Low Solar Wind Density Research Articles

Heavy Ion Escape at Mars during the Disappearing Solar Wind Event in 2022 December

A unique event known as the disappearing solar wind (DSW), characterized by an extremely low-density solar wind stream, occurred at Mars on 2022 December 26–27. As this stream flowed past Mars, several properties of the Mars–solar wind interaction changed in response to the density drop. We utilize in situ plasma measurements from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft to examine heavy ion escape during this event. We find that escaping ions with energies above and below 30 eV responded differently to the reduction in solar wind density. High-energy ions experienced a decrease in flux, whereas low-energy ions experienced an increase, regardless of whether they were escaping through the plume or tailward channel. Furthermore, we observe a net reduction in the flux of plume escaping ions during the DSW period, primarily due to a considerable reduction in the high-energy component, which typically dominates plume escape. In contrast, the overall flux of tailward escaping ions increased during this period. These variations in heavy ion escape are mainly attributed to substantial reductions in solar wind dynamic pressure and momentum density. This paper provides new insights into the dynamics of heavy ion escape under an exceptional state of the Mars–solar wind interaction.

Orientation of IMF Discontinuity Normals Across the Solar Cycles

AbstractTransient events like hot flow anomalies and foreshock bubbles are common in the Earth's foreshock. These foreshock transients may play an important role in the solar wind‐magnetosphere interaction. They typically occur when backstreaming ions accumulate at the intersection of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) discontinuities with the bow shock. Discontinuity orientations play a key role in determining when and where transients form in the foreshock and strike the magnetopause. They also play a role in determining the amplitude, and significance, of individual transients. We investigate properties of the IMF discontinuity normals across two solar cycles. We compare Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) IMF discontinuity observations for 2001, 2002, 2012, and 2014 (solar maximum) and 2008, 2009, 2019, and 2020 (solar minimum). We employ both the Minimum variance analysis (MVA) and Cross‐product methods to determine phase front normals. Most discontinuity normals point earthward and dawnward at longitudes ranging from 180° to 250°. A greater range of normal can be seen during solar minimum than during solar maximum. Normals lie further from the Sun‐Earth line when solar wind densities are low and velocities are high. This provides a natural explanation for the observed tendency of transients to occur for low solar wind densities and high velocities in terms of longer discontinuity interaction times with the bow shock.

The Martian Ionospheric Response to the Co‐Rotating Interaction Region That Caused the Disappearing Solar Wind Event at Mars

AbstractAn unusually low density solar wind event was observed in December 2022 moving past both Earth and Mars. The source was traced back to a coronal hole and active region on the Sun's surface. The resulting solar wind lead to the development of a co‐rotating interaction region (CIR) and trailing rarefaction region that lasted for multiple solar rotations. Within this structure, the solar wind conditions, including density, velocity, and magnetic field magnitude and orientation drastically changed. In this study we analyze the response of the Martian ionosphere using MAVEN data to these changing solar wind conditions. The low density solar wind region associated with the December event resulted in the expansion of the Martian ionospheric boundaries. We show that the ion composition boundary (ICB) is located at extreme altitudes that are beyond previously observed locations from the MAVEN mission between 2015 and 2018. Furthermore, the boundary between shocked solar wind and the Martian ionosphere identified using electron and ion data moved together on the dayside of the planet with the changing solar wind conditions. However, at the flank region these boundaries do not move together, and we show here that the decoupling of the two boundaries may be the result of a change in the interplanetary magnetic field azimuthal angle.

Extreme Rarefaction of Solar Wind: A Study on Origin and Characteristics Using Ulysses Observations

From the Ulysses observation of the solar wind between the heliocentric distance r h of ∼1.0 and ∼5.4 au during 1990–2009, we identified 53 intervals when the solar wind exhibited extreme rarefaction, ∼2 orders of magnitude decreases in the solar wind proton density N p from their ambient values. These extremely low-density solar wind (ELDSW) events, characterized by an average (median) N p of ∼0.28 ± 0.09 (∼0.30) cm−3, ram pressure of ∼0.07 ± 0.04 (∼0.07 nPa) and mass flux of ∼166 ± 84 (∼159) 10−22 kg cm−2 s−1 all normalized to 1 au, have an average (median) duration of ∼6.0 ± 3.5 days (∼5.5 days), and radial extent of ∼1.9 ± 1.1 au (∼1.9 au). A clear hemispheric asymmetry is noted in their solar/interplanetary origin, with 70% being identified in the south hemisphere, and 30% in the north hemisphere of the heliosphere. About 23% of the events were encountered between r h of 2.25 and 4 au, and 77% at r h > 4 au, indicating that these are not intrinsic properties of the Sun/solar corona but are created by the evolution of the solar wind with increasing radial distance from the Sun. The majority (49%) of the events occurred during magnetic clouds, 34% in solar wind high-speed stream (HSS) tails, 11% during the proper HSSs, and 6% during interplanetary sheaths. The identification of ELDSWs will have important consequences for their interaction with the magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn.

