Seasonal dependences of geomagnetic variations in the polar region in connection with large-amplitude annual Z-variation at the geomagnetic pole

A noticeable depression of the vertical component Z of the geomagnetic field is observed in the polar cap in summer. From the statistical analysis of the equivalent overhead current patterns for daily geomagnetic variations in the summer and winter polar regions for three different conditions of IMF (interplanetary magnetic field), it was concluded that the annual variation of geomagnetic Z in the vicinity of the geomagnetic pole is attributed to the relative spatial shift of the twin-vortex current patterns over the polar cap from summer to winter. In winterthe clockwise current vortex in the dawn sector extends almost over the entire polar cap (except for the periods when the B_z component of IMF has a large positive value), and this will result in the positive variation of the Z-value at the geomagnetic pole. In summer the counter-clockwise current vortex in the dusk sector always extends over the whole polar cap even when B_z of IMF is positiveso that the variation of Z becomes negative. The persistent existence of current vortex in the dawn sector is important for the further study of magnetospheric convection when B_z is positive.     

Equivalent ionospheric current systems representing IMF sector effects on the polar geomagnetic field

Equivalent ionospheric current systems representing IMF sector effects on the geomagnetic field in high latitudes are examined for each of the twelve calendar months by spherical harmonic analyses of geomagnetic hourly data at 13 northern polar stations for seven years. The main feature of obtained equivalent current systems includes circular currents at about 80° invariant latitude mostly in the daytime in summer and reversed circular currents at about 70° invariant latitude mainly at night in winter. Field-aligned current distributions responsible for equivalent currents, as well as vector distributions of electric fields and ionospheric currents, are approximated numerically from current functions of equivalent current systems by taking assumed distributions of the ionospheric conductivity. Two sets of upward and downward field-aligned current pairs in the auroral region, and also a field-aligned current region near the pole show seasonal variations. Also, ionospheric electric-field propagation along geomagnetic field lines from the summer hemisphere to the winter hemisphere with auroral Hall-conductivity effects may provide an explanation for the winter reversal of sector effects.     

On the possibility of inferring the solar and interplanetary sector structure from statistics of geomagnetic storms and solar activity

Attention is drawn to the great statistical material on geomagnetic storms and solar activity, published mainly before the space age. By analyses of this material in connection with established correlations between geomagnetic activity and the interplanetary sector struc- ture, valuable information might be obtained that would significantly contribute to an increased understanding of solar and interplanetary sector magnetism.As an illustration of this, different analyses of solar-geomagnetic correlations have been considered in relation to the paper by Wilcox and Colburn (1972) on the observed sector struc- ture. Indications are found that (a) the interplanetary and solar sector pattern in the years 1919–1969 consisted of mainly 2 or 4 sectors per solar rotation, and (b) sector boundaries are related to bipolar magnetic regions on the Sun.     

Dependence of inferred magnetic sector structure upon geomagnetic and solar activity

Inferred solar sector polarity given by the AC index of Svalgaard, has been intensively studied as a single time series and as a time series correlated with geomagnetic and solar activity. Power auto-spectra of the AC index yield a highly significant harmonic series with fundamental at 27 days period and possessing clear harmonics up to the sixth; and a very prominent peak at a period of 1 yr. The 27 day harmonic series clearly indicates the solar control of the index while the 1-yr period might be taken as confirmation of the work of Rosenberg and Coleman to the effect that the sector pattern observed on Earth depends upon Earth's heliographic latitude which has a 1-yr period.Cross correlation analysis and superposed epoch analysis are used to show that sectors inferred to be positive or away are associated with low geomagnetic and solar activity whereas sectors inferred to be negative or toward exhibit significantly enhanced geomagnetic and solar activity.These results appear to be in conflict with superposed epoch analyses by Wilcox and Ness using satellite observed sector polarities which showed that geomagnetic activity increased after passage of a sector boundary, independent of the nature, whether + ? or ? + of the boundary.The conflict is resolved here by noting that the yearly correlation coefficient, at zero time lag, between inferred sector structure and geomagnetic activity averaged about 0·5 for the year 1927–1958, dropped to low values by 1960, recovered by 1962 and then dropped sharply in 1963 by an order to magnitude; the correlation has remained essentially zero ever since. Thus, the satellite results, all obtained post 1963, would not show increased activity during either sector sign.The results cast doubt upon the accuracy of the early ‘inferred’ sector polarities because it is felt that the only simple explanation for the strange behavior of the correlation coefficient lies in some artifact of the data.     

