Polar Cap Arcs Research Articles

In Situ Observational Evidence of the Polar Cap Arc at 1500 MLT (15MLT‐PCA) Associated With the Lobe Reconnection

AbstractThe polar cap arc at 1500 MLT (15MLT‐PCA) has been considered as an auroral signature of the cusp's duskside boundary and been speculated to be caused by lobe reconnection. However, no observational evidence has been provided to support this speculation. Here we report a 15MLT‐PCA event occurred on 29 November 2017 using multi‐instrument observations. During the DMSP observed the 15MLT‐PCA, Cluster, with its footprints at the root of the 15MLT‐PCA, identified two FTEs in the southern hemisphere's lobe region, accompanied by an increase in electron and ion energy from hundreds of eVs to several keVs. AMPERE observed an increase in upward field‐aligned currents associated with the 15MLT‐PCA. SuperDARN observed a single cell convection with an enhancement of sunward plasma flow near the root of 15MLT‐PCA. We suggest that these observations provide the in‐situ observational evidence that the 15MLT‐PCA is generated by a lobe reconnection at the cusp's duskside boundary.

Automatic detection method of polar cap arc based on YOLOX embedded with CBAM

Automatic detection method of polar cap arc based on YOLOX embedded with CBAM

Space weather with an arc’s ∼2 h trip across the nightside polar cap

Flow channels can extend across the polar cap from the dayside to the nightside auroral oval, where they lead to localized reconnection and auroral oval disturbances. Such flow channels can persist within the polar cap >1½ hours, can move azimuthally with direction controlled by IMF By, and may affect time and location of auroral oval disturbances. We have followed a polar cap arc as it moved duskward from Canada to Alaska for ∼2 h while connected to the oval. Two-dimensional ionospheric flows show an adjacent flow channel that moved westward with the arc and was a distinct feature of polar cap convection that locally impinged upon the outer boundary of the auroral oval. The flow channel’s interaction with the oval appears to have triggered two separate substorms during its trip across western Canada and Alaska, controlling the onset location and contributing to subsequent development of substorm activity within the oval. The first substorm (over Canada) occurred during approximately equatorward polar cap flow, whereas the second substorm (over Alaska) occurred as the polar cap arc and flow channel bent strongly azimuthally and appeared to “lay down” along the poleward boundary. The oval became unusually thin, leading to near contact between the polar cap arc and the brightening onset auroral arc within the oval. These observations illustrate the crucial role of polar cap flow channels in the time, location, and duration of space weather activity, and the importance of the duration and azimuthal motion of flow channels within the nightside polar cap.

Nightside High‐Latitude Phase and Amplitude Scintillation During a Substorm Using 1‐Second Scintillation Indices

AbstractWe examined evolution of Global Positioning System (GPS) scintillation during a substorm in the nightside high latitude ionosphere, using 1‐s phase and amplitude scintillation indices from the Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN) network. The traditional 1‐min scintillation indices showed that the phase scintillation was dominant, while the amplitude scintillation was weak. However, the 1‐s amplitude scintillation occurred more often in association with major auroral structures (polar cap arc, growth phase arc, onset arc, poleward expanding arc, poleward boundary intensification, and diffuse aurora) that were detected by the THEMIS all‐sky imagers (ASIs). The 1‐min index missed much of the amplitude fluctuations because they only lasted ∼10 s near a local peak or at the gradients of the auroral structures. The 1‐s phase scintillation was concurrent with the amplitude scintillation but was much weaker than the 1‐min phase scintillation. The frequency spectral analysis showed that the spectral power above ∼1 Hz was diffractive and below ∼1 Hz was refractive. We suggest that the amplitude scintillation in the high‐latitude ionosphere is much more common than previously considered, and that a short time window of the order of 1 s should be used to detect the scintillation. The 1‐min phase scintillation index is largely influenced by refractive effects due to total electron content (TEC) variations, and the spectral power below ∼1 Hz should be removed to identify diffractive scintillation.

