Magnetosphere-ionosphere System Research Articles

Integration of RAM-SCB into the Space Weather Modeling Framework

Numerical simulations of the ring current are a challenging endeavor. They require a large set of inputs, including electric and magnetic fields and plasma sheet fluxes. Because the ring current broadly affects the magnetosphere-ionosphere system, the input set is dependent on the ring current region itself. This makes obtaining a set of inputs that are self-consistent with the ring current difficult. To overcome this challenge, researchers have begun coupling ring current models to global models of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system. This paper describes the coupling between the Ring current Atmosphere interaction Model with Self-Consistent Magnetic field (RAM-SCB) to the models within the Space Weather Modeling Framework. Full details on both previously introduced and new coupling mechanisms are defined. The impact of self-consistently including the ring current on the magnetosphere-ionosphere system is illustrated via a set of example simulations.

Energetics of Magnetosphere-Ionosphere system during Main Phase of Intense Geomagnetic Storms over three Solar Cycles

AbstractSolar wind kinetic energy gets transferred into the Earth’s magnetosphere as a result of dynamo action between magnetosphere and solar wind. Energy is then dissipated among various dissipation channels in the MI system. In the present study, energetics of 59 intense geomagnetic storms are analyzed for the period between 1986 and 2015, which covers the three consecutive solar cycles SC 22, 23 and 24. The average solar wind energy impinging the MI system is estimated using Epsilon parameter, the coupling function. Moreover, the relative importance of different energy sinks in the MI system are quantified and is found that more than 60% of solar wind energy is dissipated in the form of ionospheric Joule heating.

The SMILE Soft X-ray Imager (SXI) CCD design and development

SMILE, the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer, is a joint science mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The spacecraft will be uniquely equipped to study the interaction between the Earth's magnetosphere-ionosphere system and the solar wind on a global scale. SMILE's instruments will explore this science through imaging of the solar wind charge exchange soft X-ray emission from the dayside magnetosheath, simultaneous imaging of the UV northern aurora and in-situ monitoring of the solar wind and magnetosheath plasma and magnetic field conditions. The Soft X-ray Imager (SXI) is the instrument being designed to observe X-ray photons emitted by the solar wind charge exchange process at photon energies between 200 eV and 2000 eV . X-rays will be collected using a focal plane array of two custom-designed CCDs, each consisting of 18 μm square pixels in a 4510 by 4510 array. SMILE will be placed in a highly elliptical polar orbit, passing in and out of the Earth's radiation belts every 48 hours. Radiation damage accumulated in the CCDs during the mission's nominal 3-year lifetime will degrade their performance (such as through decreases in charge transfer efficiency), negatively impacting the instrument's ability to detect low energy X-rays incident on the regions of the CCD image area furthest from the detector outputs. The design of the SMILE-SXI CCDs is presented here, including features and operating methods for mitigating the effects of radiation damage and expected end of life CCD performance. Measurements with a PLATO device that has not been designed for soft X-ray signal levels indicate a temperature-dependent transfer efficiency performance varying between 5×10−5 and 9×10−4 at expected End of Life for 5.9 keV photons, giving an initial set of measurements from which to extrapolate the performance of the SXI CCDs.

A plethora of coexisting strange attractors in a simple jerk system with hyperbolic tangent nonlinearity

In the present contribution, the dynamics of a simple autonomous jerk system with hyperbolic tangent nonlinearity is considered. The system consists of a linear transformation of Model MO13 previously introduced in [Sprott, 2010]. The form of nonlinearity is interesting in the sense that with the variation of a control parameter, saturation may be approached gradually obeying hyperbolic tangent function, as in the case of magnetization in ferromagnetic system, non ideal op. amplifier, solar-wind-driven magnetosphere-ionosphere system, and activation function in neural network. The fundamental properties of the model are discussed including equilibria and stability, phase portraits, Poincaré sections, bifurcation diagrams and Lyapunov exponents’ spectrum. Period doubling bifurcation, antimonotonicity (i.e. concurrent creation an annihilation of periodic orbits), chaos, hysteresis, and coexisting bifurcations are reported. As a major outcome of this paper, a window in the parameter space is revealed in which the jerk system experiences the unusual phenomenon of multiple coexisting attractors (i.e. coexistence of two, four or six disconnected periodic and chaotic self excited attractors) resulting from the simultaneous presence of three families of parallel bifurcation branches and hysteresis. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no example of such a simple and ‘elegant’ 3D autonomous system capable of six different strange attractors is reported in the relevant literature. Some PSpice simulations based on a physical implementation of the system are carried out to support the theoretical analysis.