Magnetopause Detection under Low Solar Wind Density Based on Deep Learning

Extracting the peak value of the X-ray signal in the original magnetopause detection method of soft X-ray imaging (SXI) for the SMILE satellite is problematic because of the unclear interface of the magnetosphere system under low solar wind density and the short integration time. Herein, we propose a segmentation algorithm for soft X-ray images based on depth learning, we construct an SXI simulation dataset, and we segment the magnetospheric system by learning the spatial structure characteristics of the magnetospheric system image. Then, we extract the maximum position of the X-ray signal and calculate the spatial configuration of the magnetopause using the tangent fitting approach. Under a uniform universe condition, we achieved a pixel accuracy of the maximum position of the photon number detected by the network as high as 90.94% and contained the position error of the sunset point of the 3D magnetopause below 0.2 RE. This result demonstrates that the proposed method can detect the peak photon number of magnetospheric soft X-ray images with low solar wind density. As such, its use improves the segmentation accuracy of magnetospheric soft X-ray images and reduces the imaging time requirements of the input image.

Asymmetric deformation of the Earth’s magnetosphere under low Alfvén Mach number solar wind: Observations and MHD simulation

AbstractThe density of the solar wind plasma near the Earth’s magnetosphere sometimes decreases to only several per cent of the usual value, and such density extrema result in a significant reduction of the dynamic pressure and Alfvén Mach number ($$M_A$$ M A ) of the solar wind flow. While a symmetric expansion of the Earth’s magnetosphere by the low dynamic pressure was assumed in previous studies, a global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation study predicted a remarkable dawn-dusk asymmetry of the magnetospheric shape under low-density solar wind and Parker-spiral interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) configuration. Here, we present observations consistent with the asymmetric deformation of the magnetosphere under low-$$M_A$$ M A solar wind and Parker-spiral IMF conditions, focusing on the significant expansion of the dawn-flank magnetosphere detected by the Geotail spacecraft. A global MHD simulation reproduced the dawnward expansion of the near-Earth magnetosphere, which was consistent with the observation by Geotail. The solar wind flow had a non-negligible dusk-to-dawn component and partly affected the dawnward expansion of the magnetosphere. Local, roughly Alfvénic sunward acceleration of magnetosheath ions at the dawn flank magnetopause suggests magnetosheath plasma entry into the magnetosphere through open field lines generated by magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause. At the same time, Cluster 1 and 3, located near the southern polar cusp, also detected continuous antisunward ion jets and occasional sunward jets, which are consistent with the occurrence of magnetic reconnection near the southern cusp. These observations suggest that enhanced plasma acceleration at the dayside magnetopause operates under the low-$$M_A$$ M A solar wind and Parker spiral IMF conditions and that plasma influx across the dawnside magnetopause is at work under such a low-$$M_A$$ M A condition. These results can be helpful in understanding interactions between low-$$M_A$$ M A solar/stellar winds and celestial objects, such as inner planets and exoplanets. Graphic Abstract

A space hurricane over the Earth\u2019s polar ionosphere

In Earth’s low atmosphere, hurricanes are destructive due to their great size, strong spiral winds with shears, and intense rain/precipitation. However, disturbances resembling hurricanes have not been detected in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Here, we report a long-lasting space hurricane in the polar ionosphere and magnetosphere during low solar and otherwise low geomagnetic activity. This hurricane shows strong circular horizontal plasma flow with shears, a nearly zero-flow center, and a coincident cyclone-shaped aurora caused by strong electron precipitation associated with intense upward magnetic field-aligned currents. Near the center, precipitating electrons were substantially accelerated to ~10 keV. The hurricane imparted large energy and momentum deposition into the ionosphere despite otherwise extremely quiet conditions. The observations and simulations reveal that the space hurricane is generated by steady high-latitude lobe magnetic reconnection and current continuity during a several hour period of northward interplanetary magnetic field and very low solar wind density and speed.

