Field‐aligned currents during the extreme solar minimum between the solar cycles 23 and 24

Abstract

AbstractThe solar minimum between solar cycles 23 and 24 was unusually long and deep. The upward region‐1 (R1) field‐aligned current (FAC) response to this extreme solar minimum was investigated using Defense Meteorological Satellite Program observations. The solar cycle responses on the dayside are different than those on the nightside. The field‐aligned current density (J//) on the dayside, at 12–17 magnetic local time (MLT), peaks in the declining phase of the solar cycle, in 2003, when the solar wind speed also peaks, whereas J// on the nightside, at 18–23 MLT, appears insensitive to the solar cycle. In 1995–2010, J// at 15–17 MLT reaches the lowest value during the extreme solar minimum in 2009, when the solar wind speed also reaches the lowest value. At 12–17 MLT, R1 is located mostly on open field lines or at the boundary layer, where the current is driven mostly by the velocity shear at the magnetopause boundary. However, on the nightside, R1 is located mostly on the closed field lines where J// is not driven directly and immediately by the solar wind. The nightside current width (Λ) exhibits a solar cycle effect such that Λ is smaller at the solar minimum and smallest in 2009. However, the dayside Λ exhibits little solar cycle effect. As a result, the FAC intensity (latitudinally integrated J//) exhibits a solar cycle variation at all local times and the FAC intensity is lower during the extreme solar minimum than that of the previous solar minimum.