Interplanetary Magnetic Field Sector Research Articles

A solar rotation signature in cosmic dust: Frequency analysis of dust particle impacts on the Wind spacecraft

Dust particle impacts on the Wind spacecraft were detected with its plasma wave instrument Wind/WAVES. Frequency analysis on the resulting dust impact time series has revealed spectral peaks indicative of a solar rotation signature. We investigated whether this solar rotation signature is embedded in the interplanetary or in the interstellar dust (ISD) and whether it is caused by co-rotating interaction regions (CIRs), by the sector structure of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), or by external effects. We performed frequency analysis on different subsets of the data to investigate the origin of these spectral peaks, comparing segments of Wind's orbit when the spacecraft moved against or with the ISD inflow direction and comparing the time periods of the ISD focusing phase and the ISD defocusing phase of the solar magnetic cycle. A superposed epoch analysis of the number of dust impacts during CIRs was used to investigate the systematic effect of CIRs. Case studies of time periods with frequent or infrequent occurrences of CIRs were performed and compared to synthetic data of cosmic dust impacts affected by CIRs. We performed similar case studies for time periods with a stable or chaotic IMF sector structure. The superposed epoch analysis was repeated for a time series of the spacecraft floating potential. Spectral peaks were found at the solar rotation period of $ sim d $ and its harmonics at $13.5\ d $ and $9\ d $. This solar rotation signature may affect both interplanetary and interstellar dust. The appearance of this signature correlates with the occurrence of CIRs but not with the stability of the IMF sector structure. The CIRs cause, on average, a reduction in the number of dust impact detections. Periodic changes of the spacecraft's floating potential were found to partially counteract this reduction by enhancing the instrument's sensitivity to dust impacts; these changes of the floating potential are thus unlikely to be the cause of the solar rotation signature.

Data‐Based Modeling of the Magnetosheath Magnetic Field

AbstractA quantitative model of the magnetosheath (MS) magnetic structure is developed, using a multi‐year set of Geotail, Themis, Cluster, and MMS magnetometer and plasma instrument data. The MS database is created using an identification algorithm, based on observed magnetic field magnitudes and proton densities, normalized by their concurrent interplanetary values, followed by additional filtering with the help of standard bow shock (BS) and magnetopause (MP) models. The model architecture is based on the toroidal/poloidal formalism and a coordinate system that naturally accounts for the tailward flaring of both boundaries. The magnetic field expansions include 960 free coefficients, derived by fitting the model to a grand data set, split into independent training and validation subsets with 1,291,380 and 411,933 1‐min records, respectively. The model faithfully reproduces basic types of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) wrapping around the MP. Regular IMF sectors result in strongly dawn‐dusk asymmetric draping, with much larger magnitudes at the quasi‐perpendicular dusk side of BS, and weaker at the quasi‐parallel dawn side, where the MS field lines are bent and dragged tailward. Except in the case of the flow‐aligned IMF orientation, the subsolar field steadily grows toward the MP, and the effect is clearly IMF Bz‐dependent: the field and its gradient are larger (smaller) for northward (southward) IMF Bz, implying a pile‐up of the magnetic flux in the first case and stronger reconnection in the second. Model distributions of the MS field magnitude reveal local depressions, associated with polar cusps near the high‐latitude limits of data coverage.

Unraveling the Role of IMF Bx in Driving Geomagnetic Activity

AbstractIn this work, we question the existing opinion that the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Sun‐Earth (Bx) component is of minor importance for the geomagnetic activity and show that both Bx and By, being two principal components of the Parker's spiral, are equally important factors. We show that the asymmetric behavior of activity indices around solstices can be explained as a combination of symmetric (sign‐independent) effect of IMF By and asymmetric (sign‐dependent) effect of Bx, the latter interpreted as a result of the geodipole tilt influence on the magnetotail stability and nightside reconnection. We also show that, due to the 7.5° inclination of the Earth orbital plane to the solar equatorial plane, the geoeffective IMF Bz component may increase or decrease, depending on the IMF sector polarity and season.

On the association of predominant polarity of North-South component of IMF in the GSE system near 1 AU with solar polar magnetic fields during 1967–2020

The skewness of the monthly distribution of GSE latitudinal angles of Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) observed near the Earth (Sk) is found to show anti-correlation with sunspot activity during the solar cycles 20–24. Sk can be considered as a measure of the predominant polarity of north-south component of IMF (Bz component) in the GSE system near 1 AU. Sk variations follow the magnitude of solar polar magnetic fields in general and polarity of south polar fields in particular during the years 1967–2020. Predominant polarity of Sk is found to be independent of the heliographic latitude of Earth. Sk basically reflects the variations of the solar dipolar magnetic field during a sunspot cycle. It is also found that IMF sector polarity variation is not a good indicator of the magnitude changes in solar polar magnetic fields during a sunspot cycle. This is possibly due to the influence of non-dipolar components of the solar magnetic field and the associated north-south asymmetries in the heliospheric current sheet.

