Periods Of Northward Interplanetary Magnetic Field Research Articles

Comparative simulations of Kelvin–Helmholtz induced magnetic reconnection at the Earth's magnetospheric flanks

This study presents three-dimensional (3D) resistive Hall-magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (KHI) dynamics at Earth's magnetospheric flanks during northward interplanetary magnetic field periods. By comparing two simulations with and without initial magnetic shear, we analyze the impact of distinct magnetic field orientations on plasma dynamics and magnetic reconnection events taking into account 3D mechanisms, such as KHI high latitude stabilization. The identical nature of the simulations, except for the presence/absence of an initial magnetic shear, enables, for the first time, a complete and coherent comparative analysis of the latitudinal distribution of KH vortices, current sheets, reconnection events, and the evolution of the mixing layer. In one configuration, a uniform magnetic field leads to double mid-latitude reconnection (MLR), while in the other, magnetic shear induces both type I vortex-induced reconnection (VIR) and MLR. Notably, the type I VIR observed in this second scenario results from the combined action of line advection and vortex-induced current sheet pinching (the classic mechanism driving two-dimensional type I VIR). Of particular importance is our quantification of newly closed field lines that experienced double reconnection, ultimately becoming embedded in solar wind plasma at low latitudes while remaining connected to magnetospheric plasma at high latitudes. The varying abundance of such lines in the two simulations holds implications for plasma transport at the magnetopause.

Dusk-Dawn Asymmetries in SuperDARN Convection Maps.

The Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) is a collection of radars built to study ionospheric convection. We use a 7-year archive of SuperDARN convection maps, processed in 3 different ways, to build a statistical understanding of dusk-dawn asymmetries in the convection patterns. We find that the data set processing alone can introduce a bias which manifests itself in dusk-dawn asymmetries. We find that the solar wind clock angle affects the balance in the strength of the convection cells. We further find that the location of the positive potential foci is most likely observed at latitudes of 78° for long periods (>300min) of southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), as opposed to 74° for short periods (<20min) of steady IMF. For long steady dawnward IMF the median is also at 78°. For long steady periods of duskward IMF, the positive potential foci tends to be at lower latitudes than the negative potential and vice versa during dawnward IMF. For long periods of steady Northward IMF, the positive and negative cells can swap sides in the convection pattern. We find that they move from ∼0-9 MLT to 15 MLT or ∼15-23 MLT to 10 MLT, which reduces asymmetry in the average convection cell locations for Northward IMF. We also investigate the width of the region in which the convection returns to the dayside, the return flow width. Asymmetries in this are not obvious, until we select by solar wind conditions, when the return flow region is widest for the negative convection cell during Southward IMF.

Effects of Fluctuating Magnetic Field on the Growth of the Kelvin‐Helmholtz Instability at the Earth's Magnetopause

AbstractAt the Earth's magnetopause, the Kelvin‐Helmholtz (KH) instability, driven by the persistent velocity shear between the magnetosheath and the magnetosphere, has been frequently observed during northward interplanetary magnetic field periods and considered as one of the most important candidates for transporting and mixing plasmas across the magnetopause. However, how this process interacts with magnetic field fluctuations, which persistently exist near the magnetopause, has been less discussed. Here we perform a series of 2‐D fully kinetic simulations of the KH instability at the magnetopause considering a power law spectrum of initial fluctuations in the magnetic field. The simulations demonstrate that when the amplitude level of the initial fluctuations is sufficiently large, the KH instability evolves faster, leading to a more efficient plasma mixing within the vortex layer. In addition, when the spectral index of the initial fluctuations is sufficiently small, the modes whose wavelength is longer than the theoretical fastest growing mode grow dominantly. The fluctuating magnetic field also results in the formation of the well‐matured turbulent spectrum with a −5/3 index within the vortex layer even in the early nonlinear growth phase of the KH instability. The obtained spectral features in the simulations are in reasonable agreement with the features in KH waves events at the magnetopause observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission and conjunctively by the Geotail and Cluster spacecraft. These results indicate that the magnetic field fluctuations may really contribute to enhancing the wave activities especially for longer wavelength modes and the associated mixing at the magnetopause.

