Afternoon mid-latitude current system and low-latitude geomagnetic field asymmetry during geomagnetic storms

For four geomagnetic storms of middle intensity the relationship between the low-latitude magnetic field asymmetry using ASY indices and the intensity of the auroral eastward and westward electro-jet was considered. It was asked whether there exists a connection between ASY and the eastward electrojet. To answer this question equivalent current systems were estimated in mid-latitudes. It was found that the observations obviously show no correlative relationship between the low-latitude magnetic-field asymmetry and the eastward electrojet, whereas one exists between ASY and the westward electrojet. To explain the generally accepted common three-dimensional current system between the partial ring current and the eastward electrojet, a condensor model of the three-dimensional current system was developed. It could be shown that the short periodic variations of the partial ring current are shielded by the condensor and cannot influence the eastward-electrojet current.     

Characteristics of the Pitch-Angle Anisotropy of Energetic Protons in the Daytime Magnetosphere due to Particle Drift in the Nondipole Magnetic Field

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - This paper analyzes the effect of azimuthal proton drift from the nighttime sector of the Earth’s magnetosphere on the characteristics of the pitch-angle...     

Simultaneous Observations of EMIC Waves,ELF/VLF Waves,and Energetic Particle Precipitation during Multiple Compressions of the Magnetosphere

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - Simultaneous observations of ELF/VLF and EMIC waves from Van Allen Probe satellites in the daytime Earth’s magnetosphere and on the ground during multiple...     

Localization of the sources of narrow-band noise VLF emissions in the range 4–10 kHz from simultaneous ground-based and Van Allen Probes satellite observations

This paper presents the results of simultaneous observations of narrow-band noise VLF emissions in the frequency range 4–10 kHz at Kannuslehto ground station in Northern Finland and by Van Allen Probes (previously RBSP) in the equatorial part of the magnetosphere. The event of December 25, 2015, is considered. During the event, narrow-band noise VLF emissions were detected on the Earth in two frequency ranges, f = 3.5–6 kHz and f = 8–10 kHz, between 1100 and 1300 UT. Narrow-band VLF emissions in the equatorial zone were also observed during that time by the RBSP-B satellite; their frequency was close to the electron equatorial half-gyrofrequency and gradually increased from 3 to 11 kHz during the satellite motion from L = 5.0 to L = 3.0. Analysis of the fine structure of the emissions on the ground showed that their spectral and temporal characteristics corresponded to emissions by the satellites in localized zones at different L-shells. The ground-based observations at lower frequencies correlated with the satellite observations at larger L-shells. In order to localize the regions of the generation of the VLF emissions observed at Kannuslehto auroral station at different frequencies, we calculated the ray trajectories of waves from the equator for the plasma density distributions detected by Van Allen Probes. The calculations of the trajectories showed that the VLF waves detected at Kannuslehto station could travel to the ground only if they propagated in the large-scale density ducts (700–900 km) observed by Van Allen Probes.     

Proton Auroras Equatorward of the Oval as a Manifestation of the Ion-Cyclotron Instability in the Earth’s Magnetosphere (Brief Review)

Different types of proton auroras observed by the IMAGE satellite equatorward of the proton aurora oval are briefly reviewed. These auroras are caused by the precipitation of energetic protons from the Earth’s magnetosphere during the development of the ion-cyclotron instability. In addition to the previously considered types of proton auroras (spots, evening arcs, and dayside flashes), a new type is described: longlasting proton auroras on the dayside. The scheme of interrelation between different proton auroras equatorward of the oval with the distribution of cold plasmaspheric plasma is given.     

Efficiency of electron acceleration in the Earth’s magnetosphere by whistler mode waves

The efficiency of energetic electron cyclotron acceleration in the Earth’s magnetosphere in different regimes of electron resonant interaction with parallel propagating whistler mode waves of variable frequency, specifically, with chorus ELF-VLF emissions, is considered. The regime of stochastic acceleration, typical of the interaction between particles and noise-like emissions, and particle acceleration in the regime of nonlinear trapping by a quasimonochromatic wave field are discussed. The specific feature of the latter regime consists in its non-diffuse character, i.e., the definite sign of the energy variation depending on the frequency variation in the wave packet. The trapped electron energy becomes higher if frequency increases within an element, which is typical of chorus emissions. For the parameters typical of chorus emissions (the amplitude of a wave magnetic field B _～ = 10² nT, the initial frequency ω ～ 0.3ω _H , and the frequency variation &;Dω ～ 0.15ω _H , where ω _H is the electron gyrofrequency), the energy increase during one act of such an interaction at L = 4?5 exceeds the rms variation in the energy of untrapped electron (during stochastic acceleration) by one-two orders of magnitude. The estimates indicate that a considerable fraction (several tens of percent) of the chorus element energy can be absorbed by electrons accelerated in the trapping regime during a single hop.     