О возможной связи землетрясений со сменой знака радиальной компоненты межпланетного магнитного поля

This work is devoted to an experimental study of the possible relationship between earthquakes and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) variations. For the analysis, we use world and regional catalogs of earthquakes and a catalog containing data on the IMF sector structure for several decades. The main methodological technique consists in a comparative analysis of the occurrence rate of earthquakes on the days when Earth crosses the boundary between IMF sectors with the days when Earth is inside the sector. The sign of the IMF radial component is utilized as an indicator of the events on which the oscillation mode of Earth's magnetosphere depends. The sign reversal signals the probable crossing of the boundary between the IMF sectors by Earth, or, in other words, the crossing of the heliospheric current sheet by Earth. The hypothesis about the relationship between IMF variations and seismic activity is that IMF fluctuations, penetrating into the magnetosphere, excite ULF electromagnetic oscillations in the magnetosphere, which, in principle, can affect the physical processes in upcoming earthquake sources. We have found a weak, but statistically significant relationship between IMF variations and seismic activity. We also consider other IMF parameters that control ultra-low-frequency oscillations of the geomagnetic field.

On possible relation of earthquakes with the sign change of the interplanetary magnetic field radial component

This work is devoted to an experimental study of the possible relationship between earthquakes and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) variations. For the analysis, we use world and regional catalogs of earthquakes and a catalog containing data on the IMF sector structure for several decades. The main methodological technique consists in a comparative analysis of the occurrence rate of earthquakes on the days when Earth crosses the boundary between IMF sectors with the days when Earth is inside the sector. The sign of the IMF radial component is utilized as an indicator of the events on which the oscillation mode of Earth's magnetosphere depends. The sign reversal signals the probable crossing of the boundary between the IMF sectors by Earth, or, in other words, the crossing of the heliospheric current sheet by Earth. The hypothesis about the relationship between IMF variations and seismic activity is that IMF fluctuations, penetrating into the magnetosphere, excite ULF electromagnetic oscillations in the magnetosphere, which, in principle, can affect the physical processes in upcoming earthquake sources. We have found a weak, but statistically significant relationship between IMF variations and seismic activity. We also consider other IMF parameters that control ultra-low-frequency oscillations of the geomagnetic field.

Correlation of the Radial and Meridional Components of IMF and the Solar Wind Velocity: Dependence on the Time and the Fluctuation Frequency

The behavior of the correlation between the radial BR and normal BN components of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in the dependence on the time, the flow type of the solar wind, and the frequency of fluctuations has been studied with consideration of the peculiarities in IMF sectors of different signs. Based on the data of the Wind spacecraft obtained in 1995−2011, it has been found that the correlation between BR and BN is strongest in the periods of the solar activity minima and that the annual averages of the correlation coefficient obey the rules CRN > 0 or CRN < 0 northward or southward of the heliospheric current sheet, respectively. During the solar cycle, the correlation coefficient changes almost similarly in slow and fast solar wind streams. The dependence of the correlation between BR and BN on the fluctuation frequency was analyzed in a range of 1.2 × 10−5 to 8.3 × 10−3 Hz; it has been found that the correlation is maximal at low frequencies and that it slowly decreases, starting from 10−4 Hz, with increases in the frequency. It has been also found that, fluctuations in the components of the solar wind velocity VR and VN correlate analogously to the IMP components BR and BN at frequencies around 10−4 Hz or higher.

Secular Variations of a Shift of the Heliospheric Current Sheet

The shift of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) can be judged by the correlation between polarities of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) observed near the Earth. Here the IMF polarities which were reconstructed from the geomagnetic data of the mid-latitude stations beginning from 1844 are studied. The correlation of positive and negative IMF sectors is the evidence of a shift of the heliospheric current sheet towards the Northern Hemisphere in cycles 15–19 of solar activity, and towards the south, in cycles 10–14. We suggest that there is a regular secular cycle of the south–north asymmetry of the current sheet. Correspondingly, a similar cycle is also characteristic of the solar magnetic field.

