Geomagnetic Daily Variation Research Articles

Daily geomagnetic variations under variable IMF/solar conditions and their connection with underground conductivity changes in Japan

Fluctuations in Solar Wind (SW) and Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) significantly affect the Geomagnetic Field (GF) measurements particularly during extreme space weather events. The current study investigates the variations of horizontal (H), vertical (Z) geomagnetic components under quiet and disturbed IMF and solar conditions as well as the effect of underground conductivity on the stationary geomagnetic measurements in Japan. Results of data analysis show that the response of the GF to IMF and solar parameters fluctuations is variable. The H- and Z-components were in good harmony with high visual correlation along a latitudinal profile across Japan during quiet times. On the other hand, during the disturbed times related to a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) launched on 13 May 2005, the GF components varied with the disturbance of IMF and solar parameters. The H-components showed highly correlated variations with a significant reduction along the examined profile due to intensified ionospheric currents, while the Z-components recorded in the northern part of Japan showed abnormal daily variations pattern (positive daily variations) with an enhanced amplitude which is opposite to the normal behavior of daily variations recorded in the central and southern parts of Japan (negative daily variations). The observed enhanced and abnormal daily variation of Z-components in north Japan, which we consider a remarkable observation here, is possibly linked with underground conductivity anomaly in this region.

Solar and lunar daily geomagnetic variations and their equivalent current systems observed by Swarm

This paper describes solar and lunar daily variations of the geomagnetic field over low- and mid-latitude regions, using vector magnetometer data from Swarm satellites at altitudes of sim500 km during the solar minimum years of 2017–2020. The average solar variation of the geomagnetic field is within the range of ±14 nT, while the lunar variation is within ±2 nT. The latter is comparable to the ocean tidal field. A spherical harmonic analysis is performed on the solar and lunar variations to evaluate their internal and external equivalent current systems. The results show that both the solar and lunar variations are mainly of internal origin, which can be attributed to combined effects of ionospheric dynamo currents and induced underground currents. Global patterns of the internal solar and lunar current systems are consistent with the corresponding external current systems previously reported based on ground observations. The Swarm external currents are mainly in the meridional direction, and are likely associated with interhemispheric field-aligned currents. Both the internal and external current systems depend on the season and longitude.Graphical

The Response of Geomagnetic Daily Variation and Ionospheric Currents to the Annular Solar Eclipse on 21 June 2020

AbstractIn this study, we examined the response of geomagnetic daily variation and ionospheric currents to the solar annular eclipse that passed through China at 10:00–17:30 LT on 21 June 2020. We utilized geomagnetic field data obtained from the Geomagnetic Network Center of China, Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration and International Real‐time Magnetic Observatory Network, which extend from middle latitudes to equatorial regions in China and surrounding areas. It is found that the eclipse obscuration reduces the intensity of geomagnetic daily variation at most stations as compared with the 5‐quiet‐day average. The response of geomagnetic daily variation to the solar eclipse depends on local time and latitude. In most shadowed areas of the eclipse, there is a reduction of northward (southward) component of the meridional magnetic daily field (ΔX) below (above) ∼30° magnetic latitudes. The solar eclipse can also induce a decrease of the zonal magnetic field variation (ΔY). Meanwhile, we observed that the solar eclipse reduces the intensity of vertical geomagnetic component (ΔZ) at the stations around the early afternoon aside the eclipse totality. In general, these geomagnetic responses imply that the solar eclipse can reduce the ionospheric solar quiet (Sq) current system. These ionospheric currents and ground geomagnetic field disturbances during the solar eclipse are also verified by a global physical model. The simulation demonstrates that the ionospheric currents in the southern hemisphere, where the solar eclipse does not cover, also have a weak response. Overall, the ionospheric current disturbance induced by the solar eclipse shows a counter‐Sq pattern.

Evaluation of the Solar Quiet Reference Field (SQRF) model for space weather applications in the South America Magnetic Anomaly

