ULF Waves Research Articles

Dayside Magnetospheric and Ionospheric Responses to a Foreshock Transient on 25 June 2008: 1. FLR Observed by Satellite and Ground‐Based Magnetometers

AbstractAs one type of driver of magnetospheric Alfvén waves, foreshock transients have received less attention than, for example, the Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability, discrete and broadband frequency solar wind dynamic pressure oscillations, and interplanetary shocks. Previous works show that foreshock transients can induce both Alfvén mode and compressional mode Pc 3–5 ULF waves inside the magnetosphere. However, to our knowledge, none of these reported Pc 3–5 waves, induced by foreshock transients, are proved to be localized in the magnetosphere. In this paper, using in situ and ground‐based observations, we report the generation of localized magnetospheric compressional waves and field line resonances (FLRs) by a foreshock transient. Both the foreshock transient and Pc 5 ULF waves were found on the duskside; while on the morning side of the magnetosphere, no clear wave signatures were captured. Our results demonstrate that in addition to the global effects of foreshock transients on the magnetosphere reported earlier, foreshock transients can also generate localized magnetospheric responses in the Pc 5 range with clear dawn‐dusk asymmetry. A suite of eight dayside spacecraft plus ground magnetometer measurements make possible the determination of the foreshock transient driver and dawn‐dusk asymmetry of the magnetospheric response not previously reported with such a complete data set.

ULF Wave Activity in the Magnetosphere: Resolving Solar Wind Interdependencies to Identify Driving Mechanisms

AbstractUltralow frequency (ULF) waves in the magnetosphere are involved in the energization and transport of radiation belt particles and are strongly driven by the external solar wind. However, the interdependency of solar wind parameters and the variety of solar wind‐magnetosphere coupling processes make it difficult to distinguish the effect of individual processes and to predict magnetospheric wave power using solar wind properties. We examine 15 years of dayside ground‐based measurements at a single representative frequency (2.5 mHz) and a single magnetic latitude (corresponding to L ∼ 6.6RE). We determine the relative contribution to ULF wave power from instantaneous nonderived solar wind parameters, accounting for their interdependencies. The most influential parameters for ground‐based ULF wave power are solar wind speed vsw, southward interplanetary magnetic field component Bz<0, and summed power in number density perturbations δNp. Together, the subordinate parameters Bz and δNp still account for significant amounts of power. We suggest that these three parameters correspond to driving by the Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability, formation, and/or propagation of flux transfer events and density perturbations from solar wind structures sweeping past the Earth. We anticipate that this new parameter reduction will aid comparisons of ULF generation mechanisms between magnetospheric sectors and will enable more sophisticated empirical models predicting magnetospheric ULF power using external solar wind driving parameters.

The correspondence between dayside long-period geomagnetic pulsations and the open-closed field line boundary

Long-period pulsations in the nominal Pc5-6 band (periods about 3–15 min) have been known to be a persistent feature of dayside high latitudes. A mixture of broadband Irregular Pulsations at Cusp Latitudes (IPCL) and narrowband P≿5 waves is often observed. The mechanism and origin of IPCL have not been firmly established yet. Magnetopause surface eigenmodes were suggested as a potential source of high-latitude ULF waves with frequencies less than 2 mHz. A ground response to these modes is expected to be beneath the ionospheric projection of the open-closed field line boundary (OCB). To unambiguously resolve a possible association of IPCL with the magnetopause surface modes, multi-instrument observation data from Svalbard have been analyzed. We examine the latitudinal structure of high-latitude pulsations in the Pc5-6 band recorded by magnetometers covering near-cusp latitudes. This structure is compared with an instant location of the equatorward boundary of the cusp aurora, assumed to be a proxy of the OCB. The optical OCB latitude has been identified by an automatic algorithm, using data from the meridian scanning photometer at Longyearbyen, Svalbard. The comparison has shown that the latitudinal maximum of the broadband IPCL maximizes about 2°–3° deeper in the magnetosphere than the OCB optical proxy. Therefore, these pulsations cannot be associated with the ground image of the magnetopause surface modes. It is likely that an essentially non-dipole geometry of field lines and a high variability of the magnetopause region may suppress the excitation efficiency. The obtained result imposes important limitations on possible mechanisms of high-latitude dayside ULF variations.

Control of ULF Wave Accessibility to the Inner Magnetosphere by the Convection of Plasma Density

AbstractDuring periods of storm activity and enhanced convection, the plasma density in the afternoon sector of the magnetosphere is highly dynamic due to the development of plasmaspheric drainage plume (PDP) structure. This significantly affects the local Alfvén speed and alters the propagation of ULF waves launched from the magnetopause. Therefore, it can be expected that the accessibility of ULF wave power for radiation belt energization is sensitively dependent on the recent history of magnetospheric convection and the stage of development of the PDP. This is investigated using a 3‐D model for ULF waves within the magnetosphere in which the plasma density distribution is evolved using an advection model for cold plasma, driven by a (VollandStern) convection electrostatic field (resulting in PDP structure). The wave model includes magnetic field day/night asymmetry and extends to a paraboloid dayside magnetopause, from which ULF waves are launched at various stages during the PDP development. We find that the plume structure significantly alters the field line resonance location, and the turning point for MHD fast waves, introducing strong asymmetry in the ULF wave distribution across the noon meridian. Moreover, the density enhancement within the PDP creates a waveguide or local cavity for MHD fast waves, such that eigenmodes formed allow the penetration of ULF wave power to much lower L within the plume than outside, providing an avenue for electron energization.