A unified model of cusp spot, High Latitude Dayside aurora (HiLDA)/(Space Hurricane), and 15MLT-PCA

Cusp spot, High Latitude Dayside aurora (HiLDA), ‘space hurricane’, and 15MLT-PCA (Polar Cap Arc observed around 15:00 Magnetic Local Time) are mesoscale auroral structures observed in the polar cap region. They share many common properties and, at the same time, have notable differences. A 15MLT-PCA is a polar cap arc connected to the auroral oval, but the others are auroral spots detached from the oval. A cusp spot differs from a HiLDA in local time location. A space hurricane differs from a HiLDA in having spiral-arm structures. Until now, relationships among these auroras have not been depicted clearly. Here we propose a unified model, based on lobe reconnection, that encompasses their similarities and differences. We then provide critical supporting evidence for the model. The model suggests that different reconnection sites under different IMF conditions result in these differently-appearing auroral forms. The model explains all the characteristic features of these auroras and has implications for understanding the dawn/dusk and inter-hemispheric asymmetries observed in their occurrence patterns. We anticipate confirmation of the model by observations to be made during the Solar wind-Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) mission. Moreover, since the model indicates that these auroras appear on the footprint of the poleward cusp boundary, we expect data from the SMILE mission to make it possible to estimate the approximate shape of the cusp.

An Auroral Signature of the Duskside Boundary of the Cusp

AbstractThe cusp is a region in which the solar wind plasma can directly penetrate into the ionosphere. Most previous studies mainly focused on the low‐ and high‐latitude boundaries of the cusps, the identification of the dawnside and duskside boundaries of them appears to be questionable. The auroras are the ionospheric manifestations of solar‐terrestrial energy coupling. This paper presents a new approach to diagnose the duskside boundary of the cusp with the observation of a particular polar cap arc (PCA) located near the ∼1500 magnetic local time sector (15MLT‐PCA). Using measurements from Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellite, we selected several 15MLT‐PCA examples where the satellite flew over different regions and analyze the particle characteristics. We identified the precipitating particles in dawnside and duskside regions next to 15MLT‐PCA are from the low latitude boundary layer/cusp and boundary plasma sheet/central plasma sheet respectively. The statistical result further confirms our findings. Therefore, we proposed that 15MLT‐PCA can be used as an identifiable optical signature of the duskside boundary of the cusp. This paper provides a valuable approach to identify the cusp boundaries, and the results are critical for understanding the generation mechanism of 15MLT‐PCA.

Observational Properties of 15MLT‐PCA in the Southern Hemisphere and the Switching Effects of IMF By on 15MLT‐PCA Occurrence

AbstractBased on Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager on Defense Meteorological Satellite Program spacecraft (DMSP/SSUSI) observations in the Northern Hemisphere, a particular polar cap arc observed at ∼1,500 magnetic local time (MLT) sector was identified and was named 15MLT‐PCA. A 15MLT‐PCA model proposed for the Northern Hemisphere suggests that the 15MLT‐PCA is caused by a lobe reconnection related to the tilt angle and lobe field line twisting due to a long‐lasting positive interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By condition. However, it is unclear if the 15MLT‐PCA can be observed in the Southern Hemisphere and how the IMF By influences its occurrence and location. Using the long‐term DMSP/SSUSI observations in the Southern Hemisphere, we confirmed that the 15MLT‐PCA could be observed in the Southern Hemisphere in summer under long‐lasting negative IMF By and predominantly positive IMF Bx. The ion energy dispersion and some other statistical properties are also investigated. Further, we showed that the IMF By has a switching effect on the occurrence of the 15MLT‐PCA using multiple cases. We found that the 15MLT‐PCA disappear as soon as the IMF By changed to an unfavorable condition, but it seems that the favorable conditions need to be maintained for ∼1 hr for the occurrence of 15MLT‐PCA. We also found that the IMF By magnitude is well correlated to the MLT location of the 15MLT‐PCA. We suggest that all the results support the 15MLT‐PCA model and imply that a magnetotail lobe reconnection should be common in the summer hemisphere because the well‐known Parker Spiral favors meeting the model's IMF requirements.

GPS Scintillations and TEC Variations in Association With a Polar Cap Arc

AbstractA unique example of a polar cap arc producing clear amplitude and phase scintillations in GPS L‐band signals is presented using observations from an all‐sky imager and a GPS receiver and a digital ionosonde at Resolute Bay and the SuperDARN Inuvik radar. During the southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) condition, the polar cap arc moved quickly from the dusk‐side to the midnight auroral oval at a speed of ∼700 m/s, as revealed by all‐sky 557.7 and 630.0 nm images. When it intersected the raypath of GPS signals, both amplitude and phase scintillations appeared, which is very different from previous results. Moreover, the scintillations were precisely determined through power spectral analysis. We propose that the strong total electron content (TEC) enhancement (∼6 TECU) and flow shears in association with the polar cap arc under the southward IMF condition were creating the scintillations. It provides evidence for the existence of polar cap arc scintillations that may be harmful for satellite applications even through L‐band signals.