The Martian atmospheric ion escape rate dependence on solar wind and solar EUV conditions: 1. Seven years of Mars Express observations

More than 7 years of ion flux measurements in the energy range 10 eV–15 keV have allowed the ASPERA-3/IMA (Analyzer of Space Plasmas and Energetic Ions/Ion Mass Analyzer) instrument on Mars Express to collect a large database of ion measurements in the Mars environment, over a wide range of upstream solar wind (density and velocity) and radiation (solar EUV intensity) conditions. We investigate the influence of these parameters on the Martian atmospheric ion escape rate by integrating IMA heavy ion flux measurements taken in the Martian tail at similar (binned) solar wind density (nsw), velocity (vsw), and solar EUV intensity (IEUV) conditions. For the same solar wind velocity and EUV intensity ranges (vsw and Is constrained), we find a statistically significant decrease of up to a factor of 3 in the atmospheric ion escape rate with increased average solar wind density (5.6 × 1024s−1 to 1.9 × 1024s−1 for 0.4 cm−3 and 1.4 cm−3, respectively). For low solar wind density (0.1–0.5 cm−3) and low EUV intensity, the escape rate increases with increasing solar wind velocity from 2.4 × 1024s−1 to 5.6 × 1024s−1. During high solar EUV intensities the escape fluxes are highly variable, leading to large uncertainties in the estimated escape rates; however, a statistically significant increase in the escape rate is found between low/high EUV for similar solar wind conditions. Empirical-analytical models for atmospheric escape are developed by fitting calculated escape rates to all sufficiently sampled upstream conditions.

A comprehensive analysis of the occurrence and characteristics of midperiod ULF waves at low latitude

AbstractA long‐term analysis (1985–2012) allowed to investigate the occurrence and characteristics of clearly defined ULF events (f ≈ 10–100 mHz) detected during daytime at low‐latitude (L'Aquila, Italy; L ≈ 1.6) during quiet and moderately perturbed magnetospheric conditions. Selected events (≈30,000 on each component) typically have much greater amplitude on the H component with respect to D. They often reveal two prominent spectral peaks, one in band A (f < ≈ 45 mHz), mostly related to the transmission of upstream waves, and the other one in band B (f > ≈ 55 mHz), including resonances of local field lines and higher‐frequency upstream waves. The occurrence of resonant phenomena on the D component is also clearly evidenced. The solar wind speed is confirmed as the key element for the manifestation of events; by contrast, their appearance is inhibited during extremely low solar wind densities. The events mostly manifest between dawn and early afternoon, with highest occurrence at ≈08:00–10:00 LT, as might be expected for the usual distribution of the interplanetary magnetic field orientation determining more or less favorable conditions for a foreshock region on the morning flank of the bow shock. No evidence is found for a favorite occurrence for low cone angles (θXB < ≈ 10°); rather, they preferentially manifest for θXB ≈ 25°–40°. The polarization pattern, much more definite in the afternoon, is consistent with the expected antisunward propagation; in the morning sector, it also suggests the possible occurrence of sunward propagating modes, mostly at f < ≈ 22 mHz. The tilt angle of the major axis of the polarization ellipses during daytime hours is oriented in the NW/SE quadrant and experiences remarkable changes at sunrise and sunset; it also shows a seasonal modulation with larger angles in the winter.

Statistical study of chorus wave distributions in the inner magnetosphere using Ae and solar wind parameters

AbstractEnergetic electrons within the Earth's radiation belts represent a serious hazard to geostationary satellites. The interactions of electrons with chorus waves play an important role in both the acceleration and loss of radiation belt electrons. The common approach is to present model wave distributions in the inner magnetosphere under different values of geomagnetic activity as expressed by the geomagnetic indices. However, it has been shown that only around 50% of geomagnetic storms increase flux of relativistic electrons at geostationary orbit while 20% causes a decrease and the remaining 30% has relatively no effect. This emphasizes the importance of including solar wind parameters such as bulk velocity (V), density (n), flow pressure (P), and the vertical interplanetary magnetic field component (Bz) that are known to be predominately effective in the control of high energy fluxes at the geostationary orbit. Therefore, in the present study the set of parameters of the wave distributions is expanded to include the solar wind parameters in addition to the geomagnetic activity. The present study examines almost 4 years (1 January 2004 to 29 September 2007) of Spatio‐Temporal Analysis of Field Fluctuation data from Double Star TC1 combined with geomagnetic indices and solar wind parameters from OMNI database in order to present a comprehensive model of wave magnetic field intensities for the chorus waves as a function of magnetic local time, L shell (L), magnetic latitude (λm), geomagnetic activity, and solar wind parameters. Generally, the results indicate that the intensity of chorus emission is not only dependent upon geomagnetic activity but also dependent on solar wind parameters with velocity and southward interplanetary magnetic field Bs (Bz < 0), evidently the most influential solar wind parameters. The largest peak chorus intensities in the order of 50 pT are observed during active conditions, high solar wind velocities, low solar wind densities, high pressures, and high Bs. The average chorus intensities are more extensive and stronger for lower band chorus than the corresponding upper band chorus.