North‐South Asymmetric Kelvin‐Helmholtz Instability and Induced Reconnection at the Earth's Magnetospheric Flanks

AbstractWe present a three‐dimensional study of the plasma dynamics at the flank magnetopause of the Earth's magnetosphere during mainly northward interplanetary magnetic field periods. Two‐fluid simulations show that the initial magnetic shear at the magnetopause and the field line bending caused by the dynamics itself (in a configuration taken as representative of the properties of the flank magnetopause) influence both the location where the Kelvin‐Helmholtz (KH) instability and the induced magnetic reconnection take place and their nonlinear development. The KH vortices develop asymmetrically with respect to the Earth's equatorial plane where the local KH linear growth rate is maximal. Vortex‐driven reconnection processes take place at different latitudes, ranging from the equatorial plane to midlatitude regions but only in the hemisphere that turns out to be the less KH unstable. These results suggest that KH‐induced reconnection is not limited to specific regions around the vortices (inside, below, or above) but may be triggered over a broad and continuous range of locations in the vicinity of the vortices.

The effect of subauroral polarization streams on the mid-latitude thermospheric disturbance neutral winds: a universal time effect

Abstract. The temporal and spatial variations in thermospheric neutral winds at an altitude of 400 km in response to subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) are investigated using global ionosphere and thermosphere model simulations under the southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) condition. During SAPS periods the westward neutral winds in the subauroral latitudes are greatly strengthened at dusk. This is due to the ion drag effect, through which SAPS can accelerate neutral winds in the westward direction. The new findings are that for SAPS commencing at different universal times, the strongest westward neutral winds exhibit large variations in amplitudes. The ion drag and Joule heating effects are dependent on the solar illumination, which exhibit UT variations due to the displacement of the geomagnetic and geographic poles. With more sunlight, stronger westward neutral winds can be generated, and the center of these neutral winds shifts to a later magnetic local time than neutral winds with less solar illumination. In the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere, the disturbance neutral wind reaches a maximum at 18:00 and 04:00 UT, and a minimum at 04:00 and 16:00 UT, respectively. There is a good correlation between the neutral wind velocity and cos0.5(SZA) (solar zenith angle). The reduction in the electron density and enhancement in the air mass density at an altitude of 400 km are strongest when the maximum solar illumination collocates with the SAPS. The correlation between the neutral wind velocity and cos0.5(SZA) is also good during the northward IMF period. The effect of a sine-wave oscillation of SAPS on the neutral wind also exhibits UT variations in association with the solar illumination.

The formation of superdense plasma sheet in association with the IMF turning from northward to southward

AbstractWe have studied two events in which relatively superdense plasma appeared near geosynchronous orbit after the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) changed from a long period of northward condition to southward condition. We used the magnetosphere MHD model Open Geospace General Circulation Model to simulate these two events and compared the simulation results with observations. The observations and the simulation results show that an extended period of northward IMF caused a cold dense plasma sheet (CDPS) to form in the near tail, and a subsequent southward IMF caused a highly stretched near‐tail dipole field, which enhanced the earthward convection and eventually set off reconnection. Some of the cold dense plasma was thus consequently transported to geosynchronous orbit and formed a superdense plasma sheet (SDPS). CDPS is the main source of SDPS in its early stage after the IMF southward turning.

Observation of a unipolar field‐aligned current system associated with IMF By‐triggered theta auroras

AbstractWe investigate the existence of a specific field‐aligned current (FAC) system predicted by numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations in a past study. The FAC system is expected to occur when a drifting θ aurora is formed in response to a stepwise transition of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By during strongly northward IMF periods. When the IMF By changes from positive to negative, a crossbar forms in the Northern Hemisphere that moves dawnward, while in the Southern Hemisphere the crossbar moves in the opposite direction. The crossbar motion reverses when the IMF By changes from negative to positive. The FAC system appears on the trailing side of the drifting crossbar of the θ aurora as it moves either dawnward or duskward. When the θ aurora is drifting dawnward, the FACs flow into the ionosphere. The FAC polarity reverses when the θ aurora is drifting duskward. Using low‐altitude satellite data, we confirmed the real existence of the above model‐predicted FAC system.