Effects of the solar wind and the solar EUV flux on O+ escape rates from Venus

We investigate dependences of O+ escape rates from Venus both on the solar wind and the solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) flux by using the 8.5-year dataset (May 2006 to December 2014) of the Ion Mass Analyzer and the magnetometer aboard Venus Express. We examine the O+ escape rates for 8 different conditions depending on the solar wind's dynamic pressure, the magnitude of the motional electric field, and the solar F10.7 index which is a good indicator for the solar EUV flux. We find that the O+ escape rates are mainly controlled by the motional electric field and the solar EUV flux in the magnetosheath. We suggest that the ion pickup by the motional electric field is the main ion escape process in the magnetosheath. On the other hand, in the induced magnetosphere, the O+ escape rates are controlled by not only the solar wind and the solar EUV flux but also return flows. We find that the return flows become dominant in the magnetotail in the solar maximum period, which results in reducing the net escape rates in the induced magnetosphere. As a result, net escape rates tend to become larger in the solar minimum period than those in the solar maximum period. Further analysis of the magnetic field shows that the return flows are preferably observed when the magnetic field component along the Venus-Sun line reverses multiple times in the magnetotail. We suggest that ionospheric irregular structures or IMF sector boundary crossings form the fine scale anti-parallel draping pattern of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), and this causes ion acceleration towards Venus due to the magnetic tension force or magnetic reconnections. Another possibility is precipitations of O+ pickup ions on the nightside of Venus under the fine structure of IMF. Since the return flows significantly affect the O+ escape rates from Venus, it is important to study not only long-term transition of ion outflow from Venus but also return flows to estimate the net ion loss from Venus over the long history of the solar system.

Troitskaya-Bolshakova effect as a manifestation of the solar wind wave turbulence

The impact of changes in the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) on the amplitude of geomagnetic Pc3 pulsations (the Troitskaya-Bolshakova effect) is demonstrated using observations of several pulsation events. We show that the source of changes in the IMF cone angle is sometimes Alfvén waves propagating in the solar wind. For the analysis, measurements of geomagnetic pulsations at the mid-latitude Uzur magneto-telluric observatory and on three spacecraft outside the bow shock wave were used. The results show that the influence is exerted only by waves with a period of more than 40–60 min in a coordinate system fixed relative to the Earth. The Alfvén turbulence of a higher frequency is incoherent; the oscillations are of a chaotic nature, not coordinated in amplitude and phase either between satellites or with variations in the amplitude of Pc3. In some cases, the modulation of the pulsation amplitude is associated with the passage of the IMF sector boundary. An evaluation of the direction of propagation of Alfvén waves showed that they predominantly propagate from the Sun, but the normal of the wave fronts can deviate from the Sun-Earth line. This is quite consistent with earlier published results. The statistics of the basic properties of the oscillatory structures in the interplanetary medium, which we observed during the observation period, are given.

Regularities of the IMF Sector Structure in the Last 170 Years

AbstractThe interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) controls magnetospheric currents which cause variations of the ground-based magnetic field. Regular magnetic observations made in the 19th century allow us to infer daily IMF polarities back to 1844. The results coincide with satellite data in about 79% days. Moreover, for the most part of the 19th and 20th centuries, proxies obtained from various geomagnetic data (Helsinki, Saint-Petersburg, Potsdam, and Ekaterinburg) show the same patterns. This suggests that the reliability of the proxies is sufficient to study the IMF in the past. The large-scale organization of the IMF polarities, the so-called sector structure, reveals semi-centennial north-south displacements of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS).

Reconstruction of the IMF polarity using midlatitude geomagnetic observations in the nineteenth century

AbstractThe interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By component affects the configuration of field‐aligned currents (FAC) whose geomagnetic response is observed from high to low latitudes. The ground magnetic perturbations induced by FACs are opposite on the dawnside and duskside and depend upon the IMF By polarity. Based on the multilinear regression analysis, we show that this effect is presented at the midlatitude observatories, Niemegk and Arti, in the X and Y components of the geomagnetic field. This allows us to infer the IMF sector structure from the old geomagnetic records made at Ekaterinburg and Potsdam since 1850 and 1890, respectively. Geomagnetic data from various stations provide proxies of the IMF polarity which coincide for the most part of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This supports their reliabilities and makes them suitable for studying the large‐scale IMF sector structure in the past.

