Plasma Density Depletions Research Articles

Spatiotemporally resolved electrodynamic properties of a Sun‐aligned arc over Resolute Bay

AbstractCommon volume measurements by the Resolute Bay Incoherent Scatter Radar‐North (RISR‐N) and Optical Mesosphere and Thermosphere Imagers (OMTI) have been used to clarify the electrodynamic structure of a Sun‐aligned arc in the polar cap. The plasma parameters of the dusk‐to‐dawn drifting arc and surrounding ionosphere are extracted using the volumetric imaging capabilities of RISR‐N. Multipoint line‐of‐sight RISR‐N measurements of the plasma drift are inverted to construct a time sequence of the electric field and field‐aligned current system of the arc. Evidence of dramatic electrodynamic and plasma structuring of the polar cap ionosphere due to the arc is described. One notable feature of the arc is a meridionally extended plasma density depletion on its leading edge, located partially within a downward field‐aligned current region. The depletion is determined to be a by‐product of enhanced chemical recombination operating on a time scale of 15 min. A similarly shaped electric field structure of over 100 mV/m and line‐of‐sight ion temperatures nearing 3000 K were collocated with the depletion.

Prediction of the level of ionospheric scintillation at equatorial latitudes in Brazil using a neural network

AbstractElectron density irregularity structures, often associated with ionospheric plasma bubbles, drive amplitude and phase fluctuations in radio signals that, in turn, create a phenomenon known as ionospheric scintillation. The phenomenon occurs frequently around the magnetic equator where plasma instability mechanisms generate postsunset plasma bubbles and density depletions. A previous correlation study suggested that scintillation at the magnetic equator may provide a forecast of subsequent scintillation at the equatorial ionization anomaly southern peak. In this work, it is proposed to predict the level of scintillation over São Luís (2.52°S, 44.3°W; dip latitude: ~2.5°S) near the magnetic equator with lead time of hours but without specifying the moment at which the scintillation starts or ends. A collection of extended databases relating scintillation to ionospheric variables for São Luís is employed to perform the training of an artificial neural network with a new architecture. Two classes are considered, not strong (null/weak/moderate) and strong scintillation. An innovative scheme preprocesses the data taking into account similarities of the values of the variables for the same class. A formerly proposed resampling heuristic is employed to provide a balanced number of tuples of each class in the training set. Tests were performed showing that the proposed neural network is able to predict the level of scintillation over the station on the evening ahead of the data sample considered between 17:30 and 19:00 LT.

3D MHD SIMULATION OF FLARE SUPRA-ARCADE DOWNFLOWS IN A TURBULENT CURRENT SHEET MEDIUM

Supra-arcade downflows (SADs) are sunward, generally dark, plasma density depletions originated above posteruption flare arcades. In this paper using 3D MHD simulations we investigate if the SAD cavities can be produced by a direct combination of the tearing mode and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities leading to a turbulent current sheet (CS) medium or if the current sheet is merely the background where SADs are produced triggered by an impulsive deposition of energy. We find that to give account of the observational dark lane structures an addition of local energy, provided by a reconnection event, is required. We suggest that there may be a closed relation between characteristic SAD sizes and CS widths that must be satisfied to obtain an observable SAD.

A dayside plasma depletion observed at midlatitudes during quiet geomagnetic conditions

AbstractIn this study we investigate a dayside, midlatitude plasma depletion (DMLPD) encountered on 22 May 2014 by the Swarm and GRACE satellites, as well as ground‐based instruments. The DMLPD was observed near Puerto Rico by Swarm near 10 LT under quiet geomagnetic conditions at altitudes of 475–520 km and magnetic latitudes of ∼25°–30°. The DMLPD was also revealed in total electron content observations by the Saint Croix station and by the GRACE satellites (430 km) near 16 LT and near the same geographic location. The unique Swarm constellation enables the horizontal tilt of the DMLPD to be measured (35° clockwise from the geomagnetic east‐west direction). Ground‐based airglow images at Arecibo showed no evidence for plasma density depletions during the night prior to this dayside event. The C/NOFS equatorial satellite showed evidence for very modest plasma density depletions that had rotated into the morningside from nightside. However, the equatorial depletions do not appear related to the DMLPD, for which the magnetic apex height is about 2500 km. The origins of the DMLPD are unknown, but may be related to gravity waves.

