的变化.这就为中低纬地磁观测诊断磁层和太阳风状态提供了一种可能性.此外,本文还用上述物理过程解释了赤道地区一些高空物理现象,如B₂倒转时电离层漂移速度的变化,赤道磁场异常以及赤道q型偶现E层的消失等等.     

2003年10～11月的大磁暴

分析了引起2003年10～11月发生的3个特大磁暴的太阳活动、行星际扰动以及中国东部地磁台链记录到的地面磁场变化。结果表明,这3个特别大的磁暴是由太阳质量抛射事件引起的。太阳向着地球喷发出的大量等离子体引起的强烈太阳风扰动和持续长时间的南向行星际磁场与磁层相互作用形成了特别大的磁暴。ACE卫星、GOES卫星以及地面地磁台站较完整地记录了这3次日地扰动传输过程。对于每一个磁暴,中国东部地磁台链记录到的H分量变化形态一致,纬度最高的满洲里地磁台H幅度最大,而其他台站的幅度与纬度无明显关系,这表明磁暴的发展不完全由赤道环电流引起,在这样强烈的磁暴期间,磁层内的电流体系非常复杂。     

Verification of magnetic field models based on measurements of solar cosmic ray protons in the magnetosphere

Measurements of solar cosmic ray (SCR) protons in the magnetosphere can be used to verify models of the Earth’s magnetic field. The latitudinal profiles of precipitating SCRs with energies of 1–90 MeV were measured on the CORONAS-F low-orbiting satellite during a strong magnetic storm on October 29–30, 2003. A flux of precipitating protons can remain equal to the interplanetary flux only due to a strong pitch angle diffusion that originates when the radius of the field line curvature is close to that of the particle rotation Larmor radius. The observed boundaries of the strong diffusion region can be compared with the boundaries anticipated according to the models of the magnetic field of the Earth’s magnetosphere. The adiabaticity parameter values, calculated for several instants of the CORONAS-F satellite pass based on the TS05 and parabolic models, do not always correspond to measurements. How possible changes in the model configurations of the magnetic field can allow us to eliminate discrepancies with the experiment and to explain why solar protons with energies of several megaelectronvolts penetrate deep in the Earth’s inner magnetosphere is considered here.     

Two-Dimensional Phenomenological Model of Ring Current Dynamics in the Earth’s Magnetosphere

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - The dynamics of ring current protons with variable boundary conditions in the inner magnetosphere during a magnetic storm has been studied. The spatial and temporal...     

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.     

Dynamics of solar protons in the Earth’s magnetosphere during magnetic storms in November 2004–January 2005

The processes of penetration, trapping, and acceleration of solar protons in the Earth’s magneto-sphere during magnetic storms in November 2004 and January 2005 are studied based on the energetic particle measurements on the CORONAS-F and SERVIS-1 satellites. Acceleration of protons by 1–2 orders of magnitude was observed after trapping of solar protons with an energy of 1–15 MeV during the recovery phase of the magnetic storm of November 7–8, 2004. This acceleration was accompanied by an earthward shift of the particle flux maximum for several days, during which the series of magnetic storms continued. The process of relativistic electron acceleration proceeded simultaneously and according to a similar scenario including acceleration of protons. At the end of this period, the intensification was terminated by the process of precipitation, and a new proton belt split with the formation of two maximums at L ～ 2 and 3. In the January 2005 series of moderate storms, solar protons were trapped at L = 3.7 during the storm of January 17–18. However, during the magnetic storm of January 21, these particles fell in the zone of quasi-trapping, or precipitated into the atmosphere, or died in the magnetosheath. At the same time, the belts that were formed in November at L ～ 2 and 3 remained unchanged. Transformations of the proton (and electron) belts during strong magnetic storms change the intensity and structure of belts for a long time. Thus, the consequences of changes during the July 2004 storm did not disappear until November disturbances.     

Magnetic disturbance generation during the historic magnetic storm in September 1859

The model calculation of a magnetic disturbance, which was registered at Colaba observatory (India) during the historic giant magnetic storm on September 1–2, 1859, is illustrated. The calculation demonstrates that the observed, unusually fast, 2-h main phase of this storm, when the negative amplitude of the geomagnetic field vector H component was ?1600 nT, and an extremely fast (1.5-h) initial field recovery phase from the maximum to the ?110 nT amplitude can be generated. The following models of the magnetospheric current systems were used in the calculations: the ring current (DR), the magnetospheric magnetopause current (DCF), the magnetotail current system (DT), and the high-latitude current system (DP). The unusual time variation in the registered geomagnetic disturbance is related to the probable fast and considerable equatorward shift of the high-latitude currents during the main phase of the analyzed giant storm and to the same fast backward motion of these currents during the initial field recovery phase. The unusually large amplitude of the registered geomagnetic disturbance could have been caused by the total contribution of the indicated magnetospheric current systems during the time when the storm was generated as a result of the interaction between the magnetosphere and the solar plasma ejected during the gigantic solar flare before the storm.     