A New Type of Polar Cap Arc Observed in the ~1500 MLT Sector: 1. Northern Hemisphere Observations

AbstractA new type of polar cap aurora observed in ~1500 MLT sector, abbreviated as 15MLT‐PCA, is identified on examining the long‐term spectrographic imager observations on the DMSP satellite over the Northern Hemisphere. Apparent dependencies of 15MLT‐PCA on the solar cycle, season, universal time, and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) are presented, which indicate that the 15MLT‐PCA occurs in the northern summer under conditions of large dipole tilt angle, long‐lasting positive IMF By, and predominant negative Bx. The IMF Bz and other solar wind conditions show less control over the occurrence of 15MLT‐PCA. The particle precipitations of 15MLT‐PCA show magnetosheath‐like or mantle‐like properties with the ions showing clear energy dispersion property. We suggest that the 15MLT‐PCA is caused by reconnection between a twisted lobe field line and an antisunward IMF field line, which differs from the mechanism for High‐latitude dayside aurora (HiLDA) that share some common observational features with the 15MLT‐PCA.

Multiscale Observation of Two Polar Cap Arcs Occurring on Different Magnetic Field Topologies

AbstractThis paper presents observations of polar cap arc substructure down to scale sizes of meters and temporal resolution of milliseconds. Two case studies containing polar cap arcs occurring over Svalbard are investigated. The first occurred on 4 February 2016 and is consistent with formation on closed field lines; the second occurred on 15 December 2015 and is consistent with formation on open field lines. These events were identified using global‐scale images from the Special Sensor Ultra‐violet Spectrographic Imager (SSUSI) instruments on board Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) spacecraft. Intervals when the arcs passed through the small‐scale field of view of the Auroral Structure and Kinetics (ASK) instrument, located on Svalbard, were then found using all sky images from a camera also located on Svalbard. These observations give unprecedented insight into small‐scale polar cap arc structure. The energy and flux of the precipitating particles above these arcs are estimated using the ASK observations in conjunction with the Southampton Ionospheric model. These estimates are then compared to in situ DMSP particle measurements, as well as data from ground‐based instrumentation, to infer further information about their formation mechanisms. This paper finds that polar cap arcs formed on different magnetic field topologies exhibit different behavior at small‐scale sizes, consistent with their respective formation mechanisms.

A Study of Automatically Detected Flow Channels in the Polar Cap Ionosphere

AbstractThis paper presents a new algorithm for detecting high‐speed flow channels in the polar cap. The algorithm was applied to Super Dual Auroral Radar Network data, specifically to data from the new Longyearbyen radar. This radar is located at 78.2°N, 16.0°E geographical coordinates looking north‐east, and is therefore at an ideal location to measure flow channels in the high‐latitude polar cap. The algorithm detected >500 events over 1 year of observations, and within this paper two case studies are considered in more detail. A flow channel on “old‐open field lines” located on the dawn flank was directly driven under quiet conditions over 13 min. This flow channel contributed to a significant fraction (60%) of the cross polar cap potential and was located on the edge of a polar cap arc. Another case study follows the development of a flow channel on newly opened field lines within the cusp. This flow channel is a spontaneously driven event forming under strong solar wind driving and is intermittently excited over the course of almost an hour. As they provide a high fraction of the cross polar cap potential, these small‐scale structures are vital for understanding the transport of magnetic flux over the polar cap.