Why have geomagnetic storms been so weak during the recent solar minimum and the rising phase of cycle 24?

The minimum following solar cycle 23 was the deepest and longest since the dawn of the space age. In this paper we examine geomagnetic activity using Dst and AE indices, interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and plasma conditions, and the properties and occurrence rate of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) during two periods around the last two solar minima and rising phases (Period 1: 1995–1999 and Period 2: 2006–2012). The data is obtained from the 1-h OMNI database. Geomagnetic activity was considerably weaker during Period 2 than during Period 1, in particular in terms of Dst. We show that the responses of AE and Dst depend on whether it is solar wind speed or the southward IMF component (BS) that controls the variations in solar wind driving electric field (EY). We conclude that weak Dst activity during Period 2 was primarily a consequence of weak BS and presumably further weakened due to low solar wind densities. In contrast, solar wind speed did not show significant differences between our two study periods and the high-speed solar wind during Period 2 maintained AE activity despite of weak BS. The weakness of BS during Period 2 was attributed in particular to the lack of strong and long-duration ICMEs. We show that for our study periods there was a clear annual north–south IMF asymmetry, which affected in particular the intense Dst activity. This implies that the annual amount of intense Dst activity may rather be determined by the coincidence of what magnetic structure the strong ICMEs encountering the Earth have than by the solar cycle size.

ULF fluctuations observed along the SEGMA array during very low solar wind density conditions

We examined several events of geomagnetic field fluctuations related to upstream waves, focusing the attention on the role of the solar wind density in the control of the wave activity. Recently, it was suggested that, when the solar wind density is lower than 2cm−3, ULF wave activity on the ground dramatically drops. Based on geomagnetic field measurements conducted at low latitude along the SEGMA array, our analysis shows that, for extremely low solar wind densities (below 1cm−3), the wave activity on the ground disappears, regardless of cone angle conditions favourable to the transmission of upstream waves through the subsolar magnetopause and independently on the solar wind speed; conversely, for solar wind densities in the range ∼1–2cm−3, ULF fluctuations can be still observed, during favourable cone angle conditions, if the solar wind speed is higher than ∼600km/s. Such results are confirmed by the analysis of simultaneous measurements on the ground and from the Cluster spacecraft, when moving in the upstream region and in the magnetosheath, during one of the examined events. We suggest that, for extremely low SW densities, the wave generation mechanism is not operating efficiently, since very few ions are reflected by a very weak bow shock.

Separating and quantifying ionospheric responses to proton and electron precipitation over Svalbard

[1] On 16 December 2001, a variable and structured aurora associated with a period of high solar wind velocity and low solar wind density was recorded through optical, radar, and particle measurements from the ground and space. A comprehensive analysis of this data set is carried out using a coupled auroral electron deposition and ion chemistry model. The observations include H β, N2+ 1N (0, 2), and O+ 4P-4D optical and electron density radar measurements from the ground, particle data from NOAA 16 and DMSP F14 satellites, and Doppler-shifted H Lyman α images from the IMAGE satellite. Modulations in the energy flux of both protons and electrons are seen in the NOAA 16 data as well as in the optical signatures measured on ground and from above. At the time of closest approach of NOAA 16, the observed emissions and electron density at the peak of an enhancement are well reproduced when precipitating protons and electrons with total fluxes of 0.23 and 3.0 mW m−2, respectively, and mean energies of 2.50 and 0.25 keV, respectively, are used as input for the model. These values are consistent with those measured by the NOAA satellite. The resulting modeled emissions agree well with the ground measurements of enhanced emissions. The correlation between the emissions from N2+ and O+ suggests that they are primarily due to electron precipitation. This result is confirmed by the agreement between the measured and modeled emissions and by the values of extinction obtained for all three emissions. The modulations to the E region ionization can be explained by proton precipitation alone, while soft electrons are responsible for the changes to the ionization at higher altitudes.