A Statistical Study of the Plasma Sheet in the Near and Middle Earth Magnetotail

AbstractMagnetotail plasma sheet is the most active area in Earth's magnetosphere. It has been found that the features of plasma sheet are controlled by the conditions of solar wind and Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF). Some previous statistical studies have found that some parameters of the plasma sheet are dawn‐dusk asymmetric. But the thickness of the magnetotail plasma sheet in the near and mid‐tail region and how they are influenced by the IMF is still unclear. In this paper, the probability of the Cluster‐C1 satellite encountering the plasma sheet is examined statistically by utilizing the proton flux and ß data from the CODIF and FGM equipment on board the Cluster‐C1. Using data from July to November of year 2001–2004, the distributions of the probability of satellite in the plasma sheet are mapped on the Y‐Dz plane (Dz denotes the distance between the satellite and the neutral sheet) during the southward and northward IMF periods, respectively. By comparison, we found that the plasma sheet is thinner during southward IMF periods than that during northward IMF periods. It is more obvious in the flank regions of the plasma sheet. We also found that the plasma sheet in the dusk side is thinner than that in the dawn side.

THEMIS statistical study on the plasma properties of high-speed flows in Earth’s magnetotail

Using Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) observations from 2007 to 2011 tail seasons, we study the plasma properties of high speed flows (HSFs) and background plasma sheet events (BPSs) in Earth’s magnetotail (|Y GSM|<13RE, |ZGSM|<5RE,–30RE<XGSM<–6RE), and their correlations with solar wind parameters. Statistical results show that the closer the HSFs and BPSs are to the Earth, the hotter they become, and the temperature increase of HSFs is larger than that of BPSs. The density and temperature ratios between HSFs and BPSs are also larger when events are closer to Earth. We also find that the best correlations between the HSFs (BPSs) density and the solar wind density occur when the solar wind density is averaged 2 (3.5) hours prior to the onset of HSFs (BPSs). The normalized densities of both HSFs and BPSs are correlated with the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) θ angles \(\left( {\theta = \arctan \left( {{B_z}/\sqrt {B_x^2 + B_y^2} } \right)} \right.\) which are averaged 3 hours before the observation time. Further analysis indicates that both HSFs and BPSs become denser during the northward IMF period.

Imaging the development of the cold dense plasma sheet

AbstractThe Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) frequently images the Earth's magnetosphere in Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENAs). In May 2013, there was an extended period of northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) while IBEX was imaging the Earth's magnetotail. During this period, IBEX imaged the development of the cold plasma sheet between about 15 and 20 Earth radii (RE) down the tail from the Earth. The ENA fluxes changed in both amplitude and average energy during this development. In addition, the plasma sheet may have thickened. At the end of the interval, the IMF turned southward and ENA fluxes decreased. The thickening of the plasma sheet suggests that the plasma in this region increases in both density and volume as it develops during extended periods of northward IMF. The decrease in the ENA flux suggests thinning of the plasma sheet and loss of plasma associated with the IMF turning.

Turbulent plasma transport across the Earth's low‐latitude boundary layer

AbstractThe Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability is a key process for the transport of solar wind plasma into the Earth's magnetosphere when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is northward. Previous kinetic simulations for symmetric layers have demonstrated that the flow vortices compress the magnetopause current layer and induce magnetic reconnection, leading to the rapid streaming of solar wind plasma into the vortices along newly reconnected field lines. Using fully kinetic 3‐D simulations, we demonstrate that the inherent density asymmetry across the boundary layer leads to a spectrum of oblique interchange instabilities along the magnetospheric side of the vortices. These secondary instabilities give rise to turbulence, which transports the solar wind plasma originally stored within the flow vortices deep into the magnetosphere. Simple estimates suggest that this turbulent transport may contribute significantly to the formation of the Earth's low‐latitude boundary layer and the cold‐dense plasma sheet during prolonged periods of northward IMF.

