Interplanetary magnetic field By control of dayside auroras

The effect of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By component on the dayside auroral oval from Viking UV measurements for March–November 1986 is studied. Observations of dayside auroras from Viking UV images for large positive (15 cases) and negative (22 cases) IMF By (∣By∣>4 nT), suggest that: (1) the intensity of dayside auroras tends to increase for negative IMF By and to decrease for positive By, so that negative IMF By conditions seem preferable for observations of dayside auroras; (2) for negative IMF By, the auroral oval tends to be narrow and continuous throughout the noon meridian without any noon gap or any strong undulation in the auroral distribution. For positive IMF By, a sharp decrease and spreading of auroral activity is frequently observed in the post-noon sector, a strong undulation in the poleward boundary of the auroral oval around noon, and the formation of auroral forms poleward of the oval; and (3) the observed features of dayside auroras are in reasonable agreement with the expected distribution of upward field-aligned currents associated with the IMF By in the noon sector.     

Localization of the source of precipitating electrons in active arcs during breakup and in pulsating auroras

The sensitive method for detecting and measuring the velocity of a weak luminosity wave, traveling from bottom to top along an arc or isolated auroral beams, has been developed. This wave is caused by dispersion of precipitating electrons over velocities and by a differential atmospheric penetration of different-energy electrons, and the wave velocity gives information about the location of the electron acceleration region in the magnetosphere. The method was tested using different model signals and was used to study pulsating auroras and auroral breakup. A luminosity wave has been detected in pulsating auroras, and it has been estimated that the injection region is located at a distance of 5–6 R _e . The application of the method to intensification of auroras during breakup indicated that such a wave is absent; i.e., breakup electrons being accelerated near the ionosphere at altitudes of 2000–8000 km. It has been assumed that the regions of anomalous resistance, generated in the ionosphere by field-aligned currents during the breakup phase, cause intense local field-aligned electric fields. These fields accelerate thermal electrons and form the auroral breakup pattern.     

From discovery to prediction of magnetospheric processes

Over the last 50 years magnetospheric research has transferred its focus from geomagnetism to space physics, or from inferring the intensity of extraterrestrial currents, through discoveries of the main plasma regions in the magnetosphere, to predicting the processes occurring in the entire solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere system. Relating advances in magnetospheric physics to the framework of substorm research, this review paper demonstrates that the “recent” space age since 1960s consisted of (1) an exploratory/discovery phase in which the magnetotail, the plasma sheet, and the acceleration region of auroral particles were identified, and (2) a phase of comprehensive understanding in which we have attempted to comprehend the nature and significance of the near-Earth space environment. This progress in solar-terrestrial physics has coincided with a number of new discoveries of solar and interplanetary phenomena such as magnetic clouds, coronal mass ejections and coronal holes. Computer simulation techniques have been developed to the degree that satellite observations from a very limited number of points can be used to trace and reproduce the main energy processes. We are now entering a new phase in which we hope to be able to predict the dynamic processes that take place in the solar-terrestrial environment.     

Alfvén wave coupling in the auroral current circuit

Auroral phenomena are controlled by the geomagnetic field.Since the terrestrial field lines connect the auroral oval to the equatorial region at large distances, the collisionless plasma in this remote space environment can act as a power supply for the high-latitude upper atmosphere where auroral emissions take place. The coupling process is intimately linked to currents which flow across the local magnetic field direction both in the equatorial part and at the atmospheric end of the auroral field lines. These two auroral key regions are connected through currents flowing along the terrestrial field lines, thereby completing the auroral current circuit. Such field-aligned currents are carried by Alfvén waves, that is, magnetohydrodynamic shear waves, which are thus a means to exchange momentum and energybetween rather remote parts of the geomagnetically controlledspace environment. Auroral dynamics is further affected by a third key region in the auroral current circuit, namely the auroral acceleration region, where parallel electric fields accelerate particle to keV energies. This review focuses on key region coupling through Alfvén waves. Continuity requirements for currents and electric fields provide a convenient means to describe the interaction of Alfvén waves with different plasma regimes. Basic coupling aspects can be demonstrated with the help of a simplified model. Inhomogeneities and nonlinear feedback can lead to resonance effects and instabilities.     