A case study of dayside reconnection under extremely low solar wind density conditions

Abstract. From 15 February 2004, 20:00 UT to 18 February 2004, 01:00 UT, the solar wind density dropped to extremely low values (about 0.35 cm−3). On 17 February, between 17:45 UT and 18:10 UT, the CLUSTER spacecraft cross the dayside magnetopause several times at a large radial distance of about 16 RE. During each of these crossings, the spacecraft detect high speed plasma jets in the dayside magnetopause and boundary layer. These observations are made during a period of southward and dawnward Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF). The magnetic shear across the local magnetopause is ~90° and the magnetosheath beta is very low (~0.15). We evidence the presence of a magnetic field of a few nT along the magnetopause normal. We also show that the plasma jets, accelerated up to 600 km/s, satisfy the tangential stress balance. These findings strongly suggest that the accelerated jets are due to magnetic reconnection between interplanetary and terrestrial magnetic field lines northward of the satellites. This is confirmed by the analysis of the ion distribution function that exhibits the presence of D shaped distributions and of a reflected ion population as predicted by theory. A quantitative analysis of the reflected ion population reveals that the reconnection process lasts about 30 min in a reconnection site located at a very large distance of several tens RE from the Cluster spacecraft. We also estimate the magnetopause motion and thickness during this event. This paper gives the first experimental study of magnetic reconnection during such rare periods of very low solar wind density. The results are discussed in the frame of magnetospheric response to extremely low solar wind density conditions.

Anomalous Flow Deflection at Earth’s Low-Alfvén-Mach-Number Bow Shock

Earth's magnetosphere is an obstacle to the supersonic solar wind and the bow shock is formed in the front side of it. In ordinary hydrodynamics, the flow decelerated at the shock is diverted around the obstacle symmetrically about the Earth-Sun line, which is indeed observed in the magnetosheath most of the time. Here we show a case under a very low-density solar wind in which duskward flow was observed in the dawnside magnetosheath. A Rankine-Hugoniot test shows that the magnetic effect is crucial for this "wrong flow" to appear. A full three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulation of the situation confirming this interpretation and earlier simulations is also performed. It is illustrated that in addition to the "wrong flow" feature, various peculiar characteristics appear in the global picture of the MHD flow interaction with the obstacle.

Effect of geomagnetic disturbances and solar wind density on relativistic electrons at geostationary orbit

It is well known that fluxes of relativistic electrons in the Earth's magnetosphere well correlate with solar wind speed but surprisingly they show a weaker correlation with geomagnetic activity indices. For a long time, this result seemed puzzling since geomagnetic disturbances, measured by geomagnetic activity indices, are associated with strong electric fields and low‐frequency waves, which should significantly affect (directly or indirectly) the particle acceleration to high energies. To understand why the relativistic electron fluxes show the relatively weak correlation with geomagnetic disturbances, we investigated statistically the data of relativistic electrons at geostationary orbit for 6 years (1997–2002) and compared these data with solar wind parameters and geomagnetic activity indices. We found that, for the generation of the strong electron fluxes, the combination of two factors is needed: (1) strong geomagnetic disturbances about two days before the following increases in electron fluxes and (2) low solar wind density within these 2‐day intervals between the geomagnetic disturbances and following increases in the electron fluxes. By these conditions, the correlation between the electron fluxes and geomagnetic indices is improved and becomes higher than the correlation between the electron fluxes and solar wind speed. A large majority of the strongest relativistic electron events occurred just during these conditions. This allows us to suggest that not solar wind speed alone but rather geomagnetic activity combined with low solar wind density conditions may be a primary cause for the generation of relativistic electrons.

Characteristics of 2–6 MeV electrons in the slot region and inner radiation belt

In this paper, the long‐term relativistic electron behavior in the often overlooked “slot” region and the inner belt was studied using the 2–6 MeV electron data from the SAMPEX satellite during 1992–2004. In particular, we investigated the penetration of the 2–6 MeV electrons to the slot region, their flux enhancement in the inner belt, and how these two processes are related to magnetospheric activity levels and solar wind parameters. It is found that the 2–6 MeV electron penetration (L < 3) usually takes place after those intense storms whose Dstmin is less than −130 nT. The penetration distance has a good correlation with the daily Dst minimum delayed by 3 days. However, it has little or no correlation with any of the individual daily solar wind parameters. A superposed epoch analysis shows a similar time lag between the peak values of the solar wind parameters/Dst index and the flux peak in the slot region at L = 2.5. Although the inner belt has fewer variations compared to the outer belt, it has its own response to different conditions. Analysis of the inner belt indicates that the flux enhancement is associated with high solar wind speed (>550 km s−1) as well as low solar wind density (∼4.4 cm−3). Either a couple of very extreme storms or recurrent intense storms will create conditions favorable for the MeV electron enhancement in the inner belt. However, without high‐speed solar wind on average, a series of intense storms alone are not sufficient to create inner belt electron flux enhancement.

