磁暴期间高纬顶部电离层离子上行特征——DMSP卫星观测

本文利用DMSP F13和F15卫星观测数据,对2001—2005年58个磁暴(-472 nT≤Min.Dst≤-71 nT)期间高纬顶部电离层离子整体上行特征进行了统计研究.观测表明,磁暴期间,顶部电离层离子上行主要发生在极尖区和夜间极光椭圆区.在北半球,磁正午前,高速的离子上行(≥500 m·s^-1)多集中在65° MLat以上;午后,高速离子上行区向低纬度扩展,上行速度要略高于午前;在南半球,磁午夜前,DMSP卫星在考察区域内几乎所有的纬度上都观测到了高速上行的离子;午夜后,各纬度上观测到上行离子的速度明显降低.离子上行期间,DMSP卫星在极区顶部电离层高度上也频繁地观测到电子/离子增温,且电子增温发生的频率要远高于离子增温.O⁺密度变化分析显示,DMSP卫星磁暴期间观测到的上行离子更多地源于顶部电离层高度.这些结果表明电子增温在驱动暴时电离层离子整体上行过程中起着重要作用.     

高纬日侧电离层离子上行的地磁活动依赖性研究

本文对比分析了太阳活动高、低年期间高纬日侧顶部电离层离子上行随地磁活动水平的变化特征.按地磁活动水平,将DMSP卫星在太阳活动高年（2000-2002年,F13和F15）及太阳活动低年（2007-2009年,F13;2007-2010年,F15）期间的SSIES离子漂移速度观测数据分为三组：地磁平静期（Kp<3）,中等地磁扰动期（3 ≤ Kp < 5）和强地磁活动期（Kp ≥ 5）,分别统计分析了高纬日侧顶部电离层离子上行特征的时空分布.对比分析发现：（1）太阳活动低年期间,高纬日侧电离层离子上行发生率以及上行速度峰值均是太阳活动高年的2倍多,而离子上行通量峰值只有高年的1/6-1/4;（2）在相同太阳活动条件下,地磁活动水平对日侧电离层离子上行发生率峰值的影响并不明显,但对离子上行发生率的空间分布有着显著的控制作用：电离层离子上行高发区随地磁活动向低纬度扩展,并在强地磁活动期间呈现饱和的趋势;（3）日侧顶部电离层等离子体似乎存在两个效率相当的上行区域,一个位于极尖/极隙区纬度附近,离子可沿开放磁力线上行进入磁尾;另一个位于晨侧亚极光区附近,离子沿闭合磁力线上行,有可能进入日侧等离子体层边界层.     

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.     

Solar wind contribution to the average population of energetic He+ and He++ ions in the Earth’s magnetosphere

Measurements with the ion charge-energy-mass spectrometer CHEM on the AMPTE/CCE spacecraft were used to investigate the origin of energetic He⁺ and He⁺⁺ ions observed in the equatorial plane at 3\leqL\leq9. Special emphasis was laid on the dependence of long-term average distributions on magnetic local time (MLT) and the geomagnetic activity index K_p. The observations are described in terms of the phase space densities f₁ (for He⁺) and f₂ (for He⁺⁺). They confirm preliminary results from a previous study: f₁ is independent of MLT, whereas f₂ is much larger on the nightside than on the dayside. They show, furthermore, that f₁ increases slightly with K_p on intermediate drift shells, but decreases on high drift shells (L\geq7). f₂ increases with K_p on all drift shells outside the premidnight sector. Within this sector a decrease is observed on high drift shells. A simple ion tracing code was developed to determine how and from where the ions move into the region of observations. It provides ion trajectories as a function of the ion charge, the magnetic moment and K_p. The ion tracing enables a distinction between regions of closed drift orbits (ring current) and open convection trajectories (plasma sheet). It also indicates how the outer part of the observation region is connected to different parts of the more distant plasma sheet. Observations and tracing show that He⁺⁺ ions are effectively transported from the plasma sheet on convection trajectories. Their distribution in the observation region corresponds to the distribution of solar wind ions in the plasma sheet. Thus, energetic He⁺⁺ ions most likely originate in the solar wind. On the other hand, the plasma sheet is not an important source of energetic He⁺ ions. Convection trajectories more likely constitute a sink for He⁺ ions, which may diffuse onto them from closed drift orbits and then get lost through the magnetopause. An ionospheric origin of energetic He⁺ ions is unlikely as well, since the source mechanism should be almost independent of K_p. There is considerable doubt, however, that a plausible mechanism also exists during quiet periods that can accelerate ions to ring current energies, while extracting them from the ionosphere. It is concluded, therefore, that energetic He⁺ ions are mainly produced by charge exchange processes from He⁺⁺ ions. This means that most of the energetic He⁺ ions constituting the average distributions also very likely originate in the solar wind. Additional ionospheric contributions are possible during disturbed periods.     