In the present work, we evaluate the accuracy of the Solar Quiet Reference Field (SQRF) model for estimating and predicting the geomagnetic solar quiet (Sq) daily field variation in the South America Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA) region. This model is based on the data set of fluxgate magnetometers from 12 magnetic stations of the Embrace Magnetometer Network (Embrace MagNet) from 2010 to 2018. The model predicts the monthly average horizontal field of the geomagnetic quiet (Sq-H) daily variation solving a set of equations for the specified geographic coordinates in terms of the solar cycle activity, the day of the year, and the universal time. We carried out two comparisons between the prediction and observational data of the Sq-H field. The first part attempts to evaluate the accuracy for estimating the Sq-H field over Medianeira (MED, 25.30° S, 54.11° W, dip angle: − 33.45°) by using linear interpolation on the SQRF coefficients and comparing it with the data collected from April to December in 2018. None of the datasets collected at MED is part of the dataset used to build the SQRF model. The second part of the analysis attempts to evaluate the accuracy for predicting the quiet daily field variation over Cachoeira Paulista (CXP, 22.70° S, 45.01° W, dip angle: − 38.48°). The dataset collected at CXP before the period analyzed in the present work is part of the dataset used to build the SQRF model. Thus, the prediction accuracy is tested using magnetic data outside the time interval considered in the model. The prediction results for both locations show that this empirical model’s outputs present a good agreement with the Sq-H field obtained from the ground-based magnetometer measurements. The accuracy of the SQRF model (high correlation, r > 0.9) indicates a high potential for estimating and predicting geomagnetic quiet daily field variation. Concerning space weather applications, the model improves the scientific insight and capability of space weather prediction centers to predict the variability of the regular solar quiet field variation as reference conditions, which may include areas with no measurements.

Evolution of the Geomagnetic Daily Variation at Tatuoca, Brazil, From 1957 to 2019: A Transition From Sq to EEJ

AbstractThe magnetic equator in the Brazilian region has moved over 1,100 km northward since 1957, passing the geomagnetic observatory Tatuoca (TTB), in northern Brazil, around 2013. We recovered and processed TTB hourly mean values of the geomagnetic field horizontal (H) component from 1957 until 2019, allowing the investigation of long‐term changes in the daily variation due to the influence of secular variation, solar activity, season, and lunar phase. The H day‐to‐day variability and the occurrence of the counter electrojet at TTB were also investigated. Until the 1990s, ionospheric solar quiet currents dominated the quiet‐time daily variation at TTB. After 2000, the magnitude of the daily variation became appreciably greater due to the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) contribution. The H seasonal and day‐to‐day variability increased as the magnetic equator approached, but their amplitudes normalized to the average daily variation remained at similar levels. Meanwhile, the amplitude of the lunar variation, normalized in the same way, increased from 5% to 12%. Within the EEJ region, the occurrence rate of the morning counter electrojet (MCEJ) increased with proximity to the magnetic equator, while the afternoon counter electrojet (ACEJ) did not. EEJ currents derived from CHAMP and Swarm satellite data revealed that the MCEJ rate varies with magnetic latitude within the EEJ region while the ACEJ rate is largely constant. Simulations with the Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Electrodynamics General Circulation Model based on different geomagnetic main field configurations suggest that long‐term changes in the geomagnetic daily variation at TTB can be attributed to the main field secular variation.

Possible Anomalous Changes in Solar Quiet Daily Geomagnetic Variation (Sq) Related to the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake (Mw 9.0)

We investigated observational data from 20 geomagnetic observatories at longitudes of 130°E to 150°E between 2009 and 2012 in order to detect possible anomalous changes in the geomagnetic solar quiet daily (Sq) variation related to the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake (Mw 9.0) that occurred on March 11, 2011, in Japan. We selected the five quietest days in every month and analyzed three-component magnetic data with 1-min resolution using the natural orthogonal component method to identify Sq variations from observations, and performed spherical harmonic analysis (SHA) to separate the internal and the external equivalent Sq current systems of Je and Ji. We found that Je and Ji were distorted near the epicenter on two geomagnetic quiet days, January 23 and 27, 2011. This was about 2 months before the earthquake. We then employed backward computation on the external and internal parts of the SHA model geomagnetic fields, Be and Bi, to determine the possible anomalous magnetic field variations at each station. The results showed significant differences in daily variation for all components on January 23 and 27, 2011. On the other days, we could not recognize any apparent anomalous behaviors apart from known secular, seasonal, and solar activity dependence. A possible connection between this anomaly and the very strong Tohoku earthquake, which followed only 1.5 months after the geomagnetic anomaly, is of extreme interest for research on earthquake precursors.