Global MHD modeling of ionospheric convection and field‐aligned currents associated with IMF By triggered theta auroras

AbstractUsing numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations, we investigate the evolution of ionospheric convection and field‐aligned currents (FACs) when θ auroras are formed in response to interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By transitions. When the polarity of IMF By switches abruptly during northward IMF periods, the crossbar of the θ aurora is isolated from the flankside auroral oval and drifts into the polar cap. This drift motion is involved in a large round cell associated with new IMF By, with sunward convection residing only on the dayside tip of the crossbar. There exists an IMF By‐controlled large‐scale FAC system on the crossbar. When the θ aurora is drifting duskward (dawnward), the FACs are located on the dawnside (duskside) boundary of the crossbar adjacent to the “new” lobe. In contrast, the magnetospheric source region of the crossbar FAC system is located on the duskside (dawnside) boundary of the protruded plasma sheet adjacent to the “old” lobe. In the source region, plasma thermal pressure feeds the electromagnetic energy of FACs, and these processes can be interpreted as coupling of slow mode and Alfvén mode disturbances. In the ionosphere, the crossbar‐associated FACs close with part of the region 1 currents associated with the new crescent cell. The magnetospheric source of that part of the region 1 FACs is located on the plasma sheet boundary and the magnetopause both adjacent to the new lobe. Dynamo processes in the old‐lobe side and the new‐lobe side work together to drive the ionospheric drift motion of the crossbar.

Simulation of interplanetary magnetic field By penetration into the magnetotail

Based on our global 3D magnetospheric MHD simulation model, we investigate the phenomena and physical mechanism of the By component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) penetrating into the magnetotail. We find that the dayside reconnected magnetic field lines move to the magnetotail, get added to the lobe fields, and are dragged in the IMF direction. However, the By component in the plasma sheet mainly originates from the tilt and relative slippage of the south and north lobes caused by plasma convection, which results in the original Bz component in the plasma sheet rotating into a By component. Our research also shows that the penetration effect of plasma sheet By from the IMF By during periods of northward IMF is larger than that during periods of southward IMF.

Reduction of viscous potential for northward interplanetary magnetic field as seen in the LFM simulation

The two primary methods responsible for solar wind magnetosphere coupling are magnetic reconnection and the viscous interaction. The viscous interaction is generated due to the antisunward dragging of plasma inside the magnetopause by the plasma flowing in the magnetosheath, creating a return flow deeper inside the magnetosphere and producing a circulation pattern. This viscous circulation pattern is mapped into the ionosphere via magnetic field lines, which results in ionospheric electric field in the nonrotating Earth's frame. We measure this interaction in terms of an electric potential, the viscous potential. In this paper, we use the results obtained from the Lyon‐Fedder‐Mobarry (LFM) simulation model during periods of purely northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) for different solar wind velocity and ionospheric conductivity, showing a reduction of the viscous potential with increasing magnitude of northward IMF. The viscous potential is found to settle around 5–10 kV for large +Bz values. The decrease in viscous potential was found to be associated with a weak or nonexistent sunward plasma flow in the nightside plasmasheet. Instead, the return flow to the dayside occurs at high latitudes and is associated with the reconnection topology and dynamics that occur during northward IMF periods. We also show that the magnetosphere remains closed during purely northward IMF, except for two small regions—one on each hemisphere, where the magnetic reconnection occur. We argue that the reduction of the viscous potential is due to a reduction of the velocity shear across the magnetopause and the lack of sunward convection in the equatorial tail.

Substorms under northward interplanetary magnetic field: Statistical study

It was recently noted that substorms can occur even under prolonged northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions. Based on the substorm list obtained from the IMAGE spacecraft, we perform a statistical study on the features of substorms during northward IMF interval. The strength of the substorm is represented by the AL index decrease and the total intensity of the auroral bulge. Four main features have been found as follows: (1) Most substorms occur soon after a southward IMF, and intense substorms are more likely to occur for short duration of northward IMF period (2 ~ 5 h), whereas no intense substorms occur after prolonged northward IMF condition. (2) There is a positive correlation between the strength of the substorm and the two solar wind parameters (the IMF |By| and the solar wind dynamic pressure Pd). (3) The average strength of the substorms during the storm period is much larger than that of the substorms during the period without storm. Meanwhile, nearly all strong storm time substorms occurred either during the intense storm period, or during the late main phase or the early recovery phase of the storm. (4) About half of substorms, either an increase or a decrease in the solar wind dynamic pressure, are found within 30 min preceding each onset time. Such features indicate that the energy stored in the magnetotail during a previous southward IMF period is the main energy source for substorms under northward IMF condition, especially for intense substorms, and both the IMF |By| and the solar wind dynamic pressure play an important role in the energy accumulation during the northward IMF period.