Relationships between field-aligned currents and convection observed by EISCAT and implications concerning the mechanism that produces region-2 currents: Statistical study

Fluid theories explain the origin of region-2 field-aligned currents as the closure of the ring current, driven itself by the azimuthal pressure gradients generated in the magnetospheric ring plasma by the sunward convection. Although the structure of pressure gradients appears experimentally complex, observations confirm that a close connection exists between the region-2 field-aligned currents and the ring current. The fluid linear theory of the adiabatic transport by convection of the ring plasma gives a first estimate of this process, and leads ultimately to phase quadrature (in terms of magnetic local time) between the region-2 field-aligned currents and the convection potential. When significant non-adiabatic processes are taken into account, such as precipitations at auroral latitudes, the theoretical phase difference rotates toward opposition. We determine experimentally the phase relationship between the region-2 field-aligned currents and the convection potential from recent statistics, depending on the magnetic activity index K_p, and performed from the EISCAT data base. For geometrical reasons of sufficient probing of region 2, it is only computed in the case of a moderate magnetic activity corresponding to 2\leqK_p<4. Region-2 field-aligned currents are found to be in phase opposition with the convection electrostatic potential at auroral latitudes. This confirms the importance of non adiabatic processes, especially ion losses, in the generation of region-2 field-aligned currents, as theoretically suggested.     

Multiple scales in auroral plasmas

A review of the observed space scales of the auroral features ranging from the whole auroral oval of bright discrete forms down to the nonlinear moving solitary structures with the scales of the order of Debye length is given. The characteristic physical scale which determines the generation process is indicated whenever possible. Some problems of the auroral theory and modeling are briefly discussed, and a cross-scale coupling between the auroral and magnetospheric altitudes is stressed. It becomes apparent that the first in situ studied real astrophysical plasma object—the Earth's magnetosphere/ionosphere/aurora—is a unified multi-scale system which seems to be ordered at large scales, but sometimes looks as nearly nondeterministic, or chaotic, at small scales. The most powerful processes in this system operate in a very wide range of scales, with multifarious cross-scale couplings. The statistical behavior of magnetospheric/auroral plasmas in the regions of active auroras often can be reasonably described as the near-critical state.     

Parallel Electric Field and Electron Acceleration: an Advanced Model

A kinetic theory is necessary to explain the electron flows forming strong field-aligned currents in the auroral region. Its construction in this paper is based on the following propositions. (a) In the equatorial region, the arrival of electrons through the lateral surface of the magnetic flux tube is compensated for by their escape along the magnetic field. This is provided by action of the pitch-angle diffusion mechanism in the presence of plasma turbulence concentrated in this region. (b) Outside the equatorial region, the distribution functions of trapped and precipitating particles become “frozen.” The distributions and particle concentrations are calculated there in a model with conservation of the total energy and the magnetic moment. (c) The quasi-neutrality condition yields a large-scale parallel electric field, which contributes to the conserved total energy. In this field, the electron acceleration occurs, causing strong field-aligned currents directed upward from the ionosphere.     

On the importance of auroral processes in the Universe

Acceleration of charged particles in magnetic field-aligned electric potential differences at Earth and at the outer planets in the solar system is summarized and its general importance in the Universe is briefly discussed.The role of field-aligned currents, driven by parallel electric fields, in causing filamentary structure in stellar atmospheres is briefly reviewed.The differences between auroral optical emissions at various planets are summarized.The important role of field-aligned potential differences in the generation of AKR and corresponding emissions from other objects is discussed.Finally, aurora-associated processes for ejection of planetary plasma into space are briefly reviewed.     

Instability of the magnetosphere-ionosphere convection and formation of auroral arcs

In this paper we study an instability of the plasma moving towards the Earth near the inner plasma sheet boundary. We include both the interchange instability of the plasma sheet and the magnetosphere-ionosphere interaction instability caused by an effect of field-aligned currents (connected with electron precipitation) on ionospheric conductivity. The instability leads to the separation of steady-state magnetospheric convection into parallel layers. This instability may be responsible for the appearance of quiet auroral arcs inside region 2 of field-aligned currents flowing out of the ionosphere. This instability allows us to explain also the existence of crossing auroral arcs.     