Disturbance in the lower ionosphere that accompanied the reentry of the Chelyabinsk cosmic body

The paper describes quasi-periodic and aperiodic variations in the phase and amplitude of radio waves of LF and VLF ranges, which accompanied the flight and explosion of the Chelyabinsk meteoroid. Quasi-periodic variations in the phase have been explained by the generation of acoustic-gravity waves in the atmosphere, which modulate the electron density in the ionosphere and the phase of radio waves. Aperiodic variations in the phase and amplitude of radio waves are associated with an increase in the electron density in the lower ionosphere (at altitudes of 65–70 km). This increase was most likely caused by the interactions of subsystems in the Earth–atmosphere–ionosphere–magnetosphere system or, more correctly, by the precipitation of high-energy electrons from the magnetosphere into the lower ionosphere, which was stimulated by the flight and explosion of a cosmic body. According to the estimates, the density of the flux of electrons with energies of 100 KeV should be on the order of 106 m–2 s–1.

Characterization of high-intensity, long-duration continuous auroral activity (HILDCAA) events using recurrence quantification analysis

Abstract. Considering the magnetic reconnection and the viscous interaction as the fundamental mechanisms for transfer particles and energy into the magnetosphere, we study the dynamical characteristics of auroral electrojet (AE) index during high-intensity, long-duration continuous auroral activity (HILDCAA) events, using a long-term geomagnetic database (1975–2012), and other distinct interplanetary conditions (geomagnetically quiet intervals, co-rotating interaction regions (CIRs)/high-speed streams (HSSs) not followed by HILDCAAs, and events of AE comprised in global intense geomagnetic disturbances). It is worth noting that we also study active but non-HILDCAA intervals. Examining the geomagnetic AE index, we apply a dynamics analysis composed of the phase space, the recurrence plot (RP), and the recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) methods. As a result, the quantification finds two distinct clusterings of the dynamical behaviours occurring in the interplanetary medium: one regarding a geomagnetically quiet condition regime and the other regarding an interplanetary activity regime. Furthermore, the HILDCAAs seem unique events regarding a visible, intense manifestations of interplanetary Alfvénic waves; however, they are similar to the other kinds of conditions regarding a dynamical signature (based on RQA), because it is involved in the same complex mechanism of generating geomagnetic disturbances. Also, by characterizing the proper conditions of transitions from quiescent conditions to weaker geomagnetic disturbances inside the magnetosphere and ionosphere system, the RQA method indicates clearly the two fundamental dynamics (geomagnetically quiet intervals and HILDCAA events) to be evaluated with magneto-hydrodynamics simulations to understand better the critical processes related to energy and particle transfer into the magnetosphere–ionosphere system. Finally, with this work, we have also reinforced the potential applicability of the RQA method for characterizing nonlinear geomagnetic processes related to the magnetic reconnection and the viscous interaction affecting the magnetosphere.

Distribution of the field−aligned currents in the ionosphere: dawn–dusk asymmetry and its relation to the asymmetry between the two hemispheres

The dynamics of the system of field-aligned currents (FACs) and closing ionospheric Pedersen currents is considered with the use of original processing methods and the data from four substorms of different types. The total current system comprises of two parts. One is the well-known substorm current wedge (SCW) system, in which the zonal (westward ) current closes FACs in the R1 zone (region). The component 2 consists of two pairs of meridional currents flowing equatorward and poleward in the R1 region and creating regions R0 and R2 (according to the classification of Iijima and Potemra). It is shown that the total FAC of the disturbed magnetosphere–ionosphere system is dominated by the contribution of component 2, which contradicts the original version of the SCW model but is consistent with new data. The quantitative characteristics of the dawn–dusk asymmetry are determined for the FAC distribution in the ionosphere for each substorm. It is shown that the ratio of the average intensities of FACs in the regions R0 and R2 was IR0/IR2 ≥ 0.4, which contradicts the popular opinion that there are no FACs in the polar cap. In addition, a relatively rare event of the simultaneous start of the substorm explosive phase and the SSC caused by the dynamic impact of the solar wind when the polar cap expands (rather than compresses as usual) is considered.

