Magnetopause magnetic barrier parameters in dependence on the solar wind magnetic field orientation

Some theories predict the magnetosheath magnetic field strength will decrease and the density increase just outside the dayside magnetopause as the interplanetary magnetic field turns southward. Two studies have recently reported results which confirm these expectations. In contrast, we briefly review our own theoretical predictions which indicate that precisely the opposite effect is expected. We survey new and previously reported magnetosheath observations and demonstrate that they are consistent with the predictions of our model. The conflicting results indicate a need for further theoretical and observational work.     

Time variation of atmospheric pressure and circulation associated with temperature changes during Solar Proton Events

A decrease of the direct solar radiation at the Earths surface and associated variations of the altitudinal temperature profile observed during Solar Proton Events (SPE) discussed by Pudovkin and Babushkina, 1992b, Pudovkin and Veretenenko, 1994 are believed to be caused by the appearance of a layer which partially reflects solar radiation (by up to 10%) at an altitude of about 9 km. This layer is associated with the cirrus cloud that can be nucleated by Solar Cosmic Ray (SCR) particles (see Tinsley and Deen, 1991; Tinsley and Heelis, 1993). The calculated variations of the altitudinal profile of the air temperature in the high latitude atmosphere (Sodankyla, Finland, φ ≈ 67° N) after the SPE, caused by the appearance of this layer, are in good agreement with experimental data.The variations of the temperature profile (|ΔT| ? 2–3 K at z < 10 km) in the high latitude atmosphere during the SPE may produce a time variation of the meridional pressure profile, which in turn might cause a change of the zonal circulation. The expected changes of pressure at the Earths surface, the heights of constant pressure levels and the zonal circulation are shown to be similar to those observed, but which are smaller in magnitude. These quantitative differences can be associated with the oversimplification of the atmospheric model that we used.     

The structure of the solar flare stream magnetic field

The structure of the interplanetary magnetic field within the flare streams as well as associated variations of the geomagnetic disturbancy are considered. It is shown that in the main body of the flare stream the magnetic field is determined by the configuration of the large scale magnetic field on the Sun at the flare region. Within the head part of the flare stream the magnetic field represents by itself the compressed field of the background solar wind and hence is determined by the distribution of the super large scale solar magnetic field outside the flare region.A certain asymmetry in the parameters of the magnetic field within the streams associated with geoeffective and non-effective flares is shown to exist.     

Magnetopause stand-off distance in dependence on the magnetosheath and solar wind parameters

A model of the magnetosheath structure proposed in a recent paper from the authors is extended to estimate the magnetopause stand-off distance from solar wind data. For this purpose, the relationship of the magnetopause location to the magnetosheath and solar wind parameters is studied. It is shown that magnetopause erosion may be explained in terms of the magnetosheath magnetic field penetration into the magnetosphere. The coefficient of penetration (the ratio of the magnetospheric magnetic field depression to the intensity of the magnetosheath magnetic field B_mz = -B_m sin²/2, is estimated and found approximately to equal 1. It is shown that having combined a magnetosheath model presented in an earlier paper and the magnetosheath field penetration model presented in this paper, it is possible to predict the magnetopause stand-off distance from solar wind parameters.     

Low frequency 1/f-like fluctuations of the AE-index as a possible manifestation of self-organized criticality in the magnetosphere

Low frequency stochastic variations of the geomagnetic AE-index characterized by 1/f^b-like power spectrum (where f is a frequency) are studied. Based on the analysis of experimental data we show that the B_z-component of IMF, velocity of solar wind plasma, and the coupling function of Akasofu are insufficient factors to explain these behaviors of the AE-index together with the 1/f^b fluctuations of geomagnetic intensity. The effect of self-organized criticality (SOC) is proposed as an internal mechanism to generate 1/f^b fluctuations in the magnetosphere. It is suggested that localized spatially current instabilities, developing in the magnetospheric tail at the initial substorm phase can be considered as SOC avalanches or dynamic clusters, superposition of which leads to the 1/f^b fluctuations of macroscopic characteristics in the system. Using the sandpile model of SOC, we undertake numerical modeling of space-localized and global disturbances of magnetospheric current layer. Qualitative conformity between the disturbed dynamics of self-organized critical state of the model and the main phases of real magnetospheric substorm development is demonstrated. It is also shown that power spectrum of sandpile model fluctuations controlled by real solar wind parameters reproduces all distinctive spectral features of the AE fluctuations.     

Peculiarities of solar-wind flow around the magnetosphere and the magnetopause position

MHD problems of solar wind interaction with the Earth's magnetosphere on the day-side are investigated. These ideas are used for the analysis of satellite data on the day-side magnetopause crossing. It is shown that the observed regularities may be adequately explained within the bounds of MHD-flow theory which includes the stagnation line at the nose of the magnetosphere. The ratio k of the magnetic field pressure to the plasma pressure in the vicinity of the subsolar point of the magnetosphere, which determines the magnitude of the interplanetary magnetic field penetrating into the magnetosphere, was estimated.     

Dependence of the flare stream velocity on magnetic field orientation

The stationary current of diffusely-distributed super-thermal electrons along a weakly inhomogeneous coronal magnetic field is considered as a possible model of the noise storm continuum source in decametric wavelengths. It is shown that the realization of such a streaming leads to a considerably increased level of plasma noise in the diffuse component region and then to enhanced radio emission from this region.     

On the longitudinal extent of the polar cusp

Variations of the longitudinal extent of the polar cusp are studied in relation to the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field. In cases when the vertical component of the solar wind magnetic field is positive, the polar cusp is shown to be restricted to a relatively localized region at 12 ± 2 LMT.     

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.     

Electrodynamic coupling between ionospheric convection patterns in the northern and southern hemispheres

A numerical model of the high-latitude ionospheric electric field is presented. To perform the calculations, a model of the field-aligned current source is proposed. The electric field patterns are calculated consistently both in the northern and southern hemispheres. Effects of season, universal time, solar and geomagnetic activity, the neutral atmosphere winds, and of the IMF sector structure are considered. In particular, dynamics of the parameters of convection cells are investigated that depend on the action of these factors. Comparison of the results with experimental data is carried out.