上行离子密度分布特性的理论研究

采用动力学方程，求解了定态情况下磁层中上行离子沿磁力线的分布函数，针对不同的Ｋ_ｐ指数，分别对北半球极光带区起源的上行离子Ｏ_＋、Ｈ_＋和Ｈｅ_＋在子午面内沿磁力线的密度分布及其特性进行了研究．结果表明：１．沿磁力线向外，上行离子密度在近地空间呈急剧下降趋势，在远地空间呈缓慢下降趋势；２．重离子或初始能量较小的离子，其密度沿磁力线向外下降较快；３．Ｋ_ｐ指数越大，离子进入磁层的空间范围越大；４．离子的投掷角分布对密度分布的影响甚小；５．离子密度沿磁力线的下降程度随到Ｘ轴距离的增大而呈增大趋势；６．在典型参数条件下，求得上行离子Ｏ_＋在等离子体片边界附近的密度为１０^－３－１０^－２个ｃｍ^－３，这与观测结果相一致．     

Two-dimensional drift velocities from the IMAGE EUV plasmaspheric imager

The Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration (IMAGE) Mission extreme ultraviolet (EUV) imager observes He⁺ plasmaspheric ions throughout the inner magnetosphere. Limited by ionizing radiation and viewing close to the sun, images of the He⁺ distribution are available every 10 min for many hours as the spacecraft passes through apogee in its highly elliptical orbit. As a consistent constituent at about 15%, He⁺ is an excellent surrogate for monitoring all of the processes that control the dynamics of plasmaspheric plasma. In particular, the motion of He⁺ transverse to the ambient magnetic field is a direct indication of convective electric fields. The analysis of boundary motions has already achieved new insights into the electrodynamic coupling processes taking place between energetic magnetospheric plasmas and the ionosphere. Yet to be fulfilled, however, is the original promise that global EUV images of the plasmasphere might yield two-dimensional pictures of mesoscale to macroscale electric fields in the inner magnetosphere. This work details the technique and initial application of an IMAGE EUV analysis that appears capable of following thermal plasma motion on a global basis.     

电离层上行O+离子沿不同经度处的磁力线向磁层的传输

根据解析求解引导中心近似的动力学方程得到的离子分布函数 ,研究了不同Kp指数条件下起源于不同电离层区域的上行O⁺离子通量密度沿不同经度处的磁力线的定态分布 ,并研究了上行O⁺离子向不同磁层区域传输的特性 .主要结果为 :（ 1 ）起源于向阳面极光带外侧及更低纬区的电离层离子基本上传输到向阳面磁层区 ;起源于背阳面极光带及更低纬区的电离层离子基本上传输到背阳面磁尾等离子体片区和闭合磁力线区 ;起源于极盖区及向阳面极光带内侧的电离层离子基本上传输到等离子体幔区和磁瓣区 .（ 2 ）上行离子主要分布在近地空间 ,其通量密度相对于地心距离呈负梯度 .（ 3）地磁活动指数Kp 增高时上行离子进入磁层的概率增大 ,因而上行离子起动力学作用的地球空间范围增大 .所得结果可解释有关地顶的观测特征 ,理论估算的上行离子在磁尾的通量密度与观测结果相符合.     

Planetary distribution of geomagnetic pulsations during a geomagnetic storm at solar minimum

We investigate the features of the planetary distribution of wave phenomena (geomagnetic pulsations) in the Earth’s magnetic shell (the magnetosphere) during a strong geomagnetic storm on December 14–15, 2006, which is untypical of the minimum phase of solar activity. The storm was caused by the approach of the interplanetary magnetic cloud towards the Earth’s magnetosphere. The study is based on the analysis of 1-min data of global digital geomagnetic observations at a few latitudinal profiles of the global network of ground-based magnetic stations. The analysis is focused on the Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations, whose frequencies fall in the band of 1.5–7 mHz (T ～ 2–10 min), on the fluctuations in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and in the solar wind density in this frequency band. It is shown that during the initial phase of the storm with positive IMF Bz, most intense geomagnetic pulsations were recorded in the dayside polar regions. It was supposed that these pulsations could probably be caused by the injection of the fluctuating streams of solar wind into the Earth’s ionosphere in the dayside polar cusp region. The fluctuations arising in the ionospheric electric currents due to this process are recorded as the geomagnetic pulsations by the ground-based magnetometers. Under negative IMF Bz, substorms develop in the nightside magnetosphere, and the enhancement of geomagnetic pulsations was observed in this latitudinal region on the Earth’s surface. The generation of these pulsations is probably caused by the fluctuations in the field-aligned magnetospheric electric currents flowing along the geomagnetic field lines from the substorm source region. These geomagnetic pulsations are not related to the fluctuations in the interplanetary medium. During the main phase of the magnetic storm, when fluctuations in the interplanetary medium are almost absent, the most intense geomagnetic pulsations were observed in the dawn sector in the region corresponding to the closed magnetosphere. The generation of these pulsations is likely to be associated with the resonance of the geomagnetic field lines. Thus, it is shown that the Pc5 pulsations observed on the ground during the magnetic storm have a different origin and a different planetary distribution.     