A link between high-speed solar wind streams and explosive extratropical cyclones

A link between solar wind magnetic sector boundary (heliospheric current sheet) crossings by the Earth and the upper-level tropospheric vorticity was discovered in the 1970s. These results have been later confirmed but the proposed mechanisms remain controversial. Extratropical-cyclone tracks obtained from two meteorological reanalysis datasets are used in superposed epoch analysis of time series of solar wind plasma parameters and green coronal emission line intensity. The time series are keyed to times of maximum growth of explosively developing extratropical cyclones in the winter season. The new statistical evidence corroborates the previously published results (Prikryl et al., 2009). This evidence shows that explosive extratropical cyclones tend to occur after arrivals of solar wind disturbances such as high-speed solar wind streams from coronal holes when large amplitude magneto-hydrodynamic waves couple to the magnetosphere-ionosphere system. These MHD waves modulate Joule heating and/or Lorentz forcing of the high-latitude thermosphere generating medium-scale atmospheric gravity waves that propagate energy upward and downward from auroral zone through the atmosphere. At the tropospheric level, in spite of significantly reduced amplitudes, these gravity waves can provide a lift of unstable air to release the moist symmetric instability thus initiating slantwise convection and forming cloud/precipitation bands. The release of latent heat is known to provide energy for rapid development and intensification of extratropical cyclones.

A new parameter of geomagnetic storms for the severity of space weather

Using the continuous Dst data available since 1957 and H component data for the Carrington space weather event of 1859, the paper shows that the mean value of Dst during the main phase of geomagnetic storms, called mean DstMP, is a unique parameter that can indicate the severity of space weather. All storms having high mean DstMP (≤−250 nT), which corresponds to high amount of energy input in the magnetosphere–ionosphere system in short duration, are found associated with severe space weather events that caused all known electric power outages and telegraph system failures.

GPS phase scintillation at high latitudes during geomagnetic storms of 7–17 March 2012 – Part 1: The North American sector

Abstract. The interval of geomagnetic storms of 7–17 March 2012 was selected at the Climate and Weather of the Sun-Earth System (CAWSES) II Workshop for group study of space weather effects during the ascending phase of solar cycle 24 (Tsurutani et al., 2014). The high-latitude ionospheric response to a series of storms is studied using arrays of GPS receivers, HF radars, ionosondes, riometers, magnetometers, and auroral imagers focusing on GPS phase scintillation. Four geomagnetic storms showed varied responses to solar wind conditions characterized by the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and solar wind dynamic pressure. As a function of magnetic latitude and magnetic local time, regions of enhanced scintillation are identified in the context of coupling processes between the solar wind and the magnetosphere–ionosphere system. Large southward IMF and high solar wind dynamic pressure resulted in the strongest scintillation in the nightside auroral oval. Scintillation occurrence was correlated with ground magnetic field perturbations and riometer absorption enhancements, and collocated with mapped auroral emission. During periods of southward IMF, scintillation was also collocated with ionospheric convection in the expanded dawn and dusk cells, with the antisunward convection in the polar cap and with a tongue of ionization fractured into patches. In contrast, large northward IMF combined with a strong solar wind dynamic pressure pulse was followed by scintillation caused by transpolar arcs in the polar cap.

Decreased Sun-Earth energy-coupling efficiency starting from 2006

The geoeffect of extremely low solar (sunspot) activity starting from the last solar minimum is one of the major space science issues. The present study examines long-term changes of geomagnetic responses seen as Dst, Kp, and AL indices to the same solar wind conditions (density, velocity, magnetic field, and their products) using the NASA OMNI hourly values up to August 2014. Both decadal averages (1965 to 1974, 1975 to 1984, 1985 to 1994, 1995 to 2004 that approximately correspond to solar cycles #20 to 23, respectively, and from 2005) and annual averages indicate that the geomagnetic activity for a given solar wind condition, namely the Sun-Earth coupling efficiency, decreased quantitatively from around 2006 until now compared to the previous four decades. The decrease remains even after the EUV flux (using F10.7 index) is considered and is more obvious in the low-latitude geomagnetic disturbances (Dst) than in the high-latitude geomagnetic disturbances (AL). The results cannot be explained by existing explanations including the ionospheric conductivity effect in the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling system.

New insight into substorm current wedges

Magnetic substorms, disruptions in the coupled magnetosphere‐ionosphere system that cause brightening of the aurora, are driven by magnetic activity that starts in the Earth's magnetotail—the stretched‐out region of Earth's magnetic field on the far side from the Sun—and are transmitted to the ionosphere through a phenomenon called a substorm current wedge. New findings from simulations provide insight into the nature of these current wedges.