West wall structuring of equatorial plasma bubbles simulated by three-dimensional HIRB model

Plasma density depletions in the equatorial ionosphere, or so-called equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) are generated in the post-sunset period and tend to have a very complex spatial structure. Especially, the east-west asymmetry of EPBs has been reported by various observations. Using a high-resolution bubble (HIRB) model, which is a newly developed three-dimensional numerical model for the equatorial ionosphere, small-scale structuring at the west wall of large-scale F-layer upwelling is clearly reproduced for the first time. It is not an eastward neutral wind but a vertical shear of zonal plasma drift velocity at the bottomside of the F region that plays an important role in accelerating the instability growth at the west wall and generating the east-west asymmetry of EPBs.

Probability of occurrence of planetary ionosphere storms associated with the magnetosphere disturbance storm time events

Abstract. The ionospheric W index allows to distinguish state of the ionosphere and plasmasphere from quiet conditions (W = 0 or ±1) to intense storm (W = ±4) ranging the plasma density enhancements (positive phase) or plasma density depletions (negative phase) regarding the quiet ionosphere. The global W index maps are produced for a period 1999–2014 from Global Ionospheric Maps of Total Electron Content, GIM-TEC, designed by Jet Propulson Laboratory, converted from geographic frame (−87.5:2.5:87.5° in latitude, −180:5:180° in longitude) to geomagnetic frame (−85:5:85° in magnetic latitude, −180:5:180° in magnetic longitude). The probability of occurrence of planetary ionosphere storm during the magnetic disturbance storm time, Dst, event is evaluated with the superposed epoch analysis for 77 intense storms (Dst ≤ −100 nT) and 230 moderate storms (−100 < Dst ≤ −50 nT) with start time, t0, defined at Dst storm main phase onset. It is found that the intensity of negative storm, iW-, exceeds the intensity of positive storm, iW+, by 1.5–2 times. An empirical formula of iW+ and iW- in terms of peak Dst is deduced exhibiting an opposite trends of relation of intensity of ionosphere-plasmasphere storm with regard to intensity of Dst storm.

Equatorial plasma depletions observed by the DMSP F13 satellite near dawn during geomagnetic disturbances in a solar minimum

We report on in situ measurements of equatorial plasma depletions in the dawn sector from the DMSP F13 satellite during magnetic disturbances which occurred within the solar minimum period of 1995–1996. Examples are given when DMSP F13 observed prominent pre-sunrise depletions associated with weak magnetic disturbances, while the most severe magnetic storms of the period showed only small amplitude depletions of plasma density. Our results indicate that the depletions were observed within about two third of the magnetically perturbed days with the negative maximum excursions of SYM-H less than −40nT at any season and at various longitudes. Commonly, the depletions appear following the negative SYM-H peaks in the recovery phase of the magnetic disturbances. We discuss the roles of corotating evening depletions and near-dawn effects of the prompt penetration overshielding and the disturbance dynamo eastward electric fields as sources for the reported depletions.

Alfvén wave characteristics of equatorial plasma irregularities in the ionosphere derived from CHAMP observations

We report magnetic field observations of the components transverse to the main field in the frequency range 1-25 Hz from times of equatorial plasma irregularity crossings. These field variations are interpreted as Alfvenic signatures accompanying intermediate-scale (150 m – 4 km) plasma density depletions. Data utilized are the high-resolution CHAMP magnetic field measurements sampled at 50 Hz along the north-south satellite track. The recorded signals do not reflect the temporal variation but the spatial distribution of Alfvenic signatures. This is the first comprehensive study of Alfvenic signatures related to equatorial plasma bubbles that covers the whole solar cycle from 2000 to 2010. A detailed picture of the wave characteristics can be drawn due to the large number (almost 9000) of events considered. Some important findings are: Alfvenic features are a common feature of intermediate-scale plasma structures. The zonal and meridional magnetic components are generally well correlated suggesting skewed current sheets. The sheets have an orientation that is on average deflect by about 32° away from magnetic east towards upward or downward depending on the hemisphere. We have estimated the Poynting flux flowing into the E region. Typical values are distributed over the range 10-8 - 10-6 W/m2. Large Poynting fluxes are related to steep spectra of the Alfvenic signal, which imply passages through regularly varying electron density structures. No dependence of the Poynting flux level on solar activity has been found. But below a certain solar flux value (F10.7 < 100 sfu) practically no events are detected. There is a clear tendency that large Poynting flux events occur preferably at early hours after sunset (e.g. 20:00 local time). Towards later times the occurrence peak shifts successively towards lower energy levels. Finally we compare our observations with the recently published results of the high-resolution 3-D model simulations by Dao et al. (2013).