Ionospheric Response to Solar Wind Pressure Pulses Under Northward IMF Conditions

Enhancements of aurora and auroral electrojets in response to sudden compression of the magnetosphere by shocks/ pressure pulses are well known and have been attributed by some to compression-enhanced magnetic field reconnection. To examine such a view, we analyze a fortuitous event that is comprised of a series of pressure pulses (< 20 min) on November 8, 2000. These pressure pulses were preceded by a large, northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) that lasted more than 15 hours such that effects from reconnection can be minimized. Auroral images acquired by ultraviolet imager on board the Polar satellite clearly show intensifications of the aurora that occurred first near local noon and progressively extended from dayside to nightside. The area-integrated global auroral power reached ~30 gigawatts (GW). It is also found that the global auroral power is well correlated with the solar wind dynamic pressure (correlation coefficient r ~0.90), rather than the change in the solar wind dynamic pressure. In-situ measurements of particle data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellite indicate that the magnetospheric source for the pressure-enhanced auroras is most likely the central plasma sheet. Other ionospheric parameters such as the auroral electrojet (AE index), magnetic storm index (Sym-H), and the cross polarcap potential drop also show a one-to-one correspondence to the pressure pulses. In one instance the auroral electrojets AE index reached more than 200 nT, the cross polar-cap potential drop (φpc) inferred from the SuperDARN radar network ionospheric plasma convection increased to ~60 kV. The observed increases in the auroral emissions, AE, and polar cap potential were not associated with substorms. Our result strongly suggests that solar wind pressure pulses are an important source of geomagnetic activity during northward IMF periods.

The role of dayside merging in generating the ionospheric potential during the Whole Heliospheric Interval

In this paper we examine the role of dayside merging between the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and the geomagnetic field in the generation of the polar cap potential in the ionosphere during the Whole Heliospheric Interval using the Coupled Magnetosphere Ionosphere Thermosphere (CMIT) and Lyon–Fedder–Mobarry (LFM) global simulations of the geospace system from the Center for Integrated Space Weather Modeling (CISM). We isolate the portion of the total ionospheric potential due to the viscous interaction by simulating the interval with a zero IMF, but with the same solar wind plasma conditions. For southward IMF, the cross polar cap potential is the sum of the merging potential and the viscous potential, so we can determine the merging potential by subtracting the viscous potential from the total potential. From the dependence of the merging potential on southward IMF we calculate a geoeffective length of 5 RE. For northward IMF the situation is more complicated since the cross polar cap potential, defined as the peak to peak potential, will be almost always either the value of the viscous potential or of the merging potential, whichever is larger. We find that during periods of northward IMF the cross polar cap potential can be less than what the viscous interaction would produce with no IMF present. This means that the viscous interaction is weakened by the cycle of merging and reconnection for northward IMF. Our results also indicate that current representations of merging rates or electric fields are flawed in the manner in which they describe northward IMF. Typical representations simply produce a weak reconnection rate when the IMF is northward that adds to the viscous potential to create a cross polar cap potential that is larger than the viscous potential, whereas the effect of merging for northward IMF reduces the viscous interaction so that the cross polar cap potential for moderate northward IMF values is smaller than the value that would be expected from solar wind plasma conditions of the viscous potential in isolation.