Effects of interplanetary magnetic field and magnetospheric substorm variations on the dayside aurora

Photometric observations of dayside auroras are compared with simultaneous measurements of geomagnetic disturbances from meridian chains of stations on the dayside and on the nightside to document the dynamics of dayside auroras in relation to local and global disturbances. These observations are related to measurements of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) from the satellites ISEE-1 and 3. It is shown that the dayside auroral zone shifts equatorward and poleward with the growth and decay of the circum-oval/polar cap geomagnetic disturbance and with negative and positive changes in the north-south component of the interplanetary magnetic field (B_z). The geomagnetic disturbance associated with the auroral shift is identified as the DP2 mode. In the post-noon sector the horizontal disturbance vector of the geomagnetic field changes from southward to northward with decreasing latitude, thereby changing sign near the center of the oval precipitation region. Discrete auroral forms are observed close to or equatorward of the ΔH = 0 line which separates positive and negative H-component deflections. This reversal moves in latitude with the aurora and it probably reflects a transition of the electric field direction at the polar cap boundary. Thus, the discrete auroral forms observed on the dayside are in the region of sunward-convecting field lines. A model is proposed to explain the equatorward and poleward movement of the dayside oval in terms of a dayside current system which is intensified by a southward movement of the IMF vector. According to this model, the Pedersen component of the ionospheric current is connected with the magnetopause boundary layer via field-aligned current (FAC) sheets. Enhanced current intensity, corresponding to southward auroral shift, is consistent with increased energy extraction from the solar wind. In this way the observed association of DP2 current system variations and auroral oval expansion/contraction is explained as an effect of a global, ‘direct’ response of the electromagnetic state of the magnetosphere due to the influence of the solar wind magnetic field. Estimates of electric field, current, and the rate of Joule heat dissipation in the polar cap ionosphere are obtained from the model.     

Geomagnetic effects of interplanetary sector structure

In this paper the geomagnetic effects of the interplanetary magnetic sector structure are studied on the basis of some new criteria and working hypotheses.Thus, we assume that the recurrence of geomagnetic disturbances should be understood in a dynamical sense, in connection with the evolution of the full sector structure, and not necessarily as a 27-day recurrence. Accordingly, on the representation of the sector structure during 1968, as deduced by Wilcox and Colburn, we have defined four ‘main recurring lines’, which link the sector boundaries recurrent in successive solar rotations. The term ‘group of SC and SI events’, abbreviated as gr(SC + SI), introduced by us in previous works to designate the morphological grouping of the individual SC and SI events in collective events, is also used.It should be pointed out that the bulk of gr(SC + SI) events are either associated with sector boundaries, or recurrent in successive solar rotations. Part of these events reveal the existence of some ‘secondary recurring lines’, within the magnetic sectors.The above working hypotheses and observations have been checked by the superposed epoch analysis, performed for each main recurring line in part and for all the main recurring lines combined.The following parameters are analysed: the number of SC events, the number of collective events gr(SC + SI), the total number of SC and SI events and the geomagnetic activity index Kp.The main result of the superposed epoch analysis consists in the appearance of a sharp maximum for all the parameters considered on the day of sector boundary. This fact proves that the effects of the sector boundaries are important and general, in regard to all aspects of geomagnetic activity. Essentially these effects consist of the occurrence of gr(SC + SI) events and of a specific increase in the Kp index, when the sector boundaries pass by the magnetosphere. This suggests that the sector boundaries are accompanied by corotating shocks and magnetohydrodynamical turbulence.The high frequency in the occurrence of the SC events on the days of sector boundaries is also noticeable.Each main recurring line presents a certain ‘individuality’, expressed particularly by secondary specific maxima in all the parameters, corresponding to the ‘secondary recurring lines’. One suggests that these secondary recurring lines might be due to some corotating distortions within the magnetic sectors and might be related to the ‘subsector’ or ‘filaments’.The distribution of the geomagnetic disturbances near the sector boundaries depends on the direction of the field polarity change.All these results lead to the conclusion that most of the geomagnetic disturbances can be accounted for by the interaction between corotating distortions in the solar wind connected with the sector structure and the magnetosphere, the flare-induced disturbances representing statistically the secondary mechanism.     