Asymmetric penetration of shocked solar wind down to 400 km altitudes at Mars

AbstractThe penetration boundary of shocked solar wind (magnetosheath) into the Martian upper atmosphere is typically located at altitudes above 800 km. However, magnetosheath plasma occasionally penetrates into low altitudes below 400 km. Here we used Mars Global Surveyor magnetic field and electron observations from April 1999 to November 2006 to investigate the magnetosheath penetration events. We identified 1145 events and found that both solar wind dynamic pressure (Pdyn) and the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) control the occurrence of the events. The magnetosheath penetration events during low Pdyn periods tend to be distributed in low latitudes of the northern hemisphere or where the crustal magnetic field is weak, while the event locations are widely distributed in terms of the latitude under high Pdyn conditions. During low Pdyn periods, a remarkable feature is that the observational probability is approximately 2.4 times larger during periods of the “away” IMF sector than during the “toward” sector. The northern hemisphere during the away sector corresponds to the upward electric field hemisphere due to the convection of draping solar wind origin magnetic flux tubes. These results thus indicate that the magnetosheath penetrations into Martian upper atmosphere more often occur in the upward electric field hemisphere than the downward hemisphere during low Pdyn periods. Large‐amplitude undulation excited by the Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability in the upward electric field hemisphere is a candidate process to cause the asymmetric penetration during low Pdyn periods. Another possibility might be the mirror‐mode instability by the asymmetric distribution of planetary pickup ions.

Interplanetary magnetic field structure at Saturn inferred from nanodust measurements during the 2013 aurora campaign

Interactions between the solar wind and planetary magnetospheres provide important diagnostic information about the magnetospheric dynamics. The lack of monitoring of upstream solar wind conditions at the outer planets, however, restrains the overall scientific output. Here we apply a new method, using Cassini nanodust stream measurements, to derive the interplanetary magnetic field structure during the 2013 Saturn aurora campaign. Due to the complex dynamical interactions with the interplanetary magnetic field, a fraction of fast nanodust particles emerging from the Saturnian system is sent back into the magnetosphere and can be detected by a spacecraft located within. The time-dependent directionality caused by the variable interplanetary magnetic field enable these particles to probe the solar wind structure remotely. Information about the arrival time of solar wind compression regions (coupled with the heliospheric current sheet crossings) as well as the field direction associated with the solar wind sector structure can be inferred. Here we present a tentative identification of the interplanetary magnetic field sector structure based on Cassini nanodust and radio emission measurements during the 2013 Saturn aurora campaign. Our results show that, the interplanetary magnetic field near Saturn during 2013-080 to 176 was consistent with a two-sector structure. The intensifications of aurora and the radio emission on 2013-095, 112 and 140 coincide with the IMF sector boundaries, indicating that the encounter of the compressed solar wind is the main cause of the observed activities.

Superposed epoch analyses of HILDCAAs and their interplanetary drivers: Solar cycle and seasonal dependences

We study the solar cycle and seasonal dependences of high-intensity, long-duration, continuous AE activity (HILDCAA) events and associated solar wind/interplanetary external drivers for ~312 solar cycle period, from 1975 to 2011. 99 HILDCAAs which had simultaneous solar wind/interplanetary data are considered in the present analyses. The peak occurrence frequency of HILDCAAs was found to be in the descending phase of the solar cycle. These events had the strongest time-integrated AE intensities and were coincident with peak occurrences of high-speed solar wind streams. The event initiations were statistically coincident with high-to-slow speed stream interactions, compressions in the solar wind plasma and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). The latter were corotating interaction regions (CIRs). The signatures of related CIRs were most prominent for the events occurring during the descending and solar minimum phases of the solar cycles. For these events, the solar wind speed increased by ~41% and ~57% across the CIRs, respectively. There was weak or no stream–stream interaction or CIR structure during the ascending and solar maximum phases. HILDCAAs occurring during spring and fall seasons were found to occur preferentially in negative and positive IMF sector regions (toward and away from the Sun), respectively.

Magnetic field sector structure and origins of solar wind streams in 2012

The origins of the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field sector structure in the beginning of the magnetic polarity reversal of 24th solar cycle were investigated using the Wilcox Solar Observatory magnetic field measurements and their products as well as the solar wind data from ACE and the SDO/AIA EUV images. The dominance of the quadrupole harmonics in the solar magnetic field in this period resulted in a four-sector structure of the interplanetary magnetic field. The dominating source of recurrent high-speed solar wind stream was a large trans-equatorial coronal hole of negative polarity evolving in the course of the polarity reversal process. The contribution of ICMEs to the high-speed solar wind did not exceed 17% of the total flux. The solar wind density flux averaged over the year amounted to 1 × 108 cm−2 s−1 which is considerably lower than the typical long-term value (2–4 × 108 cm−2 s−1 ). The slow-speed component of solar wind density flux constituted in average more than 68% of the total flux, the high-speed component was about 10%, reaching the maximum of 32% in some Carrington rotations.