Origin of energetic ions in the polar cusp inferred from ion composition measurements by the Viking satellite

The magnetospheric ion composition spectrometer MICS on the Swedish Viking satellite provided measurements of the ion composition in the energy range 10.1 keV/e\leqE/Q\leq326.0 keV/e. Data obtained during orbit 842 were used to investigate the ion distribution in the northern polar cusp and its vicinity. The satellite traversed the outer ring current, boundary region, cusp proper and plasma mantle during its poleward movement. H⁺ and He⁺⁺ ions were encountered in all of these regions. He⁺ ions were present only in the ring current. The number of O⁺ and O⁺⁺ ions was very small. Heavy high-charge state ions typical for the solar wind were observed for the first time, most of them in the poleward part of the boundary region and in the cusp proper. The H⁺ ions exhibited two periods with high intensities. One of them, called the BR/CP event, appeared at energies up to 50 keV. It started at the equatorward limit of the boundary region and continued into the cusp proper. Energy spectra indicate a ring current origin for the BR/CP event. Pitch angle distributions show downward streaming of H⁺ ions at its equatorward limit and upward streaming on the poleward side. This event is interpreted as the result of pitch angle scattering of ring current ions by fluctuations in the magnetopause current layer in combination with poleward convection. The other of the two periods with high H⁺ ion intensities, called the accelerated ion event, was superimposed on the BR/CP event. It was restricted to energies \leq15 keV and occurred in the poleward part of the boundary region. This event is regarded as the high-energy tail of magnetosheath ions that were accelerated while penetrating into the magnetosphere. The cusp region thus contains ions of magnetospheric as well as of magnetosheath origin. The appearance of the ions depends, in addition to the ion source, on the magnetic field configuration and dynamic processes inside and close to the cusp.     

Modeling of properties of the plasmasphere under quiet and disturbed conditions

Based on theoretical models of the ionosphere and the plasmasphere, the ion composition variations in the plasmasphere and the plasmapause structure were studied depending on the choice of the distribution model of the magnetospheric convection electric field at low and high geomagnetic activity at the equinox and the December solstice. Based on the model calculations performed, the plasmapause shape and size during an increase and decrease in geomagnetic activity were studied. It was revealed that the size of the plasmasphere mainly depends on the magnetic local time (MLT) sector and the level of geomagnetic activity, and it greatly depends on the maximum universal time during the equinox. The Earth’s plasmasphere asymmetry is manifested in the noon-midnight and morning-evening directions. The analysis results of daily and seasonal variations in the ionic composition of the Earth’s plasmasphere at a moderate solar activity level show that there is a certain increase in the ion concentrations of H⁺ and He⁺ in the winter period probably due to an increase in the exospheric density at the summer to winter transition. The data obtained are in good agreement with satellite observations which makes it possible to use the model proposed to study the plasmasphere under different geophysical conditions.     

Dispersive O+ conics observed in the plasma-sheet boundary layer with CRRES/LOMICS during a magnetic storm

We present initial results from the Low-energy magnetospheric ion composition sensor (LOMICS) on the Combined release and radiation effects satellite (CRRES) together with electron, magnetic field, and electric field wave data. LOMICS measures all important magnetospheric ion species (H⁺, He⁺⁺, He⁺, O⁺⁺, O⁺) simultaneously in the energy range 60 eV to 45 keV, as well as their pitch-angle distributions, within the time resolution afforded by the spacecraft spin period of 30 s. During the geomagnetic storm of 9 July 1991, over a period of 42 min (0734 UT to 0816 UT) the LOMICS ion mass spectrometer observed an apparent O⁺ conic flowing away from the southern hemisphere with a bulk velocity that decreased exponentially with time from 300 km/s to 50 km/s, while its temperature also decreased exponentially from 700 to 5 eV. At the onset of the O⁺ conic, intense low-frequency electromagnetic wave activity and strong pitch-angle scattering were also observed. At the time of the observations the CRRES spacecraft was inbound at L\approx7.5 near dusk, magnetic local time (MLT), and at a magnetic latitude of -23°. Our analysis using several CRRES instruments suggests that the spacecraft was skimming along the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL) when the upward-flowing ion conic arrived. The conic appears to have evolved in time, both slowing and cooling, due to wave-particle interactions. We are unable to conclude whether the conic was causally associated with spatial structures of the PSBL or the central plasma sheet.     