Magnetotail phenomena and auroral acceleration

It is suggested that localised electrostatic potential wells could be generated in the plasma sheet by large amplitude electrostatic ion cyclotron waves. It is shown from a consideration of a simple one dimensional model that such wells could possess a double structure of oppositely directed fields elongated in longitude. The possibility that the waves could evolve from a turbulent ion wave cascade driven by Earthward streaming protons is discussed and the magnitude of the potentials that could be established in this way is estimated using results for condensed state turbulent equilibria.The projections of these wells along the highly conducting geomagnetic field lines form potential valleys across the field lines in the high latitude auroral plasma. It is shown that these valleys would be of the scale and depth needed to establish electrostatic shocks which would be of sufficient intensity to accelerate electrons to energies comparable to those observed in “inverted-V” events. Potential wells are formed predominantly in the midnight sector of the plasma sheet and propagate Earthwards. This implies a corresponding equatorwards motion of the valley which, typically, would have a velocity of a few hundred m s^?1.     

Polar magnetic substorms

From the world distribution of geomagnetic disturbance, the connection between the electric current in the ionosphere, the field-aligned current and asymmetric equatorial ringcurrent in the magnetosphere is discussed. The partial ring-current in the afternoon-evening region, whose intensity is closely correlated with the AE-index, usually develops and decays earlier than the symmetric ring-current in the course of magnetic storms. The partial ringcurrent seems to have a direct connection with the positive geomagnetic bay in high latitudes in the evening hours through the ionizing effect of the particles leaking from the partial ringcurrent. The dawn-to-dusk electric field in the magnetospheric tail is transferred to the polar ionosphere, producing there the twin vortex Hall current responsible for polar cap geomagnetic variation. The magnetic effect of the associated Pedersen current in the ionosphere is shown to be small but still worth considering. The electrojet near midnight along the auroral oval is thought to appear when the electric conductivity of the ionosphere is locally increased under the presence of large scale dawn-to-dusk electric field. The occasional appearance of a localized abnormal geomagnetic disturbance with reversed direction near the geomagnetic pole seems to suggest the occasional reversal of electric field near the outer surface of the magnetospheric tail, especially when the interplanetary magnetic field is northward.     

Relations between turbulent regions of interplanetary magnetic field and Jovian decametric radio wave emissions from the main source

Jovian decametric radio wave emissions that were observed at Goddard Space Flight Center, U.S.A. for a period from 1 October to 31 December, 1974 and data obtained at Mt Zao observatory, Tohoku University, Japan, for a period from 14 July to 6 December, 1975 have been used to investigate the relationship of the occurrence of the Jovian decametric radio waves (JDW), from the main source, to the geomagnetic disturbance index, ΣK_p. The dynamic cross-correlation between JDW and ΣK_p indicates an enhanced correlation for certain values of delay time. The delay time is consistent with predicted values based on a model of rotating turbulent regions in interplanetary space associated with two sector boundaries of the interplanetary magnetic field, i.e. the rotating sector boundaries of the interplanetary magnetic field first encounter the Earth's magnetosphere producing the geomagnetic field disturbances, and after a certain period, they encounter the Jovian magnetosphere. There are also cases where the order of the encounter is opposite, i.e. the sector boundaries encounter first Jovian magnetosphere and encounter the Earth's magnetosphere after a certain period.     