Large-amplitude ULF waves at high latitudes

We present results from the statistical study of ULF waves detected by the fluxgate magnetometer in Gakona, Alaska during several experimental campaigns conducted at the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facility in years 2011–2013. We analyzed frequencies of ULF waves recorded during 26 strongly disturbed geomagnetic events (substorms) and compared them with frequencies of ULF waves detected during magnetically quiet times. Our analysis demonstrates that the frequency of the waves carrying most of the power in almost all these events is less than 1mHz. We also analyzed data from the ACE satellite, measuring parameters of the solar wind in the L1 Lagrangian point between Earth and Sun, and found that in several occasions there is a strong correlation between oscillations of the magnetic field in the solar wind and oscillations detected on the ground. We also found several cases when there is no correlation between signals detected on ACE and on the ground. This finding suggests that these frequencies correspond to the fundamental eigenfrequency of the coupled magnetosphere–ionosphere system, and the amplitude of these waves can reach significant magnitude when the system is driven by the external driver (for example, the solar wind) with this particular frequency. When the frequency of the driver does not match the frequency of the system, the waves still are observed, but their amplitudes are much smaller.

Dawn–dusk asymmetries in the coupled solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere system: a review

Abstract. Dawn–dusk asymmetries are ubiquitous features of the coupled solar-wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere system. During the last decades, increasing availability of satellite and ground-based measurements has made it possible to study these phenomena in more detail. Numerous publications have documented the existence of persistent asymmetries in processes, properties and topology of plasma structures in various regions of geospace. In this paper, we present a review of our present knowledge of some of the most pronounced dawn–dusk asymmetries. We focus on four key aspects: (1) the role of external influences such as the solar wind and its interaction with the Earth's magnetosphere; (2) properties of the magnetosphere itself; (3) the role of the ionosphere and (4) feedback and coupling between regions. We have also identified potential inconsistencies and gaps in our understanding of dawn–dusk asymmetries in the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere.

Anthropogenic trigger of substorms and energetic particles precipitations

The high-frequency (HF) emission in near-Earth space from various powerful transmitters (radio communications, radars, broadcasting, universal time and navigation stations, etc.) form an integral part of the modern world that it cannot do without. In particular, special-purpose research facilities equipped with powerful HF transmitters are used successfully for plasma experiments and local modification of the ionosphere. In this work, we are using the results of a complex space-ground experiment to show that exposure of the subauroral region to HF emission can not only cause local changes in the ionosphere, but can also trigger processes in the magnetosphere–ionosphere system that result in intensive substorm activity (precipitations of high-energy particles, aurorae, significant variations in the ionospheric parameters and, as a consequence, in radio propagation conditions).

Estimation of Polar Cap Potential and the Role of PC Index

Polar cap potential has long been considered as an indicator for the amount of energy flowing in the magnetosphereionosphere system. Thus, the estimation of polar cap potential is important to understand the physical process of the magnetosphere. To estimate the polar cap potential in the Northern Hemisphere, merging electric field by Kan & Lee (1979) is adopted. Relationships between the PC index and calculated merging electric field ( E*) are examined during full-time and storm-time periods separately. For this purpose Dst, AL, and PC indices and solar wind data are utilized during the period from 1996-2003. From this linear relationship, polar cap potential (Φ*) is estimated using the formula by Doyle & Burke (1983). The values are represented as 58.1 ± 26.9 kV for the full-time period and 123.7 ± 84.1 kV for a storm-time period separately. Considering that the average value of polar cap potential of Doyle & Burke (1983) is about 47 kV during moderately quiet intervals with the S3-2 measurements, these results are similar to such. The monthly averaged variation of Dst, AL, and PC indices are then compared. The Dst and AL indices show distinct characteristics with peaks during equinoctial season whereas the average PC index according to the month shows higher values in autumn than in spring. The monthly variations of the linear correlation coefficients between solar wind parameters and geomagnetic indices are also examined. The PC-AL linear correlation coefficient is highest, being 0.82 with peaks during the equinoctial season. As with the AL index, the PC index may also prove useful for predicting the intensity of an auroral substorm. Generally, the linear correlation coefficients are shown low in summer due to conductance differences and other factors. To assess the role of the PC index during the recovery phase of a storm, the relation between the cumulative PC index and the duration is examined. Although the correlation coefficient lowers with the storm size, it is clear that the average correlation coefficient is high. There is a tendency that duration of the recovery phase is longer as the PC index increases.