Anomalous phenomena in DC–ULF geomagnetic daily variation registered three days before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan <i>M</i><sub>S</sub> 8.0 earthquake

The hourly data of the vertical Z and the horizontal H components of 37 ground–based DC–ULF geomagnetic stations are examined during 20 April–12 May 2008. On 9 May 2008, three days before the Wenchuan MS 8.0 shock, anomalies — a double low-point and a decreased amplitude — are registered on the curves of the Z component at 25 stations in a large-scale area surrounding the Wenchuan epicentral area. The H component shows none of the double low-point phenomenon but does exhibit a reduced magnitude at the same time. The geomagnetic index Kp is also examined and indicates that the anomalies appear at a solar quiet period. The appearing time shift (Tzs) between the first low-point on May 9 and the minimum point occurring time of May 1–5, 2008 is also checked. The results show that Tzs is on the order of 1–2 hours earlier or later than usual and there is a 2–6 hours’ gap between these two low-points. However, there is still a transition area which includes the epicenter where Tzs = 0. Variation amplitude examined on vertical Z increases as the distance from the epicenter decreases. An Earth–air–ionosphere model has been employed to investigate a possible mechanism of this phenomenon and positive results have been unexpectedly attained. All these above-related results tend to prove that the variations of the Z and H on May 9, 2008 during the solar quiet period are probably associated with the forthcoming Wenchuan MS 8.0 earthquake.

A Possible Influence of Seismic Activity on Diurnal Geomagnetic Variations

Recent research has introduced some evidences referring to a possible connection between the variation in geomagnetic field measurements and seismic activities. Thus, the present study focuses on a certain seismic activity that occurred at the northern part of Honshu Island, Japan to find out its impact on the diurnal geomagnetic variations recorded at this region. The study of variability of daily geomagnetic variations amplitude at the northern part of Honshu Island; which is characterized by high seismic activities has introduced motivating results. Data analysis and processing indicate the presence of an unusual change in the diurnal variations amplitude in association with earthquake activity occurred on 24 March 2008 at the studied area. A remarkable anomalous behavior in the diurnal variations amplitude of the East-West horizontal geomagnetic component (D-component) was detected in the vicinity of the epicenter at the Tohno station compared with those recorded at the Kakioka geomagnetic observatory and other remote reference stations. This anomalous behavior is observed only during the day of the studied seismic event, which suggests a possible connection between the earthquake occurrence and the change of diurnal variations range. Moreover, since there were no significant external geomagnetic changes during the occurrence of earthquake as revealed from the Dst and Kp indices, the observed anomalous variability in the diurnal geomagnetic variations range of D-component can be considered as anomalous phenomenon linked with the studied seismic activity. Such anomalous phenomenon can be used for constructing earthquake warning systems.

Error model of geomagnetic-field measurement and extended Kalman-filter based compensation method.

The real-time accurate measurement of the geomagnetic-field is the foundation to achieving high-precision geomagnetic navigation. The existing geomagnetic-field measurement models are essentially simplified models that cannot accurately describe the sources of measurement error. This paper, on the basis of systematically analyzing the source of geomagnetic-field measurement error, built a complete measurement model, into which the previously unconsidered geomagnetic daily variation field was introduced. This paper proposed an extended Kalman-filter based compensation method, which allows a large amount of measurement data to be used in estimating parameters to obtain the optimal solution in the sense of statistics. The experiment results showed that the compensated strength of the geomagnetic field remained close to the real value and the measurement error was basically controlled within 5nT. In addition, this compensation method has strong applicability due to its easy data collection and ability to remove the dependence on a high-precision measurement instrument.

Effect of March 9, 2016 Total Solar Eclipse on geomagnetic field variation

During solar eclipse, solar radiation to the Earth is blocked by the Moon. Thus, the ionization process in the ionosphere is disrupted, as well as the variation of geomagnetic field. The disturbance of geomagnetic field is caused by electric current in the E layer of the ionosphere. At low latitude, the current which is dominant in quiet day is the Sq currents. The blocking of solar radiation cause decrement in electron density in the blocked region. The aim of the research is to find the effect of total solar eclipse to the geomagnetic field. The measurement of the geomagnetic field variation during total solar eclipse on March 9, 2016 was carried out at the Meteorological station of BMKG in Ternate (0° 49' 45.20 "N; 127° 22' 54.00" E). By eliminating the geomagnetic disturbance that occurred in a daily geomagnetic field variation, the pattern of quiet day which is usually in a shape of smooth curve became affected. During the total solar eclipse on March 9, 2016 from 00:30 until 02:00 UT, we found that the geomagnetic field variation of the quiet day decreased by -5 nT.