A Comparative Analysis of Ground, Magnetospheric and Interplanetary Observations of Long Period Magnetic Oscillations

Continuous measurements of the geomagnetic field variations at ground stations are important to investigate several aspects of magnetospheric dynamics related to variations in the solar wind conditions which, ultimately, originate from the Sun. We present a comparative analysis of geomagnetic field measurements at several ground stations with simultaneous magnetospheric and interplanetary observations in order to understand the origin and characteristics of the observed fluctuations. The results suggest that long period geomagnetic field fluctuations can be directly driven by solar wind density fluctuations at the same frequencies via the modulation of the magnetopause current. We also discuss the possible occurrence of additional contributions related with cavity/waveguide resonances of the entire magnetosphere as well as those of resonance processes of the geomagnetic field lines.     

Geomagnetic field variation during winter storm at localized southern and northern high latitude

This paper presents the effect of geomagnetic storm on geomagnetic field components at Southern (Maitri) and Northern (Kiruna) Hemispheres. The Indian Antarctic Station Maitri is located at geom. long. 66.03° S; 53.21° E whereas Kiruna is located at geom. long. 67.52° N; 23.38° E. We have studied all the geomagnetic storms that occurred during winter season of the year 2004–2005. We observed that at Southern Hemisphere the variation is large as compared to the Northern Hemisphere. Geomagnetic field components vary when the interplanetary magnetic field is oriented in southward direction. Geomagnetic field components vary in the main phase of the ring current. Due to southward orientation of vertical component of IMF reconnection takes place all across the dayside that transports plasma and magnetic flux which create the geomagnetic field variation.     

Semi-annual modulation of earth's magnetic field in the equatorial electrojet region

Autospectra in the 2–13 month range, computed from mean monthly horizontal intensity on quiet days at Trivandrum, situated close to the dip equator, suggest an exceedingly large semi-annual modulation of the field confined to an interval of about 5 hr centred at 1000 LT. The amplitude of the semi-annual oscillation at this station, derived from power density, is greater than 19 γ at 1000 LT. Between 1900 and 0500 LT, spectral lines, corresponding to a period of six months, are not observed above the continuum. Spectral densities from observations at two other electrojet stations in India, Kodaikanal and Annamalainagar, and at Alibag, outside the electrojet, establish the existence of an appreciable enhancement of the semi-annual oscillation of the field in the equatorial electrojet belt. Similar computations of spectra using observations on all days, however, suggest a secondary component in the evening sector. This component is not enhanced in the equatorial electrojet belt. It is concluded that while in low latitudes the daytime component is largely associated with the modulation of Sq currents, in the electrojet belt it appears to be due entirely to a semi-annual modulation of the equatorial electrojet. It is also concluded that the secondary component, observed in the evening sector in low latitude and equatorial stations, is associated purely with the modulation of the ring current by disturbance. The two components of the semi-annual variation observed at the Indian stations have also been noticed at several stations between geomagnetic latitudes N54.6° and S41.8°. It is also observed that the association of the semi-annual component with geomagnetic latitude is confined to the evening-night component.     

Longitudinal characteristics of Pc5 magnetic pulsations

Data from an East-West line of magnetometer stations stretching approximately along 67° geomagnetic latitude from western Alberta (290° geomagnetic longitude) to western Quebec (350° geomagnetic longitude) in Canada have been used to study the longitudinal characteristics of Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations. This paper concerns the analysis of 3 days' data of relatively intense pulsational activity which occurred around the middle of October in 1976. The intensity variations of Pc5 activity on longitude and time clearly show that the activity is localized in longitude in the morning sector and confused in the afternoon sector. Pulsational activity in the morning sector for two of the events studied appears to be markedly enhanced across the dawn terminator and midway through the pre-noon quadrant. A study of the longitudinal phase variation indicates that the eastern stations lead in phase before noon and lag in phase after noon. This implies that the signals propagate away from noon toward the dawn-dusk meridian. A systematic reversal in the sense of polarization in the horizontal plane was observed when the line of stations rotated across noon. The polarization characteristics in the vertical planes of the events recorded by stations in eastern Canada between 318° and 350° geomagnetic longitude appear to be stationary with respect to time suggesting that the polarization characteristics of pulsations are influenced by geoelectric structures. The implications of these morphological features will be discussed.     