Time-dependent simulations of the global polar wind

It has been clearly established that there is a substantial outflow of ionospheric plasma from the Earth's ionosphere in both the northern and southern polar regions. The outflow consists of both light thermal ions (H⁺ and He⁺) and an array of energized ions (NO⁺, O₂⁺, N₂⁺, O⁺, N⁺, He⁺, and H⁺). If the outflow is driven by thermal pressure gradients in the ionosphere, the outflow is called the “classical” polar wind. On the other hand, if the outflow is driven by energization processes either in the auroral oval or at high altitudes in the polar cap, the outflow is called the “generalized” polar wind. In both cases, the field-aligned outflow occurs in conjunction with magnetospheric convection, which causes the plasma to drift into and out of the sunlit hemisphere, cusp, polar cap, nocturnal auroral oval, and main trough. Because the field-aligned and horizontal motion are both important, three-dimensional (3-D) time-dependent models of the ionosphere–polar wind system are needed to properly describe the flow. Also, as the plasma executes field-aligned and horizontal motion, charge exchange reactions of H⁺ and O⁺ with the background neutrals (H and O) act to produce low-energy neutrals that flow in all directions (the neutral polar wind). This review presents recent simulations of the “global” ionosphere–polar wind system, including the classical, generalized, and neutral polar winds. The emphasis is on displaying the 3-D and dynamical character of the polar wind.     

Auroral fading structure before breakup: A review

This review is devoted to auroral fading before beginning of the substorm active phase. This initial stage of the active phase called breakup is accompanied by a sharp brightening of auroras and their rush toward the pole. Auroral fading before breakup was first detected in discrete auroras in the nightside sector and consisted in that a short-term decrease in brightness of an arc moving toward the equator below the level observed during the preliminary phase was observed during the substorm preliminary phase 2–3 min before breakup. During fading, the velocity of equatorward motion of auroral arcs decreased up to their complete stoppage. Auroral fading in the noon sector was registered simultaneously with fading on the Earth’s nightside before the beginning of the active phase. Short-term background fading was also observed both equatorward and poleward of an arc on the nightside. It was subsequently indicated that similar fading is observed in various geophysical phenomena. It was detected that a radar aurora signal fades before breakup, if auroral substorm is observed in a radar pattern and substorm source is located under good aspect conditions. Riometer absorption decreases simultaneously with auroral fading. Geomagnetic pulsations decay on dayside and nightside immediately before breakup. Such a multiform manifestation of fading in various geophysical phenomena indicates that fading is related to some global processes proceeding in the magnetosphere when energy accumulation in this region comes to the end before its explosive release into the polar ionosphere.     

A possible case of Sporadic Aurora in 1843 from Mexico

In recent years, some authors have shown that some auroras can be observed at relatively low latitude when the geomagnetic activity is quiet or moderate. This very special type of aurora is called “sporadic aurora”. We present and analyze in this work a possible case of “sporadic aurora” observed in Mexico on the 19 April 1843. Moreover, we study the solar and auroral activity around this event.     

用简单模式法对高纬电离层电场的进一步研究

本文采用的是有二区场向电流但无电导率时角变化的简单模式。文章通过模式计算,系统讨论了在恒稳条件下二区场向电流强度及位相和Hall与Pederson电导率在极光带升高等因素对高纬电场分布的影响。模式说明,二区场向电流的存在使二区电流圈以内电场加强,其外电场大大削弱。这种加强与削弱作用与二区电流的强度与位相均有关。Hall电导率在极光区升高会加强上述作用,Pederson电导率的升高则对其有所削弱。一般说来,极盖区外电场分布的位相与极盖区边界的驱动势不同,一、二区场向电流的位相与驱动势也有差异。这些现象都是场向电流与电导率共同影响的结果。以下结果初步解释了近年来的某些观测现象。最后,本文对简单模式法的应用及今后的某些方向作了探讨。     

PFISR observations of strong azimuthal flow bursts in the ionosphere and their relation to nightside aurora