Interrelation between localized energetic particle precipita ion and cold plasma inhomogeneities in the magnetosphere

Situations when localized precipitation of energetic (E > 30 keV) protons and electrons, associated with the development of cyclotron instability in the magnetosphere, is recorded during one satellite pass are identified in the data of particle flux observations on the NOAA-12 low-orbiting satellite. Such events were observed only in the evening sector of the magnetosphere. This precipitation is compared with the data on the cold (E < 10 eV) plasma density obtained on the LANL geostationary satellites. The comparison showed that the precipitation of energetic particles is related to the presence of cold plasma with a density of 20–100 cm^?3 in geostationary orbit in the evening sector of the magnetosphere. The conclusion has been made that the localized precipitation of energetic particles is generated at the edges of small-scale structures of cold plasma, forming the so-called “plasmaspheric tail,” i.e., the cold plasma region extending from the evening plasmapause toward the Sun.     

Strong localized variations of the low-altitude energetic electron fluxes in the evening sector near the plasmapause

Specific type of energetic electron precipitation accompanied by a sharp increase in trapped energetic electron flux are found in the data obtained from low-altitude NOAA satellites. These strongly localized variations of the trapped and precipitated energetic electron flux have been observed in the evening sector near the plasmapause during recovery phase of magnetic storms. Statistical characteristics of these structures as well as the results of comparison with proton precipitation are described. We demonstrate the spatial coincidence of localized electron precipitation with cold plasma gradient and whistler wave intensification measured on board the DE-1 and Aureol-3 satellites. A simultaneous localized sharp increase in both trapped and precipitating electron flux could be a result of significant pitch-angle isotropization of drifting electrons due to their interaction via cyclotron instability with the region of sharp increase in background plasma density.     

Generation of EMIC Waves in the Magnetosphere and Precipitation of Energetic Protons: Comparison of the Data from THEMIS High Earth Orbiting Satellites and POES Low Earth Orbiting Satellites

Regions of the detection of electromagnetic ion-cyclotron (EMIC) waves on the THEMIS satellites near the equatorial plane and the precipitation of energetic protons on POES low Earth orbiting satellites are compared with the magnetospheric magnetic field model. It is confirmed that low Earth orbiting satellites detect the precipitation of energetic protons in the regon associated with observations of EMIC waves in the magnetosphere. This is consistent with the idea that protons are scattered in the loss cone as a result of ioncyclotron interaction. Thus, observations of fluxes of energetic protons in low Earth orbits can be used to monitor ion-cyclotron instability regions in the magnetosphere. Simultaneous observations at high and low Earth orbits contribute to the construction of a spatiotemporal pattern of the interaction region of EMIC waves and energetic protons. In addition, it is shown that proton precipitation associated with EMIC waves can cause errors in determining the latitude of the isotropic boundary (the equatorial boundary of isotropic fluxes of energetic protons), which is an indicator of the configuration of the magnetic field in the magnetosphere.     

Amplitude–frequency characteristics of ion–cyclotron and whistler-mode waves from Van Allen Probes data

Using two-hour (from 2300 UT January 25, 2013 to 0100 UT January 26, 2013) measurement data from Van Allen Probes on fluxes of energetic particles, cold plasma density, and magnetic field magnitude, we have calculated the local growth rate of electromagnetic ion–cyclotron and whistler-mode waves for field-aligned propagation. The results of these calculations have been compared with wave spectra observed by the same Van Allen Probe spacecraft. The time intervals when the calculated wave increments are sufficiently large, and the frequency ranges corresponding to the enhancement peak agree with the frequency–time characteristics of observed electromagnetic waves. We have analyzed the influence of variations in the density and ionic composition of cold plasma, fluxes of energetic particles, and their pitch-angle distribution on the wave generation. The ducted propagation of waves plays an important role in their generation during the given event. The chorus VLF emissions observed in this event cannot be explained by kinetic cyclotron instability, and their generation requires much sharper changes (“steps”) for velocity distributions than those measured by energetic particle detectors on Van Allen Probes satellites.