On polar daily geomagnetic variation

<p style="-qt-block-indent: 0; text-indent: 0px; margin: 0px;">The aim of this work is to investigate the nature of the daily magnetic field perturbations produced by ionospheric and magnetospheric currents at high latitudes. We analyse the hourly means of the X and Y geomagnetic field components recorded by a meridian chain of permanent geomagnetic observatories in the polar region of the Northern Hemisphere during a period of four years (1995-1998) around the solar minimum. We apply a mathematical method, known as natural orthogonal component (NOC), which is capable of characterizing the dominant modes of the geomagnetic field daily variability through a set of empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs). Using the first two modes we reconstruct a two-dimensional equivalent current representation of the ionospheric electric currents, which contribute substantially to the geomagnetic daily variations. The obtained current structures resemble the equivalent current patterns of DP2 and DP1. We characterize these currents by studying their evolution with the geomagnetic activity level and by analysing their dependence on the interplanetary magnetic field. The obtained results support the idea of a coexistence of two main processes during all analysed period although one of them, the directly driven process, represents the dominant component of the geomagnetic daily variation.</p>

The lunar daily geomagnetic variation and its dependence on sunspot number

A detailed spherical harmonic model of the lunar daily geomagnetic variation, L, is presented and discussed. This model, which is based on a vastly greater data-set than hitherto, is compared to an earlier model of the solar daily geomagnetic variation, S, which is based on the same data. The dependence of L on sunspot number, as measured by the Wolf ratio, is found to be less than that of S by a factor of 2. It is confirmed that the dependence of S, L and E-region conductivity with sunspot cycle differ significantly from one another, casting doubt on that region as the principal location for the L and S dynamo currents.

Comment on “Preseismic ionospheric electron enhancements revisited” by K. Heki and Y. Enomoto

Comment on “Preseismic ionospheric electron enhancements revisited” by K. Heki and Y. Enomoto

Ground magnetic effects of the equatorial electrojet simulated by the TIE‐GCM driven by TIMED satellite data

Quiet time daily variations of the geomagnetic field near the magnetic equator due to the equatorial electrojet are simulated using the National Center for Atmospheric Research Thermosphere‐Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIE‐GCM) and compared to those observed by ground‐based magnetometers. Simulations are run both with and without tidal forcing at the height of the model lower boundary (∼97km). When the lower boundary forcing is off, the wind that generates an electromotive force in the model is primarily the vertically nonpropagating diurnal tide, which is excited in the thermosphere due to daytime solar ultraviolet heating. The lower boundary tidal forcing adds the effect of upward propagating tides, which are excited in the lower atmosphere and propagate vertically to the thermosphere. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the relative importance of these thermospherically generated tides and upward propagating tides in the generation of the equatorial electrojet. Fairly good agreement is obtained between model and observations when the model is forced by realistic lower boundary tides based on temperature and wind measurements from the Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite, as determined by Wu et al. (2012). The simulation results show that the effect of upward propagating tides increases the range of the geomagnetic daily variation in the magnetic‐northward component at the magnetic equator approximately by 100%. It is also shown that the well‐known semiannual change in the daily variation is mostly due to upward propagating tides, especially the migrating semidiurnal tide. These results indicate that upward propagating tides play a substantial role in producing the equatorial electrojet and its seasonal variability.

Swarm SCARF Dedicated Lithospheric Field Inversion chain

The geomagnetic daily variation at mid-to-low latitudes, referred to as the geomagnetic Sq field, is generated by electrical currents within the conducting layers of the ionosphere on the dayside of the Earth. It is enhanced in a narrow equatorial band, due to the equatorial electrojet. The upcoming ESA Swarm satellite mission, to be launched end of 2013, will consist of three satellites in low-Earth orbit, providing a dense spatial and temporal coverage of the ionospheric Sq field. A Satellite Constellation Application and Research Facility (SCARF) has been set up by a consortium of research institutions, aiming at producing various level-2 data products during the Swarm mission. The Dedicated Ionospheric Field Inversion (DIFI) chain is a SCARF algorithm calculating global, spherical harmonic models of the Sq field at quiet times. It describes seasonal and solar cycle variations, separates primary and induced magnetic fields based upon advanced 3D-models of the mantle electrical conductivity, and relies on core, lithospheric and magnetospheric field models derived from other SCARF algorithms for removing non-ionospheric fields from the data. The DIFI chain was thoroughly tested on synthetic data during the SCARF preparation phase; it is now ready to be used for deriving models from real Swarm data.