Daytime geomagnetic disturbances at high latitudes during a strong magnetic storm of June 21–23, 2015: The storm initial phase

The high-latitude geomagnetic effects of an unusually long initial phase of the largest magnetic storm (SymH ~–220 nT) in cycle 24 of the solar activity are considered. Three interplanetary shocks characterized by considerable solar wind density jumps (up to 50–60 cm^–3) at a low solar wind velocity (350–400 km/s) approached the Earth’s magnetosphere during the storm initial phase. The first two dynamic impacts did not result in the development of a magnetic storm, since the IMF Bz remained positive for a long time after these shocks, but they caused daytime polar substorms (magnetic bays) near the boundary between the closed and open magnetosphere. The magnetic field vector diagrams at high latitudes and the behaviour of high-latitude long-period geomagnetic pulsations (ipcl and vlp) made it possible to specify the dynamics of this boundary position. The spatiotemporal features of daytime polar substorms (the dayside polar electrojet, PE) caused by sudden changes in the solar wind dynamic pressure are discussed in detail, and the singularities of ionospheric convection in the polar cap are considered. It has been shown that the main phase of this two-stage storm started rapidly developing only when the third most intense shock approached the Earth against a background of large negative IMF Bz values (to–39 nT). It was concluded that the dynamics of convective vortices and the related restructing of the field-aligned currents can result in spatiotemporal fluctuations in the closing ionospheric currents that are registered on the Earth’s surface as bay-like magnetic disturbances.     

A comparison of solar wind and ionospheric plasma contributions to the September 24–25, 1998 magnetic storm

We have used a global time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation of the magnetosphere and particle tracing calculations to determine the access of solar wind ions to the magnetosphere and the access of ionospheric O⁺ ions to the storm-time near-Earth plasma sheet and ring current during the September 24–25, 1998 magnetic storm. We found that both sources have access to the plasma sheet and ring current throughout the initial phase of the storm. Notably, the dawnside magnetosphere is magnetically open to the solar wind, allowing solar wind H⁺ ions direct access to the near-Earth plasma sheet and ring current. The supply of O⁺ ions from the dayside cusp to the plasma sheet varies because of changes in the solar wind dynamic pressure and in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Most significantly, ionospheric O⁺ from the dayside cusp loses access to the plasma sheet and ring current soon after the southward turning of the IMF, but recovers after the reconfiguration of the magnetosphere following the passage of the magnetic cloud. On average, during the first 3 h after the sudden storm commencement (SSC), the number density of solar wind H⁺ ions is a factor of 2–5 larger than the number density of ionospheric O⁺ ions in the plasma sheet and ring current. However, by 04:00 UT, ∼4 h after the SSC, O⁺ becomes the dominant species in the ring current and carries more energy density than H⁺ ions in both the plasma sheet and ring current.     

2004年11月磁暴期间环电流的演化过程——TC-2卫星中性原子成像仪观测结果

本文通过对TC-2卫星上搭载的中性原子成像仪(NUADU)在2004年11月发生的一次大磁暴期间观测到的一系列中性原子(ENA)图像的分析,试图给出环电流在磁暴期间的演化模式.研究表明,南向的行星际磁场(IMF)分量在离子从磁尾向内磁层注入和随后的环电流增长过程中起着关键的作用.IMF转为北向后,离子注入随即很快停止.在离子注入增强期间,离子的漂移路径是开放的,以致大量环电流离子从黄昏侧注入后快速地损失在黄昏至正午的磁层顶.所以,环电流往往在离子漂移路径从开放变为封闭后才达到最大强度,而不是在这之前,尽管那时的离子注入强度更大.在该磁暴主相期间,离子注入发生在17∶00~22∶00 LT范围内,形成极其不对称的环电流分布形态.而在恢复相期间,由于受大的IMF B_y分量的影响,离子注入区的地方时分布范围东向扩张.对称环电流在磁尾对流减小、离子漂移路径变为封闭形态之后形成.在磁暴恢复相后期,从ENA图像看环电流基本衰减到平静时期的水平,而Dst指数仍然显示较强的磁扰动,这说明越尾电流对Dst指数有很重要的影响.