Electron precipitation equatorward of the auroral oval and the mantle aurora in the midday sector

In the midday sector, the hard electron precipitation and the associated patchy aurora at geomagnetic latitude ～65° are the only auroral features (? 20 keV) located equatorward of the dayside auroral oval during intense and moderately disturbed geomagnetic conditions. We identify the patchy luminosity in the midday and late morning sectors as the active mantle aurora. The mantle aurora was found by Sanford (1964) using the IGY-IGC auroral patrol spectrographs and which was thought to be non-visual. The precipitating electrons reside mostly at energies greater than several keV with an energy flux of ? 0.1 erg cm^?2 s^?1 sr^?1 during geomagnetic active periods. This hard precipitation occurs in a region which is asymmetric in L.T. with respect to the noon meridian. The region extends from the morning sector to only early afternoon (13–14 M.L.T.) along the geomagnetic latitude circle of about 65–70°. The model calculation indicates that the mantle aurora is produced by the precipitation of the energetic electrons which drift azimuthally from the plasma sheet at the midnight sector to the dayside magnetopause during magnetospheric substorms.     

Multi-Scale Analysis of the Geomagnetic Symmetric Index (sym)

In this work we present a methodology to estimate the geomagnetic symmetric index (Sym) based on the wavelet analysis of the time series of the H component of the geomagnetic field measured at mid-latitude stations localized at Kakioka (KAK), Honolulu (HON), Hermanus (HER) and San Juan (SJG). A case study of the intense geomagnetic storm of 17–22 February 1999, caused by intense southward magnetic fields just behind an interplanetary shock driven by a magnetic cloud, is shown as an example of the procedure of derivation of the symmetric index and the capabilities of this analysis to improve the study of the coupling of the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere. Other examples are shown in order to demonstrate the applicability of the methodology to different magnetospheric conditions. It is shown that the long period variations of the symmetric index are linearly correlated to variations at the same periods of the H component of the geomagnetic field and that the contribution of short period variations to the symmetric index are biased by localized current systems such as the partial ring current and the field aligned currents.     

Effects associated with the sector boundary crossing on July 8, 1966

Thirty hours after the proton flare of July 7, 1966, the earth and nearby satellites crossed a sector boundary of the interplanetary magnetic field. This occurred before the flare-associated shockwave arrived at the earth, so that the space was filled with energetic particles ejected from the flare. Satellite measurements have shown that in such a case <20 MeV protons are stored within the range of the sector boundary and with decreasing energy the particles tend to accumulate towards and behind the Eastern boundary limit; low-energy particles, such as <50 keV electrons, are stored exclusively behind this Eastern limit.The boundary crossing caused a short-lived geomagnetic disturbance, a PCA enhancement in lower latitudes, a two-phase ionospheric disturbance, and a transient cosmic-ray decrease on neutron monitors looking westward immediately after the sector boundary passed the earth. The storage of low-energy particles on the Eastern side of the boundary may indicate a preference of the transverse diffusion for the Westward direction in interplanetary space.     