On the signatures of magnetic islands and multiple X-lines in the solar wind as observed by ARTEMIS and WIND

We report the first observation consistent with a magnetic reconnection generated magnetic island at a solar wind current sheet that was observed on 10 June 2012 by the two ARTEMIS satellites and the upstream WIND satellite. The evidence consists of a core magnetic field within the island which is formed by enhanced Hall magnetic fields across a solar wind reconnection exhaust. The core field at ARTEMIS displays a local dip coincident with a peak plasma density enhancement and a locally slower exhaust speed which differentiates it from a regular solar wind exhaust crossing. Further indirect evidence of magnetic island formation is presented in the form of a tripolar Hall magnetic field, which is supported by an observed electron velocity shear, and plasma density depletion regions which are in general agreement with multiple reconnection X-line signatures at the same current sheet on the basis of predicted signatures of magnetic islands as generated by a kinetic reconnection simulation for solar wind-like conditions. The combined ARTEMIS and WIND observations of tripolar Hall magnetic fields across the same exhaust and Grad–Shrafranov reconstructions of the magnetic field suggest that an elongated magnetic island was encountered which displayed a 4RE normal width and a 43RE extent along the exhaust between two neighboring X-lines.

Relationship between plasma bubbles and density enhancements: Observations and interpretation

AbstractPlasma bubbles are regions of depleted plasma density in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere. Plasma enhancements, also referred as plasma blobs, are regions where the plasma density is increased. It has not been well understood whether and how plasma enhancements are related to plasma bubbles. In this paper, we present the observations of plasma bubbles and enhancements by the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite during 2008 and 2009. In some cases, C/NOFS first detected plasma bubbles near the magnetic equator and then plasma enhancements at the same longitudes but at higher latitudes during subsequent orbits. In other cases, C/NOFS first detected plasma enhancements at off‐equatorial locations and then plasma bubbles near the magnetic equator at the same longitudes. It is also found that plasma enhancements existed just above plasma depletions. We propose a unified scenario to describe the evolution of plasma bubbles and the formation of plasma enhancements. In the proposed scenario, plasma enhancements can occur at different latitudes and altitudes during the early, intermediate, and late stages of the bubble evolution. This scenario provides a reasonable explanation of the observations.

ON THE CAUSE OF SUPRA-ARCADE DOWNFLOWS IN SOLAR FLARES

A model of supra-arcade downflows (SADs), dark low density regions also known as tadpoles that propagate sunward during solar flares, is presented. It is argued that the regions of low density are flow channels carved by sunward-directed outflow jets from reconnection. The solar corona is stratified, so the flare site is populated by a lower density plasma than that in the underlying arcade. As the jets penetrate the arcade, they carve out regions of depleted plasma density which appear as SADs. The present interpretation differs from previous models in that reconnection is localized in space but not in time. Reconnection is continuous in time to explain why SADs are not filled in from behind as they would if they were caused by isolated descending flux tubes or the wakes behind them due to temporally bursty reconnection. Reconnection is localized in space because outflow jets in standard two-dimensional reconnection models expand in the normal (inflow) direction with distance from the reconnection site, which would not produce thin SADs as seen in observations. On the contrary, outflow jets in spatially localized three-dimensional reconnection with an out-of-plane (guide) magnetic field expand primarily in the out-of-plane direction and remain collimated in the normal direction, which is consistent with observed SADs being thin. Two-dimensional proof-of-principle simulations of reconnection with an out-of-plane (guide) magnetic field confirm the creation of SAD-like depletion regions and the necessity of density stratification. Three-dimensional simulations confirm that localized reconnection remains collimated.

Ionospheric disturbances induced by a missile launched from North Korea on 12 December 2012

AbstractIonospheric disturbances caused by a missile launched from North Korea on 12 December 2012 were investigated by using the GPS total electron content (TEC). The spatial characteristic of the front edge of V‐shaped disturbances produced by missiles and rockets was first determined. Considering the launch direction and the height of estimated ionospheric points at which GPS radio signal pierces the ionosphere, the missile passed through the ionosphere at heights of 391, 425, and 435 km at 0056:30, 0057:00, and 0057:30 UT, respectively. The observed velocities of the missile were 2.8 and 3.2 km/s at that time, which was estimated from the traveling speed of the front edge of V‐shaped disturbances. Westward and eastward V‐shaped disturbances propagated at 1.8–2.6 km/s. The phase velocities of the westward and eastward V‐shaped disturbances were much faster than the speed of acoustic waves reported in previous studies, suggesting that sources other than acoustic waves may have played an important role. Furthermore, the plasma density depletion that is often observed following missile and rocket launches was not found. This suggests that the depletion resulting from the missile's exhaust was not strong enough to be observed in the TEC distribution in the topside ionosphere.