地顶的地心距离及其变化

本文介绍了有关磁层中电离层离子起主要作用区域（地顶内区）的观测资料和磁层中电离层离子随地磁活动和太阳活动变化的观测资料,根据这些资料简单分析了上行离子的密度和通量密度及地顶的变化。     

Plasma bubble registration at altitudes of the topside ionosphere: Numerical evaluations

The possibility of registering a plasma bubble at altitudes of the topside ionosphere based on its minor species He⁺ were studied. The characteristic times of the main aeronomic and electrodynamic processes, in which a bubble and its ion component He⁺ are involved, were calculated and compared. The recombination processes of helium ions in a bubble, the vertical transfer of a plasma bubble as a whole, and the diffusion transfer of the plasma bubble minor constituent (He⁺) were considered. The characteristic times of ambipolar and transverse (Bohm) diffusion were calculated when the diffusion transfer was estimated. The effect of the photoionization processes on plasma bubble dissipation were estimated based on the He⁺ bubble ion component. It was shown that the bubble filling characteristic time with an average He⁺ depletion to the He⁺ ambient density is ～24 h. It was concluded that such a prolonged bubble lifetime makes it possible to register a plasma bubble reliably over approximately two days. However, it has been noted that only a residual plasma bubble structure, i.e., its trace visible in He⁺ ions, will apparently be registered during most prolonged observations.     

Longitudinal statistics of plasma bubbles observed as He+ density depletions at altitudes of the topside ionosphere

This work presents a new examination of the hypothesis regarding the equatorial origin of low He⁺ density plasma depletions (or subtroughs). For this purpose, we have conducted a detailed comparative analysis of longitudinal variations in the occurrence probabilities of subtroughs in both hemispheres and variations in the occurrence probabilities of equatorial F-region irregularities (EFIs), equatorial spread F (RFS and ESF), and equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs). Taking into consideration the seasonal dependence and some peculiarities of magnetic field variations in different hemispheres, a conclusion has been reached regarding the similarity between longitudinal statistical occurrences of subtroughs and equatorial ionospheric F-region irregularities. In addition, another piece of evidence in favor of the similarity of the nature of the above-mentioned phenomena has been obtained. We have got a confirmation once again that low He⁺ density depletions (or subtroughs) can be rightfully considered as equatorial plasma “bubbles,” which can be observed at altitudes of the topside ionosphere as depletions in the He⁺ density.     

Theoretical developments on the causes of ionospheric outflow

It is now well known that there is a substantial outflow of ionospheric plasma from the terrestrial ionosphere at high latitudes. The outflow consists of light thermal ions (H⁺, He⁺) as well as both light and heavy energized ions (H⁺, He⁺, O⁺, N⁺, NO⁺, O₂⁺, N₂⁺). The thermal ion outflows tend to be associated with the classical polar wind, while the energized ions are probably associated with either auroral energization processes or nonclassical polar wind processes. Part of the problem with identifying the exact cause of a given outflow relates to the fact that the ionosphere continuously convects into and out of the various high-latitude regions (sunlight, cusp, polar cap, nocturnal oval) and the time-constant for outflow is comparable to the convection time. Therefore, it is difficult to separate and quantify the possible outflow mechanisms. Some of these mechanisms are as follows. In sunlit regions, the photoelectrons can heat the thermal electrons and the elevated electron temperature acts to increase the polar wind outflow rate. At high altitudes, the escaping photoelectrons can also accelerate the polar wind as they drag the thermal ions with them. In the cusp and auroral oval, the precipitating magnetospheric electrons can heat the thermal electrons in a manner similar to the photoelectrons. Also, energized ions, in the form of beams and conics, can be created in association with field-aligned auroral currents and potential structures. The cusp ion beams and conics that have been convected into the polar cap can destabilize the polar wind when they pass through it at high altitudes, thereby transferring energy to the thermal ions. Additional energization mechanisms in the polar cap include Joule heating, hot magnetospheric electrons and ions, electromagnetic wave turbulence, and centrifugal acceleration.Some of these causes of ionospheric outflow will be briefly reviewed, with the emphasis on the recent simulations of polar wind dynamics in convecting flux tubes of plasma.     