Swarm SCARF Dedicated Ionospheric Field Inversion chain

The geomagnetic daily variation at mid-to-low latitudes, referred to as the geomagnetic Sq field, is generated by electrical currents within the conducting layers of the ionosphere on the dayside of the Earth. It is enhanced in a narrow equatorial band, due to the equatorial electrojet. The upcoming ESA Swarm satellite mission, to be launched end of 2013, will consist of three satellites in low-Earth orbit, providing a dense spatial and temporal coverage of the ionospheric Sq field. A Satellite Constellation Application and Research Facility (SCARF) has been set up by a consortium of research institutions, aiming at producing various level-2 data products during the Swarm mission. The Dedicated Ionospheric Field Inversion (DIFI) chain is a SCARF algorithm calculating global, spherical harmonic models of the Sq field at quiet times. It describes seasonal and solar cycle variations, separates primary and induced magnetic fields based upon advanced 3D-models of the mantle electrical conductivity, and relies on core, lithospheric and magnetospheric field models derived from other SCARF algorithms for removing non-ionospheric fields from the data. The DIFI chain was thoroughly tested on synthetic data during the SCARF preparation phase; it is now ready to be used for deriving models from real Swarm data.

The solar daily geomagnetic variation and its dependence on sunspot number

A detailed spherical harmonic model of the solar daily geomagnetic variation, S, is presented. The model is based on a data-set that is much more extensive in distribution, both geographically and temporally, than hitherto. The dependence of the spherical harmonics on sunspot number is investigated and is shown to be dependent on frequency.

An empirical model of the quiet daily geomagnetic field variation

[1] An empirical model of the quiet daily geomagnetic field variation has been constructed based on geomagnetic data obtained from 21 stations along the 210 Magnetic Meridian of the Circum-pan Pacific Magnetometer Network (CPMN) from 1996 to 2007. Using the least squares fitting method for geomagnetically quiet days (Kp ≤ 2+), the quiet daily geomagnetic field variation at each station was described as a function of solar activity SA, day of year DOY, lunar age LA, and local time LT. After interpolation in latitude, the model can describe solar-activity dependence and seasonal dependence of solar quiet daily variations (S) and lunar quiet daily variations (L). We performed a spherical harmonic analysis (SHA) on these S and L variations to examine average characteristics of the equivalent external current systems. We found three particularly noteworthy results. First, the total current intensity of the S current system is largely controlled by solar activity while its focus position is not significantly affected by solar activity. Second, we found that seasonal variations of the S current intensity exhibit north-south asymmetry; the current intensity of the northern vortex shows a prominent annual variation while the southern vortex shows a clear semi-annual variation as well as annual variation. Thirdly, we found that the total intensity of the L current system changes depending on solar activity and season; seasonal variations of the L current intensity show an enhancement during the December solstice, independent of the level of solar activity.

Determination of the quiet daily geomagnetic variations for polar regions

A novel procedure to derive the daily varying quiet level for polar geomagnetic data is presented. Recorded data from selected quiet intervals are weighted and superposed to form the basis for an estimate of the quiet daily curve (QDC) for the variation in each of the recorded components on any selected day. The quiet daily variation is controlled by the level of solar UV and X-ray emissions, and parameters in the solar wind in combination with the actual season and the location of the observatory. The procedure uses the variability in the recorded geomagnetic data rather than international magnetic indices like Kp to determine the quiet intervals in accordance with the concept proposed by Janzhura and Troshichev (2008). A special problem for the estimation of the QDC in polar regions is the influence from the solar wind sector structure acting particularly through the azimuthal component, IMF By, of the interplanetary magnetic field. In the superposition of recordings to estimate the QDC for any given day, the present procedure uses weighting functions to give preference to intervals with quietest conditions, closest to the day in question, exposed to the same face of the sun, and within the same sector of the solar wind. The effects of control parameters for the selection of quiet intervals and smoothing of the initial QDC values are carefully controlled. The procedure is fully automated and delivers quality control parameters in addition to the QDC values. It is considered a further step forward in the processing of geomagnetic data to derive reliable and reproducible QDCs for the difficult high-latitude regions.

Changes in the daily geomagnetic variation during the total solar eclipse of 1 August 2008

Geomagnetic measurements during the total solar eclipse of August 1, 2008 in Novosibirsk (Klyuchi Observatory, NVS) and at the Burmistrovo station located on the total eclipse axis revealed eclipse-induced changes against the background of the normal daily variation. The main changes are a decrease in the X (north) component and an increase in the inclination I. Similar changes were recorded at the LZH observatory in China. Analysis of data on the eclipse of August 11, 1999 in Europe failed to unambiguously reveal eclipse effects against intense variations of ionospheric origin which occurred at the same universal time (UT). The geomagnetic effect of the solar eclipse may be due to a decrease in the electron concentration in the ionosphere and the corresponding decrease in the ionospheric current density.