Steep plasma depletion in dayside polar cap during a CME‐driven magnetic storm

A series of steep plasma depletions was observed in the dayside polar cap during an interval of highly enhanced electron density on 14 October 2000 through EISCAT Svalbard Radar (ESR) field‐aligned measurements and northward‐directed low‐elevation measurements. Each depletion started with a steep dropoff to as low as 1011 m− 3 from the enhanced level of ∼3 × 1012 m−3 at F2 region altitudes, and it continued for 10–15 min before returning to the enhanced level. These depletions moved poleward at a speed consistent with the observed ion drift velocity. DMSP spacecraft observations over an extended period of time which includes the interval of these events indicate that a region of high ion densities extended into the polar cap from the equatorward side of the cusp, i.e., a tongue of ionization existed, and that the ion densities were very low on its prenoon side. Solar wind observations show that a sharp change from IMF By &gt; 0 to By &lt; 0 is associated with each appearance of the ESR electron density dropoff. From this unprecedented clear correlation we present a specific scenario: the series of plasma density depletions observed using the ESR is a result of the poleward drift of the undulating boundary of the tongue of ionization; this undulation is created in the cusp roughly 20 min before the ESR observation by the azimuthal intrusion, in response to the rapid prenoon shift of the footprint of the reconnection line, of the low‐density plasmas originating in the morning sector.

Total electron content variations in equatorial anomaly region

Diurnal variations in the total electron content (TEC) at Makerere University (00°19′N, 32°40′E, Geo Dip −22°), Uganda, have been investigated using a NovAtel GSV400B GPS receiver for the year 2010. The highest TEC values occurred from 13h00 to 17h00 local time (LT) throughout the year, with the highest values being exhibited during equinoctial months. In addition, there was some correlation between this high TEC and the moderate storms that occurred in 2010. These high TEC values have been attributed to the solar EUV ionization coupled with the upward vertical ExB drift. Nighttime enhancements were also found to be seasonally dependant, attaining maximum values during equinoctial months. These results were also compared with modeled TEC values by the IRI-2007 model. The modeled values were in good agreement with the measured values except for these two points: (1) the model had a short-fall in predicting the nighttime enhancements; and (2) the model’s minimum TEC did not coincide with the measured minimum in most of the months. Observed TEC depletions were found to correlate with an increase in the S4 index and have been identified as a manifestation of the plasma density depletions of the equatorial origin.

Lunar precursor effects in the solar wind and terrestrial magnetosphere

The two ARTEMIS probes observe significant precursor activity upstream from the Moon, when magnetically connected to the dayside lunar surface. The most common signature consists of high levels of whistler wave activity near half of the electron cyclotron frequency. This precursor activity extends to distances of many thousands of km, in both the solar wind and terrestrial magnetosphere. In the magnetosphere, electrons reflect from a combination of magnetic and electrostatic fields above the lunar surface, forming loss cone distributions. In the solar wind they generally form conics, as a result of reflection from an obstacle moving with respect to the plasma frame (just as at a shock). The anisotropy associated with these reflected electrons provides the free energy source for the whistlers, with cyclotron resonance conditions met between the reflected source population and Moonward‐propagating waves. These waves can in turn affect incoming plasma, and we observe significant perpendicular electron heating and plasma density depletions in some cases. In the magnetosphere, we also observe broadband electrostatic modes driven by beams of secondary electrons and/or photoelectrons accelerated outward from the surface. We also occasionally see waves near the ion cyclotron frequency in the magnetosphere. These lower frequency waves, which may result from the presence of ions of lunar origin, modulate the whistlers described above, as well as the electrons. Taken together, our observations suggest that the presence of the Moon leads to the formation of an upstream region analogous in many ways to the terrestrial electron foreshock.

Sheared-flow induced confinement transition in a linear magnetized plasma

A magnetized plasma cylinder (12 cm in diameter) is induced by an annular shape obstacle at the Large Plasma Device [W. Gekelman, H. Pfister, Z. Lucky, J. Bamber, D. Leneman, and J. Maggs, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 62, 2875 (1991)]. Sheared azimuthal flow is driven at the edge of the plasma cylinder through edge biasing. Strong fluctuations of density and potential ({delta}n/n{approx}e{delta}{phi}/kT{sub e}{approx}0.5) are observed at the plasma edge, accompanied by a large density gradient (L{sub n}={nabla}lnn{sup -1}{approx}2cm) and shearing rate ({gamma}{approx}300kHz). Edge turbulence and cross-field transport are modified by changing the bias voltage (V{sub bias}) on the obstacle and the axial magnetic field (B{sub z}) strength. In cases with low V{sub bias} and large B{sub z}, improved plasma confinement is observed, along with steeper edge density gradients. The radially sheared flow induced by ExB drift dramatically changes the cross-phase between density and potential fluctuations, which causes the wave-induced particle flux to reverse its direction across the shear layer. In cases with higher bias voltage or smaller B{sub z}, large radial transport and rapid depletion of the central plasma density are observed. Two-dimensional cross-correlation measurement shows that a mode with azimuthal mode number m=1 and large radial correlation length dominates themore » outward transport in these cases. Linear analysis based on a two-fluid Braginskii model suggests that the fluctuations are driven by both density gradient (drift wave like) and flow shear (Kelvin-Helmholtz like) at the plasma edge.« less