Interhemispheric Survey of Polar Cap Aurora

AbstractThis study investigates the interhemispheric nature of polar cap auroras via ultraviolet imaging, combined with particle data, to determine whether they occur on open or closed field lines. Data from the SSUSI (Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager) instrument on board the DMSP (Defence Meteorological Satellite Program) spacecraft are examined. The DMSP spacecraft are in 90‐min orbits; hence, images of each hemisphere are separated by 45 min providing a good opportunity for interhemispheric study. 21 polar cap arc (PCA) events are recorded in December 2015 which have particle data from the SSJ/4 particle spectrometer associated with an arc in at least one hemisphere. Nine events are found to contain "arcs" consistent with a closed field line mechanism, that is, arcs associated with an ion signature present in both hemispheres. Six events contained arcs that were consistent with an "open field line" mechanism, that is, they were associated with electron‐only precipitation. Events containing arcs that were not consistent with either of these expectations are also explored, including an example of a "non‐conjugate" theta aurora and an interesting example of auroral morphology similar to a PCA which is associated with a geomagnetic storm. Seasonal effects are also investigated through a statistical analysis of PCAs over 4 months in 2015. It is found that PCAs are visible in the SSUSI data at least 20% of the time and that it is likely some are missed due to the spacecraft field of view and poor sensitivity in the summer hemisphere due to increased solar illumination.

Statistical Properties of Mesoscale Plasma Flows in the Nightside High‐Latitude Ionosphere

AbstractThe field of space weather has made great strides in understanding and simulating large‐scale, global responses of the Earth's upper atmosphere to various inputs from the Sun; however, the mesoscale phenomena (~30–500 km wide) that are much more dynamic and powerful in the coupled system have remained uncharacterized. We therefore present key parameters of mesoscale ionospheric plasma flows in order to evaluate their relationship within the coupled system and to inform global models. We characterize mesoscale plasma flow properties in the nightside polar cap and auroral oval using nine years of Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) line‐of‐sight velocity data from the stations at Rankin Inlet and Saskatoon. We quantify their width, velocity, occurrence rates, duration, and orientation, and how these characteristics depend on latitude, magnetic local time (MLT), season, substorm activity (AL), solar cycle (F10.7), and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) clock angle. Measuring the ionospheric footpoint of magnetospheric fast flows, our analysis technique from the ground also provides a 2‐D picture of flows and their characteristics that spacecraft alone cannot provide. Results include a characteristic equatorward flow width of ~180 km in the polar cap and ~140–150 km in the auroral oval. Flow velocities vary under the different conditions we studied. Equatorward polar cap flows and poleward flows everywhere have a postmidnight preference, suggesting a connection to polar cap arcs. Equatorward auroral oval flows have a premidnight preference, suggesting a connection to substorm‐related phenomena. The location and orientation of mesoscale flows dependent on IMF clock angle suggests that mesoscale flows follow the large‐scale background convection.

Conjugate Observations of the Evolution of Polar Cap Arcs in Both Hemispheres

AbstractWe report results from the analysis of a case of conjugate polar cap arcs (PCAs) observed on 5 February 2006 in the Northern Hemisphere by the ground‐based Yellow River Station all‐sky imager (Svalbard) and in both hemispheres by the space‐based DMSP/SSUSI and TIMED/GUVI instruments. The PCA's motion in dawn‐dusk direction shows a clear dependence on the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By component and presents a clear asymmetry between Southern and Northern Hemispheres, that is, formed on the duskside and moving from dusk to dawn in the Northern Hemisphere and vice versa in the other hemisphere. The already existing PCAs' motion is influenced by the changes in the IMF By with a time delay of ~70 min. We also observed strong flow shears/reversals around the PCAs in both hemispheres. The precipitating particles observed in the ionosphere associated with PCAs showed properties of boundary layer plasma. Based on these observations, we might reasonably expect that the topological changes in the magnetotail can produce a strip of closed field lines and local processes would set up conditions for the formation and evolution of PCAs.

Polar cap arcs: Sun-aligned or cusp-aligned?

Polar cap arcs are often called sun-aligned arcs. Satellite observations reveal that polar cap arcs join together at the cusp and are actually cusp aligned. Strong ionospheric plasma velocity shears, thus field aligned currents, were associated with polar arcs and they were likely caused by Kelvin–Helmholtz waves around the low-latitude magnetopause under a northward IMF Bz. The magnetic field lines around the magnetopause join together in the cusp region so are the field aligned currents and particle precipitation. This explains why polar arcs are cusp aligned.