Effects of sector structure of the interplanetary magnetic field on the upper mesosphere–lower thermosphere dynamics

In this paper we study the influence of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) polarity changes caused by the Earth passing through the IMF sector boundary on the dynamic processes taking place in neutral atmosphere within the altitude interval of the upper mesosphere–lower thermosphere (83–101km). The analysis has revealed the influence of the IMF sector structure on dynamics of the upper mesosphere–lower thermosphere. There has been a significant seasonal variation of the wind reaction to the IMF polarity changes observed. The influence of the IMF polarity changes on neutral atmosphere dynamics within the altitude range of 83–101km is most pronounced in the zonal component of neural wind when the IMF polarity changes from negative to positive in all the seasons except for spring and when IMF polarity changes from positive to negative – in spring only.

Sector structure of the interplanetary magnetic field in the nineteenth century

The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is the magnetic field of the Sun stretched out by the solar wind. The polarity of the IMF is either positive or negative according to the polarity of the original solar magnetic field. The equivalent ionospheric Disturbance Polar current powered by the azimuthal Y component current system is located at polar latitudes and provides specific geomagnetic variations. It is known that the configuration of this system depends on the polarity of the IMF. Thus, in the absence of direct data in the presatellite era, the IMF sector structure could only be inferred from ground‐based geomagnetic observations (Svalgaard,1968; Mansurov,1969). In this paper the IMF polarities have been reconstructed for the nineteenth century for the first time. It is possible due to the advent of the digitized geomagnetic records in the Helsinki and St. Petersburg observatories. These data have been available since 1844 and 1878, respectively. We assume that the reconstructions are reliable enough to study the solar magnetic field of the past. The polarities inferred for the nineteenth and twentieth centuries display similar sector structures. Seasonal variations of the ratio of positive and negative sectors give clear evidence of solar magnetic field reversals starting from the second half of the nineteenth century.

PUZZLES OF THE INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELD IN THE INNER HELIOSPHERE

Deviations of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) from Parker's model are frequently observed in the heliosphere at different distances r from the Sun. Usually, it is supposed that the IMF behavior corresponds to Parker's model overall, but there is some turbulent component that impacts and disrupts the full picture of the IMF spatial and temporal distribution. However, the analysis of multi-spacecraft in-ecliptic IMF measurements from 0.29 AU to 5 AU shows that the IMF radial evolution is rather far from expected. The radial IMF component decreases with the adiabatic power index (|Br| \sim r^-5/3), the tangential component |Bt| \sim r^-1.1 and, the IMF strength B \sim r^-1.4. This means that the IMF is not completely frozen in the solar wind. Possibly, turbulent processes in the inner heliosphere significantly influence the IMF expansion. This means that the IMF is not completely frozen in the solar wind. It is possible that turbulent processes in the inner heliosphere significantly influence the IMF expansion. This is confirmed by the analysis of the Br distribution's radial evolution. We consider a quasi-continuous magnetic reconnection, occurring both at the heliospheric current sheet and at local current sheets inside the IMF sectors, to be a key process responsible for the solar wind turbulization with heliocentric distance as well as for the breakdown of the frozen-in IMF law.

The Heliospheric Plasma Sheet Observed in situ by Three Spacecraft over Four Solar Rotations

In this paper we present in situ observations of the heliospheric plasma sheet (HPS) from STEREO-A, Wind, and STEREO-B over four solar rotations in the declining phase of Solar Cycle 23, covering late March through late June 2007. During this time period the three spacecraft were located in the ecliptic plane, and were gradually separating in heliographic longitude from about 3 degrees to 14 degrees. Crossings of the HPS were identified using the following criteria: reversal of the interplanetary magnetic field sector, enhanced proton density, and local minima in both the proton specific entropy argument and in the alpha particle-to-proton number density ratio (N a/N p). Two interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) were observed during the third solar rotation of our study period, which disrupted the HPS from its quasi-stationary state. We find differences in the in situ proton parameters at the HPS between the three spacecraft despite temporal separations of less than one day. We attribute these differences to both small separations in heliographic latitude and radial evolution of the solar wind leading to the development of compression regions associated with stream interaction regions (SIRs). We also observed a modest enhancement in the density of iron ions at the HPS.