Plasma flows, Birkeland currents and auroral forms in relation to the Svalgaard-Mansurov effect

Abstract. The traditional explanation of the polar cap magnetic deflections, referred to as the Svalgaard-Mansurov effect, is in terms of currents associated with ionospheric flow resulting from the release of magnetic tension on newly open magnetic field lines. In this study, we aim at an updated description of the sources of the Svalgaard-Mansurov effect based on recent observations of configurations of plasma flow channels, Birkeland current systems and aurorae in the magnetosphere-ionosphere system. Central to our description is the distinction between two different flow channels (FC 1 and FC 2) corresponding to two consecutive stages in the evolution of open field lines in Dungey cell convection, with FC 1 on newly open, and FC 2 on old open, field lines. Flow channel FC 1 is the result of ionospheric Pedersen current closure of Birkeland currents flowing along newly open field lines. During intervals of nonzero interplanetary magnetic field By component FC 1 is observed on either side of noon and it is accompanied by poleward moving auroral forms (PMAFs/prenoon and PMAFs/postnoon). In such cases the next convection stage, in the form of flow channel FC 2 on the periphery of the polar cap, is particularly important for establishing an IMF By-related convection asymmetry along the dawn-dusk meridian, which is a central element causing the Svalgaard-Mansurov effect. FC 2 flows are excited by the ionospheric Pedersen current closure of the northernmost pair of Birkeland currents in the four-sheet current system, which is coupled to the tail magnetopause and flank low-latitude boundary layer. This study is based on a review of recent statistical and event studies of central parameters relating to the magnetosphere-ionosphere current systems mentioned above. Temporal-spatial structure in the current systems is obtained by ground-satellite conjunction studies. On this point we emphasize the important information derived from the continuous ground monitoring of the dynamical behaviour of aurora and plasma convection during intervals of well-organised solar wind plasma and magnetic field conditions in interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) during their Earth passage.

Numerical study on the response of the Earth’s magnetosphere-ionosphere system to a super solar storm

With the approaching of the 24th solar cycle peak year (2012–2014), the impacts of super solar storms on the geospace environment have drawn attentions. Based on the geomagnetic field observations during Carrington event in 1859, we estimate the interplanetary solar wind conditions at that time, and investigate the response of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system to this extreme solar wind conditions using global 3D MHD simulations. The main findings include: 1) The day-side magnetopause and bow shock are compressed to 4.3 and 6.0 Re (Earth radius), and their flanks are also strongly compressed. The magnetopause shifts inside the geosynchronous orbit, exposing geosynchronous satellites in the solar wind in the magnetosheath. 2) During the storm, the region-1 current increases by about 60 times, and the cross polar potential drop increases by about 80 times; the reconnection voltage is about 5 to 6 times larger than the average storms, which means a larger amount of the solar wind energy enters the magnetosphere, resulting in strong space weather phenomena.

The GUMICS-4 global MHD magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling simulation

GUMICS-4 is a global magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling simulation based on global MHD magnetosphere and an electrostatic ionosphere. Here we review the development history, design and technical features of GUMICS-4 as well as a number of its postprocessing tools. We also compare GUMICS-4 predictions with observations for magnetopause distance, interplantary magnetic field penetration in the magnetotail, ionospheric field-aligned current pattern and other quantities. Based on the comparisons we can conclude that to a useful extent and with certain limitations, GUMICS-4 can reveal the detailed spatiotemporal behaviour of the magnetosphere–ionosphere system under given solar wind forcing.

Energy budget of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system in solar Cycle 23

The energy budget of the magnetosphere-ionosphere (MI) system during 1998–2008 was examined by using Akasofu’s epsilon function. The results showed that 1) the yearly average rate of solar wind energy input into the MI system was 4.51 GGJ (GGJ=1018 J), while the yearly average total dissipation was 4.30 GGJ; 2) the energy partitioning in the ring current and polar region was 56%:44%; 3) the energy input and dissipation processes continuously proceeded both in storm-substorm events and less disturbed intervals, suggesting the significant contribution of slow but long-lasting energy process during the less disturbance periods to the total energy budget. In addition, we found in this study an interesting phenomenon “self-adjustment ability” of the MI system which behaves just like a water reservoir. During solar active years, the input energy is more than the dissipated energy, implying that a portion of the input energy is not immediately released, but is stored in the magnetosphere. On the other hand, during less active years, the dissipated energy is more than the input energy, implying that the previously stored energy makes up for the energy input shortage in this period.