Statistical analysis of geomagnetic field variations during the partial solar eclipse on 2011 January 4 in Turkey

Some geophysical parameters, such as those related to gravitation and the geomagnetic field, could change during solar eclipses. In order to observe geomagnetic fluctuations, geomagnetic measurements were carried out in a limited time frame during the partial solar eclipse that occurred on 2011 January 4 and was observed in Canakkale and Ankara, Turkey. Additionally, records of the geomagnetic field spanning 24 hours, obtained from another observatory(in Iznik, Turkey), were also analyzed to check for any peculiar variations. In the data processing stage, a polynomial fit, following the application of a running average routine, was applied to the geomagnetic field data sets. Geomagnetic field data sets indicated there was a characteristic decrease at the beginning of the solar eclipse and this decrease can be well-correlated with previous geomagnetic field measurements that were taken during the total solar eclipse that was observed in Turkey on 2006 March 29. The behavior of the geomagnetic field is also consistent with previous observations in the literature. As a result of these analyses, it can be suggested that eclipses can cause a shielding effect on the geomagnetic field of the Earth.     

Outline of a theory of solar wind interaction with the magnetosphere

Some new ideas on the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetosphere are brought forward. The mechanism of reflection of charged particles at the magnetopause is examined. It is shown that in general the reflection is not specular but that a component of momentum of the particle parallel to the magnetopause changes. A critical angle is derived such that particles whose trajectories make an angle less than it with the magnetopause enter the magnetosphere freely, so transferring their forward momentum to it. Spatially or temporally non-uniform entry of charged particles into the magnetosphere causes electric fields parallel to the magnetopause which either allow the free passage of solar wind across it or vacuum reconnection to the interplanetary magnetic field depending on the direction of the latter. These electric fields can be discharged in the ionosphere and so account qualitatively for the dayside agitation of the geomagnetic field observed on the polar caps. The solar wind wind plasma which enters the magnetosphere creates (1) a dawn-dusk electric field across the tail (2) enough force to account for the geomagnetic tail and (3) enough current during disturbed times to account for the auroral electrojets. The entry of solar wind plasma across the magnetosphere and connection of the geomagnetic to interplanetary field can be assisted by wind generated electric field in the ionosphere transferred by the good conductivity along the geomagnetic field to the magnetopause. This may account for some of the observed correlations between phenomena in the lower atmosphere and a component of magnetic disturbance.     

The relationship of pc 5 micropulsation activity in the morning sector to the auroral westward electrojet

Data from a line of magnetometers stretching along a corrected geomagnetic meridian ～ 302°E through western Canada are used to study the relationship between the convection westward electrojet and Pc 5 micropulsations in the morning sector. It was found that the dominant spectral bands in the Pc 5 range occur within the same latitudinal range occupied by the electrojet. The intensity contours and the character of the polarization parameters clearly show that the Pc 5 activity tracks the westward convection electrojet. The Pc 5 activity is found to be enhanced in conjunction with rapid reconfigurations of the electrojet. Evidence of spatial oscillations of the borders of the electrojet and variations in the intensity of the electrojet is presented. It is concluded from our study that the Pc 5 activity in the morning sector is closely related to the convection westward electrojet and its associated three-dimensional current system.     

Latitudinal characteristics of the geomagnetic field during the storm of 15–16 July 2000

In this paper geomagnetic disturbances at middle and low latitudes are discussed by using geomagnetic data of the magnetic storm of 15–16 July 2000. This storm is a response to the solar Bastille Day flare on 14 July. Generally, the geomagnetic disturbances at middle and low latitudes during a storm are mainly caused by three magnetospheric–ionospheric current systems, such as the ring current system (RC), the partial ring current and its associated region II field-aligned currents (PR), and the region I field-aligned currents (FA). Our results show that: (1) The northward turning of IMF-Bz started the sudden commencement of the storm, and its southward turning caused the main phase of the storm. (2) The PR- and FA-currents varied violently in the main phase. In general, the field of the FA-current was stronger than that of the PR-current. (3) In the first stage of the recovery phase, the RC-field gradually turned anti-parallel to the geomagnetic axis from a 15° deviation, and the local time (Λ) pointed by the RC-field stayed at 16:00. After that, Λ rotated with the stations, and the RC-field was not anti-parallel to the geomagnetic axis, but 5°–10° deviated. These facts suggest that the warped tailward part of the ring current decays faster than the symmetric ring current.