Magnetosheath variations during the storm main phase on 20 November 2003: Evidence for solar wind density control of energy transfer to the magnetosphere

Energy transfer from the solar wind into the magnetosphere and ionosphere is controlled by the southward magnetic field in the magnetosheath which under normal high Mach number conditions is about four times the solar wind southward field. In a low Mach number regime, however, the magnetosheath compression is diminished by a low solar wind density when the magnetic field remains steady. When magnetic clouds with extremely strong magnetic field cause severe geomagnetic storms under such low Mach number conditions, the density control of the energy transfer is expected to be important in understanding ring current evolution. Here we show evidence for such a density effect using in‐situ observation by the GOES and Cluster spacecraft in the magnetosheath during the main phase of the super storm on 20 November 2003. Results from a global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation with an embedded ring current model also support this density effect.

CHARACTERISTIC SOLAR WIND DYNAMICS ASSOCIATED WITH GEOSYNCHRONOUS RELATIVISTIC ELECTRON EVENTS

We have investigated characteristic solar wind dynamics associated with relativistic electron events at geosynchronous orbit. Most of the events for April, 1999 through December, 2002 are found to be accompanied by a prolonged solar quiet period which is characterized as low solar wind density, weak interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), and fast alfvenic fluctuations in IMF <TEX>$B_z$</TEX>. In a typical relativistic event, electron fluxes begin to increase by orders of magnitude when solar wind parameters drop to low values (e.g., <TEX>$n_{sw}∼5 cm^{-3}$</TEX> and ｜<TEX>$B_{IMF}$</TEX>∼5 nT) after sharp peaks. Then the elevated electron fluxes stay at the high level during the solar quiet period. This observation may suggest the following scenario for the occurrence of a geosynchronous relativistic event: (ⅰ) Quiet solar winds can yield a stable and more dipole-like magnetospheric configurations in which the geosynchronous orbit locates well inside the trapping boundary of the energetic electrons. (ⅱ) If a large population of MeV electrons are generated (by whatever acceleration process(es)) in the inner magnetosphere, they can be trapped and effectively accumulated to a high intensity. (ⅲ) The high electron flux can persist for a number of days in the geosynchronous region as long as the solar wind dynamics stays quiet. Therefore the scenario indicates that the occurrence of a relativistic event would be a result of a delicate balance between the effects of electron acceleration and loss. In addition, the sensitive dependence of a relativistic event on the solar wind conditions makes the prediction of solar wind variability as important as understanding of electron acceleration processes in the forecast of a relativistic event.

Seasonal dependence of localized, high‐latitude dayside aurora (HiLDA)

The FUV instrument on the IMAGE spacecraft frequently observes intense ultraviolet (UV) emissions from a localized High Latitude Dayside Aurora (HiLDA) poleward of the general auroral oval location [Frey et al., 2003a]. It has been shown that this aurora is entirely created by high‐energy precipitating electrons, which have probably been accelerated in a quasi‐static field‐aligned electric potential. Here we extend the previous case study to an investigation of the HiLDA occurrence in the Northern Hemisphere over more than 2 years and compare it with the averaged solar wind plasma and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) properties. HiLDA occurrence is strongly biased toward low solar wind density and IMF with positive Bz, strong positive By (clock angles around 70°), and negative Bx components. Such IMF conditions are favorable for lobe reconnection in the Northern Hemisphere, and the creation of a dominating dusk convection cell with an upward field‐aligned current in its center. Additionally, we investigate the seasonal occurrence of this phenomenon, which shows a maximum in the Northern Hemisphere during sunlit summer months and an almost complete absence in the dark winter. In contrast to the daylight‐suppressed aurora in the auroral oval, the HiLDA cannot be the result of ionospheric feedback due to the stronger ionospheric conductance in sunlight. Instead, in agreement with ionospheric convection models, it is caused by the asymmetry of field‐aligned currents in different seasons, which result from the different dipole tilt angles in summer and winter. We further discuss two scenarios for how the low solar wind density can enhance the field‐aligned parallel potential over the dusk convection cell.