The effects of IMF and convection on thermal ion outflow in magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

We study the influence of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and convection electric field on the rate and destination of polar wind and other thermal (low-energy) ion outflows, and its resulting effects on magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling, using single-particle trajectory simulations in conjunction with ion velocity distribution measurements on Akebono and IMF and ionospheric convection data. We find that the ions preferentially feed the dusk sector of the plasma sheet when the IMF is duskward (B_y>0), and are more evenly distributed in the plasma sheet when the IMF is dawnward. The flow of oxygen ions originating from the noon or dusk sectors of the polar cap has a higher probability of reaching the magnetosphere and beyond compared with that from the dawn or midnight sectors, due to the increased centrifugal acceleration associated with the larger magnetic field curvature near noon and the increased convection electric field in the dusk sector. The flow is enhanced and confined to lower L-shells at times of strongly southward IMF, compared with that at times of northward IMF. The outflow rate to both the plasma sheet and the magnetotail correlates strongly with the ion temperature. As a result, the IMF and the convection electric fields affect both the overall magnitude and the detailed distribution of mass transfer from the ionosphere to the magnetosphere in magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling.     

Polar regionSq

Geomagnetically quiet day variations in the polar region are reviewed with respect to geomagnetic field variation, ionospheric plasma convection, electric field and current. Persistently existing field-aligned currents are the main source of the polar regionSq. Consequently, the morphology and variability of the polar regionSq largely depend upon both field-aligned currents and ionospheric conductivity. Since field-aligned currents are the major linkage between the ionosphere and the magnetosphere, the latter is controlled by solar wind state, in particular, the interplanetary magnetic field, the polar regionSq exhibits remarkable IMF dependence.     

Global aspects of solar wind–ionosphere interactions

Recent observations have quantified the auroral wind O⁺ outflow in response to magnetospheric inputs to the ionosphere, notably Poynting energy flux and precipitating electron density. For moderate to high activity periods, ionospheric O⁺ is observed to become a significant or dominant component of plasma pressure in the inner plasma sheet and ring current regions. Using a global circulation model of magnetospheric fields and its imposed ionospheric boundary conditions, we evaluate the global ionospheric plasma response to local magnetospheric conditions imposed by the simulation and evaluate magnetospheric circulation of solar wind H⁺, polar wind H⁺, and auroral wind O⁺. We launch and track the motions of millions of test particles in the global fields, launched at randomly distributed positions and times. Each particle is launched with a flux weighting and perpendicular and parallel energies randomly selected from defined thermal ranges appropriate to the launch point. One sequence is driven by a two-hour period of southward interplanetary magnetic field for average solar wind intensity. A second is driven by a 2-h period of enhanced solar wind dynamic pressure for average interplanetary field. We find that the simulated ionospheric O⁺ becomes a significant plasma pressure component in the inner plasma sheet and outer ring current region, particularly when the solar wind is intense or its magnetic field is southward directed. We infer that the reported empirical scalings of auroral wind O⁺ outflows are consistent with a substantial pressure contribution to the inner plasma sheet and plasma source surrounding the ring current. This result violates the common assumption that the ionospheric load is entirely confined to the F layer, and shows that the ionosphere is often an important dynamic element throughout the magnetosphere during moderate to large solar wind disturbances.     

Magnotospheric imaging of high latitude ion outflows

High latitude ion outflows mostly consist of upward streaming O⁺ and He⁺ emanating from the ionosphere. At heights above 1000 km, these flows consist of cold and hot components which resonantly scatter solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light, however, the ion populations respond differently to Doppler shifting resulting from the large relative velocities between the ions and the Sun. The possibility of optical detection of the Doppler effect on the scattering rate will be discussed for the O⁺ (83.4 nm) ions. We have contrasted the EUV solar resonance images of these outflows by simulations of the 30.4 nm He⁺ and 83.4 nm O⁺ emissions for both quiet and disturbed geomagnetic conditions. Input data for the 1000 km level has been obtained from the EICS instrument aboard the Dynamics Explorer satellite. Our results show emission rates of 50 and 56 milli-Rayleighs at 30.4 nm for quiet and disturbed conditions and 65 and 75 milli-Rayleighs at 83.4 nm for quiet and disturbed conditions, respectively, obtained for a polar orbiting satellite and viewing radially outward. We also find that an imager at an equatorial distance of 9 R_E or more is in a favorable position for detecting ion outflows, particularly when the plasmapause is depressed in latitude. However, an occultation disk is necessary to obscure the bright plasmaspheric emissions.