On postmidnight low-latitude ionospheric irregularities during solar minimum: 2. C/NOFS observations and comparisons with the Equatorial Atmosphere Radar

[1] A detailed comparison between the observations of the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite and the 47 MHz Equatorial Atmosphere Radar (EAR) in West Sumatra, Indonesia (10.36°S dip latitude) on the postmidnight irregularities is presented. The zonal and meridional E × B drift velocities measured by the vector electric field instrument on the C/NOFS are consistent with the westward propagation of backscatter echoes and the line-of-sight Doppler velocities observed with the EAR, respectively. The plasma density depletions are observed in the postmidnight sector for several consecutive orbits, which suggests the depletions grow slowly during the premidnight period and reach the spacecraft altitude around local midnight. The convergence of the equatorward wind which could be responsible for the midnight temperature maximum may produce a preferable condition for the growth of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability around midnight. Electric field fluctuations of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances may play an important role in seeding the instability. Both equatorial and midlatitude-type plasma instabilities could be operational at the EAR latitude sector, which together would foster a high occurrence of postmidnight irregularities during solar minimum.

Longitudinal and seasonal dependence of nighttime equatorial plasma density irregularities during solar minimum detected on the C/NOFS satellite

[1] During the night in the F region about the equator, plasma density depletions form, causing scintillation. In April 2008, the Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory was launched to predict ionospheric scintillation. Using its Planar Langmuir Probe (PLP), C/NOFS is capable of measuring in situ ion density within the F region over the equator. Plasma irregularities are found regularly during the night. We examine how these irregularities depend on longitude, latitude, and season. The most significant observations from this study are longitudinal structures in which these irregularities most frequently occur. Since similar structure has been found in diurnal tides, we conclude that lower atmospheric tides may play a strong role in determining the amplitude of equatorial irregularities, at least during low solar minimum conditions when the presented observations were made. We propose that this link is likely related to the generation of zonal electric fields by the E-region dynamo.

Focusing of HF radio-waves by ionospheric ducts

This paper presents the first direct observations of HF focusing induced by natural and artificial ionospheric ducts along with a simple theoretical model. The experiments were conducted by injecting HF radio-waves using the Ionospheric Research Instrument of the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program located in Gakona, Alaska and detecting them with instruments on the overflying French micro-satellite DEMETER. The latter observed a multiple frequency band structure, which is characteristic of a strong HF signal exceeding the detector's saturation level. Analysis of the O + density measured by DEMETER along its orbit shows that the strong radio signal coincides with the presence of a “negative” duct in the ionosphere. “Negative” refers to the presence of a plasma density depletion with the peak depletion located near the center of the duct. Such ducts induce changes in the index of refraction leading to the focusing of HF waves in a manner equivalent to a “thick” plasma lens. Examination of the data along with a simple plasma lens model indicates the presence of focal node(s) in the vicinity of the overflying satellite. Two examples, one corresponding to focusing by a natural duct and one by an artificial one are presented.

Climatology of plasma density depletions observed by DMSP in the dawn sector

[1] Prior to the launch of the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite, equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) were regarded as postsunset phenomena. However, during this recent solar minimum the planar Langmuir probe (PLP) on the C/NOFS satellite has detected very few EPBs after sunset; most plasma density depletions have been observed between local midnight and dawn. We take advantage of the long history of plasma density measurements by a similar sensor on Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) spacecraft to determine whether this change is typical of solar minima in general or unique to the present extended quiet time. In 2008 and 2009 the DMSP occurrence rates of topside plasma depletions in the dawn sector were unexpectedly high around the June and December solstices and extremely low near the March and September equinoxes. Dawn sector measurements from solar minimum years 1996–1997 exhibit similar seasonal and longitudinal distributions, but occurrence rates are significantly lower. While our analysis suggests that prevailing low levels of solar EUV flux and driving electric fields establish conditions favorable for the growth of postmidnight depletions, the primary causes of observed seasonal-longitudinal distributions remain unresolved.