Flow bursts within the ionosphere are the ionospheric signatures of flow bursts in the plasma sheet and have been associated with poleward boundary intensifications (PBIs). Some PBIs extend equatorward from the polar cap boundary, where they can be roughly divided into north–south-aligned and east–west-aligned structures. In this paper, we present two flow burst events observed by the new Poker Flat Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar (PFISR) in the pre-midnight auroral zone on 28 April 2007, one towards the west and the other towards the east. In both cases, enhanced flows lasted for about 8–10 min with peak velocities exceeding 1500 m/s. The concurrently measured electron density showed that the flow bursts occurred in low conductivity regions. However, near the poleward (equatorward) edge of the westward (eastward) flow burst, strong electron density enhancements were observed in the E region, indicating the presence of discrete auroral arcs. Auroral images from the Polar spacecraft were available at the time of the eastward flow burst and they indicate that this burst was associated with an east–west-aligned auroral structure that connected at later MLT to a north–south structure. In addition, simultaneous precipitating particle energy spectrum measured by the the Defense Meteorological Satellites Program (DMSP) F13 satellite reveals that this auroral structure resulted from mono-energetic electron precipitation associated with a significant field-aligned potential drop. These observations show direct evidence of the relationship between flow bursts, field-aligned currents and auroral intensifications, and suggest that eastward/westward flow bursts are associated with east–west-oriented PBI structures that have extended well within the plasma sheet. This is in contrast to the equatorward-directed flow that has been previously inferred for PBIs near the polar cap boundary and for north–south auroral structures. This paper illustrates the use of the PFISR radar for studying the magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling of flow bursts.     

Westward moving dynamic substorm features observed with the IMAGE magnetometer network and other ground-based instruments

We present the ground signatures of dynamic substorm features with particular emphasis on the event interpretation capabilities provided by the IMAGE magnetometer network. This array covers the high latitudes from the sub-auroral to the cusp/cleft region. An isolated substorm on 11 Oct. 1993 during the late evening hours exhibited many of well-known features such as the Harang discontinuity, westward travelling surge and poleward leap, but also discrete auroral forms, known as auroral streamers, appeared propagating westward along the centre of the electrojet. Besides the magnetic field measurements, there were auroral observations and plasma flow and conductivity measurements obtained by EISCAT. The data of all three sets of instruments are consistent with the notion of upward field-aligned currents associated with the moving auroral patches. A detailed analysis of the electro-dynamic parameters in the ionosphere, however, reveals that they do not agree with the expectations resulting from commonly used simplifying approximations. For example, the westward moving auroral streamers which are associated with field-aligned current filaments, are not collocated with the centres of equivalent current vortices. Furthermore, there is a clear discrepancy between the measured plasma flow direction and the obtained equivalent current direction. All this suggests that steep conductivity gradients are associated with the transient auroral forms. Also self-induction effects in the ionosphere may play a role for the orientation of the plasma flows. This study stresses the importance of multi-instrument observation for a reliable interpretation of dynamic auroral processes.     

How can we solve the problem of substorms? (A review)

The works in the alternative direction of magnetospheric studies are reviewed. In contrast to the traditional approach, where the basis process is magnetic field line reconnection, transformation of kinetic energy into electromagnetic one at the bow shock front is the basis process in the proposed approach. It has been indicated that this new paradigm makes it possible to overcome the main difficulties that remained within the scope of the previous paradigm. It has been briefly demonstrated how several following processes and phenomena are explained within the scope of the new approach: (1) transformation of the solar wind kinetic energy into the electromagnetic energy; (2) electromagnetic energy transfer into the magnetosphere; (3) organization of the system of bulk currents, formation of field-aligned currents from the magnetosphere, and compatibility of these currents with the ionospheric current systems; (4) shape, value, and dynamics of the particle precipitation auroral regions; and (5) substorm expansion (auroral breakup). Other possibilities of the new approach and paradigm replacement consequences are briefly considered.     

Possible role of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling in auroral arc generation