Scintillation and irregularities from the nightside part of a Sun‐aligned polar cap arc

AbstractIn this paper we study the presence of irregularities and scintillation in relation to the nightside part of a long‐lived, Sun‐aligned transpolar arc on 15 January 2015. The arc was observed in DMSP UV and particle data and lasted at least 3 h between 1700 and 2000 UT. The arc was more intense than the main oval during this time. From all‐sky imagers on Svalbard we were able to study the evolution of the arc, which drifted slowly westward toward the dusk cell. The intensity of the arc as observed from ground was 10–17 kR in 557.7 nm and 2–3.5 kR in 630.0 nm, i.e., significant emissions in both green and red emission lines. We have used high‐resolution raw data from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) receivers and backscatter from Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) radars to study irregularities and scintillation in relation to the polar cap arc. Even though the literature has suggested that polar cap arcs are potential sources for irregularities, our results indicate only very weak irregularities. This may be due to the background density in the northward IMF polar cap being too low for significant irregularities to be created.

Dynamics of density cavities generated by frictional heating: Formation, distortion, and instability

AbstractA simulation study of the generation and evolution of mesoscale density cavities in the polar ionosphere is conducted using a time‐dependent, nonlinear, quasi‐electrostatic model. The model demonstrates that density cavities, generated by frictional heating, can form in as little as 90 s due to strong electric fields of ∼120 mV/m, which are sometimes observed near auroral zone and polar cap arcs. Asymmetric density cavity features and strong plasma density gradients perpendicular to the geomagnetic field are naturally generated as a consequence of the strong convection and finite extent of the auroral feature. The walls of the auroral density cavities are shown to be susceptible to large‐scale distortion and gradient‐drift instability, hence indicating that arc‐related regions of frictional heating may be a source of polar ionospheric density irregularities.

Polar cap precursor of nightside auroral oval intensifications using polar cap arcs

AbstractRecent radar and optical observations suggested that localized fast flows in the polar cap precede disturbances within the nightside auroral oval. However, how commonly this connection occurs has been difficult to examine due to limited coverage of radar flow measurements and diffuse and dim nature of airglow patches. Polar cap arcs are also associated with fast flows in the polar cap and appear much brighter than patches, allowing evaluation of the interaction between polar cap structures and nightside aurora more definitively. We have surveyed data during six winter seasons and selected quasi‐steady polar cap arcs lasting >1 h. Thirty‐four arcs are found, and for the majority (~85%) of them, as they extend equatorward from high latitude, their contact with the nightside auroral poleward boundary is associated with new and substantial intensifications within the oval. These intensifications are localized (< ~1 h magnetic local time (MLT)) and statistically occur within 10 min and ±1 h MLT from the contact. They appear as poleward boundary intensifications in a thick auroral oval or an intensification of the only resolvable arc within a thin oval, and the latter can also exhibit substantial poleward expansion. When radar echoes are available, they corroborate the association of polar cap arcs with localized enhanced antisunward flows. That the observed oval intensifications are major disturbances that only occur after the impingement of polar cap arcs and near the contact longitude suggest that they are triggered by localized fast flows coming from deep in the polar cap.

Solar illumination control of ionospheric outflow above polar cap arcs

AbstractWe measure the flux density, composition, and energy of outflowing ions above the polar cap, accelerated by quasi‐static electric fields parallel to the magnetic field and associated with polar cap arcs, using Cluster. Mapping the spacecraft position to its ionospheric foot point, we analyze the dependence of these parameters on the solar zenith angle (SZA). We find a clear transition at SZA between ∼94° and ∼107°, with the O+ flux higher above the sunlit ionosphere. This dependence on the illumination of the local ionosphere indicates that significant O+ upflow occurs locally above the polar ionosphere. The same is found for H+, but to a lesser extent. This effect can result in a seasonal variation of the total ion upflow from the polar ionosphere. Furthermore, we show that low‐magnitude field‐aligned potential drops are preferentially observed above the sunlit ionosphere, suggesting a feedback effect of ionospheric conductivity.

A suggestion that two‐dimensional turbulence contributes to polar cap convection for Bz north

Recently, a linear dependence has been found between the polar cap potential and the log of ULF power in the solar wind for Bz north. We argue here that this is very strong evidence that Alfvén waves propagating from the solar wind to the polar cap drive two‐dimensional turbulence in agreement with other work along these lines. In brief, two‐dimensional (2‐D) turbulence is characterized by an inverse cascade of energy from intermediate to large scales, eventually leading to two large counter‐rotating vortices filling the available volume and, we think, creating two of the four vortices in the Bz north polar cap. In this model, the Alfvén waves create velocity shear at the 500 or so kilometer scale associated with polar cap arcs. This energy/vorticity then inverse cascades to fill the polar cap.