Storm time electric fields in the equatorial ionosphere observed near the dusk meridian

We compare the dynamics of plasma drifts (VP) and ionospheric electric fields (EI), measured near the dusk meridian at the magnetic equator by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F13 satellite, with those of the dawn‐to‐dusk component of the interplanetary electric field (IEF) Ey during four large magnetic storms. Presented data indicate that during the main phase of the magnetic storms when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) had a southward component, VP had upward and westward components that ranged up to 120 and 210 m s−1. The corresponding eastward and upward components of EI were approximately 5% and 10% of Ey. The persistence of eastward EI for many hours indicates that electric field shielding of the inner magnetosphere is ineffective during prolonged periods of southward IMF. During periods of northward IMF (Ey &lt; 0) ionospheric responses depended on prior history. No ionospheric response is apparent after strong northward IMF turnings preceded by geomagnetic quiet. If they occurred after a long southward interval, EI often had westward and downward components. The polarity of the zonal component of EI remained well correlated with that of Ey for up to 21 h during periods of slowly varying IMF. Phenomena associated with southward IMF periods are consistent with models that allow for prolonged penetration electric field from high latitudes superposed on those of the Sq current system. However, it is not understood why the remarkable correspondence between the polarities of the zonal component of EI and the IEF Ey occurs during northward IMF. In some Ey &lt; 0 periods, the vertical component of EI remained upward. DMSP detections of upward EI (westward VP) during periods of Ey &lt; 0 are not predicted by existing models.

On the poleward boundary of the nightside auroral oval under northward interplanetary magnetic field conditions

In this paper we examined the dependence of the poleward boundary of the nightside auroral oval on interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions. In particular, we performed the study for periods after the IMF Bz becomes northward at or some time during the recovery phase of major storms. For the selected periods, we used the precipitating particle energy flux observed by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites to determine the poleward boundary of the nightside oval. The following results were obtained. (1) We confirmed the expected result that under a more strongly northward IMF Bz, the poleward boundary of the nightside oval tends to be located more poleward, implying a smaller polar cap. (2) However, it tends to take a very long time after the IMF Bz turns northward for the polar cap size to substantially reduce (e.g., ∼15 h or longer for a poleward movement by ∼5°). This is likely because the magnetosphere during the selected northward IMF periods was still under the substantial influence of the preceding southward IMF conditions associated with the storm's main phase and also because a finite IMF By can support dayside reconnection to sustain an open polar cap region of substantial size. (3) We found that for a given sign of the IMF By, the poleward boundary of the nightside oval is asymmetric between premidnight and postmidnight regions in a given hemisphere and between hemispheres at a given magnetic local time region. For example, for a positive IMF By, the Northern (Southern) Hemispheric oval boundary is more poleward (equatorward) in the premidnight region, and the situation is opposite in the postmidnight region and for a negative IMF By. We suggest a possible reason that may be responsible for the asymmetry. (4) A similar (in an opposite sense) asymmetric feature can be seen with the IMF Bx but only when the IMF happens to be of a Parker spiral angle type. We conclude that the magnetosphere during the recovery phase of major storms likely remains open even after the IMF turns northward and the polar cap field lines are still connected to the IMF. The role of the finite IMF By is prominent in determining both the size and shape of the polar cap, which can affect details of the dynamical evolution during the storm recovery phase.

Evolution of plasma sheet particle content under different interplanetary magnetic field conditions

We have statistically analyzed Geotail data to investigate the processes that result in a plasma sheet that is denser under a prolonged northward than southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) period. The observations show that the change of number density with the IMF conditions is mainly due to the changes of particle number per unit magnetic flux (particle content N), with N increasing (decreasing) as the period of northward (southward) IMF extends. The changes are quicker in the first ∼2 to 4 h then substantially slow down. The Y profiles show that N is always lowest around midnight and becomes higher toward the flanks. The observed plasma velocities suggest that plasma sheet particles undergo earthward and flankward drift transport, as well as diffusive transport resulting from drift fluctuations. The diffusion coefficients associated with fluctuating drift are estimated to be ∼105 to 106 km2/s. We have simulated evolution of N resulting from drift and diffusive transport with particle sources along the flanks. The simulation results show that the observed temporal and Y variations of N under different IMF conditions can be accounted for by the competition between the particle increase owing to particles diffusing toward midnight from the flank sources and the particle decrease owing to particles drifting away from midnight. As the IMF turns northward (southward), it is mainly the strengthening (weakening) of diffusive transport owing to the increase (decrease) of the flank source that results in the increase (decrease) of N.