Three models for the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling feedback instability are considered. The first model is based on demagnetization of hot ions in the plasma sheet. The instability takes place in the global magnetosphere-ionosphere system when magnetospheric electrons drift through a spatial gradient of hot magnetospheric ion population. Such a situation exists on the inner and outer edges of the plasma sheet where relatively cold magnetospheric electrons move earthward through a radial gradient of hot ions. This leads to the formation of field-aligned currents. The effect of upward field-aligned current on particle precipitation and the magnitude of ionospheric conductivity leads to the instability of this earthward convection and to its division into convection streams oriented at some angle with respect to the initial convection direction. The growth rate of the instability is maximum for structures with sizes less than the ion Larmor radius in the equatorial plane. This may lead to formation of auroral arcs with widths about 10 km. This instability explains many features of such arcs, including their conjugacy in opposite hemispheres. However, it cannot explain the very high growth rates of some auroral arcs and very narrow arcs. For such arcs another type of instability must be considered. In the other two models the instability arises because of the generation of Alfven waves from growing arc-like structures in the ionospheric conductivity. One model is based on the modulation of precipitating electrons by field-aligned currents of the upward moving Alfven wave. The other model takes into consideration the reflection of Alfven waves from a maximum in the Alfven velocity at an altitude of about 3000 km. The growth of structures in both models takes place when the ionization function associated with upward field-aligned current is shifted from the edges of enhanced conductivity structures toward their centers. Such a shift arises because the structures move at a velocity different from the E × B drift. Although both models may work, the growth rate for the model, based on the modulation of the precipitating accelerated electrons, is significantly larger than that of the model based on the Alfven wave reflection. This mechanism is suitable for generation of auroral arcs with widths of about 1 km and less. The growth rate of the instability can be as large as 1 s^-1, and this mechanism enables us to justify the development of auroral arcs only in one ionosphere. It is hardly suitable for excitation of wide and conjugate auroral arcs, but it may be responsible for the formation of small-scale structures inside a wide arc.Polar Geophysical Institute, Apatity, Russia     

Features of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pc</Emphasis>5 pulsations in the geomagnetic field,auroral luminosity,and Riometer absorption

Simultaneous morning Pc5 pulsations (f ~ 3–5 mHz) in the geomagnetic field, aurora intensities (in the 557.7 and 630.0 nm oxygen emissions and the 471.0 nm nitrogen emission), and riometer absorption, were studied based on the CARISMA, CANMOS, and NORSTAR network data for the event of January 1, 2000. According to the GOES-8 satellite observations, these Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations are observed as incompressible Alfvén waves with toroidal polarization in the magnetosphere. Although the Pc5 pulsation frequencies in auroras, the geomagnetic field, and riometer absorption are close to one another, stable phase relationships are not observed between them. Far from all trains of geomagnetic Pc5 pulsations are accompanied by corresponding auroral pulsations; consequently, geomagnetic pulsations are primary with respect to auroral pulsations. Both geomagnetic and auroral pulsations propagate poleward, and the frequency decreases with increasing geomagnetic latitude. When auroral Pc5 pulsations appear, the ratio of the 557.7/630.0 nm emission intensity sharply increases, which indicates that auroral pulsations result from not simply modulated particle precipitation but also an additional periodic acceleration of auroral electrons by the wave field. A high correlation is not observed between Pc5 pulsations in auroras and the riometer absorption, which indicates that these pulsations have a common source but different generation mechanisms. Auroral luminosity modulation is supposedly related to the interaction between Alfvén waves and the region with the field-aligned potential drop above the auroral ionosphere, and riometer absorption modulation is caused by the scattering of energetic electrons by VLF noise pulsations.     

Planetary features of aurorae: Results of the IGY (a review)

In the period of the International Geophysical Year (IGY), almost the entire planet was covered for the first time by ground-based geophysical observations. Their analysis led to two fundamental results: the existence of the auroral oval and auroral (magnetospheric) substorm. At the final stage of the IGY, satellite explorations of the near-Earth space began. The auroral luminosity appeared to be related to the plasma structure of the magnetosphere. That opened new possibilities for parameters diagnostics of the Earth’s magnetosphere on the basis of ground-based aurora observations. The concepts of auroral oval and magnetospheric substorm became paradigms of the new science of solar-terrestrial physics.     

A new framework for studying the relationship of aurora and plasma sheet dynamics

Auroras have been extensively studied using images obtained by space-borne experiments. We use global UVI images obtained from Polar and simultaneous plasma data obtained by the 3D instrument on Wind from the near-earth plasma sheet to study the dynamics of auroras with different size and intensity. Unstable phase space ion distributions are detected in the plasma sheet under diverse geomagnetic and solar wind IMF conditions (positive and negative B_z) and at all phases of a substorm. These results indicate that plasma instability processes with different disturbance levels operate in the plasma sheet and produce a continuum of auroral size and intensity. The criteria for triggering an instability are dependent on the local properties of the plasma distributions. These observations suggest a new framework to integrate previous and current results and a new way to examine the causal relationships of auroral and plasma sheet dynamics.