Reply to 'The dynamics of Van Allen belts revisited'

It is well-known that there are many wave-particle interaction processes which have the potential to affect the dynamics of the radiation belts [see e.g., the review by Mauk et al., 2013]. The issue that has continued to obstruct significant advances in our understanding of the radiation belts to the point of predictability is our ability to represent the nature of the magnetospheric processes controlling belt dynamics with sufficient accuracy to establish which dominate. In relation to the case examined here it is to determine which process or processes can act to create a third Van Allen radiation belt morphology in September 2012 as reported by Baker et al., (2013). As described in the main text of our Reply, and further expanded upon in the Supplementary Material presented here, we show that the original conclusion from Mann et al. (2016) remains valid. That is, a remnant belt and the third radiation belt morphology which arises following a subsequent flux recovery at higher L-shells, can be explained by the action of very fast outwards ULF wave radial diffusion associated with magnetopause shadowing. Contrary to the claims of the Comment by Shprits et al. (2017; hereafter S17), and the conclusions of modelling by Shprits et al. (2013; hereafter S13), the action of EMIC waves is not required.

Effect of Upstream ULF Waves on the Energetic Ion Diffusion at the Earth's Foreshock. I. Theory and Simulation

Abstract Field-aligned diffusion of energetic ions in the Earth’s foreshock is investigated by using the quasi-linear theory (QLT) and test particle simulation. Non-propagating MHD turbulence in the solar wind rest frame is assumed to be purely transverse with respect to the background field. We use a turbulence model based on a multi-power-law spectrum including an intense peak that corresponds to upstream ULF waves resonantly generated by the field-aligned beam (FAB). The presence of the ULF peak produces a concave shape of the diffusion coefficient when it is plotted versus the ion energy. The QLT including the effect of the ULF wave explains the simulation result well, when the energy density of the turbulent magnetic field is 1% of that of the background magnetic field and the power-law index of the wave spectrum is less than 2. The numerically obtained e-folding distances from 10 to 32 keV ions match with the observational values in the event discussed in the companion paper, which contains an intense ULF peak in the spectra generated by the FAB. Evolution of the power spectrum of the ULF waves when approaching the shock significantly affects the energy dependence of the e-folding distance.

Statistics of Extreme Time‐Integrated Geomagnetic Activity

AbstractA statistical analysis of the time‐integrated Dst index is performed over 1958–2007. The tail of the probability distribution of extreme time‐integrated Dst events, which occur during strong geomagnetic storms, can be precisely fitted by a power law function with upper cutoff, apparently not exceeded even by the 1859 Carrington event. This time‐integrated Dst is expected to be a reasonable proxy for maximum densities of MeV electrons in the heart of the outer radiation belt, which are known to pose a serious threat to satellites. During such strong events, a correlation is found between the time‐integrated levels of various physical quantities, such as interplanetary magnetic field Bz, particle energy fluxes measured during injections in the magnetotail, geosynchronous ULF wave index, and geomagnetic activity in the inner magnetosphere, suggesting cumulative effects from successive disturbances.

Ring Current He Ion Control by Bounce Resonant ULF Waves

AbstractRing current energy He ion (∼65 keV to ∼520 keV) differential flux data from the Radiation Belt Storm Probe Ion Composition Experiment (RBSPICE) instrument aboard the Van Allan Probes spacecraft show considerable variability during quiet solar wind and geomagnetic time periods. Such variability is apparent from orbit to orbit (∼9 h) of the spacecraft and is observed to be ∼50–100% of the nominal flux. Using data from the Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS) instrument, also aboard the Van Allen Probes spacecraft, we identify that a dominant source of this variability is from ULF waveforms with periods of tens of seconds. These periods correspond to the bounce resonant timescales of the ring current He ions being measured by RBSPICE. A statistical survey using the particle and field data for one full spacecraft precession period (approximately 2 years) shows that the wave and He ion flux variations are generally anticorrelated, suggesting the bounce resonant pitch angle scattering process as a major component in the scattering of He ions.

Ultralow Frequency Waves Deep Inside the Inner Magnetosphere Driven by Dipolarizing Flux Bundles

AbstractDipolarizing flux bundles (DFBs) are small flux tubes (typical cross‐tail scale of 1–3 RE) in the nightside magnetosphere that have magnetic field more dipolar than the background. They are generated at or beyond 20 RE downtail and then travel earthward. Although DFBs usually stop before reaching the geosynchronous orbit (GEO), they may still transfer some portion of their energy into the inner magnetosphere by radiating ULF waves. We show the clearest evidence of this process, to date, using in situ data from a fleet of spacecraft and ground stations. We illustrate that a typical DFB stopped before reaching GEO but excited Pi2 waves that filled a volume of space extending from the plasma sheet to deep inside the plasmasphere. This event provides the first in situ, direct link between stopped DFBs and ULF waves deep inside the inner magnetosphere (as deep as L = 3). The waves were attenuated when traveling away from the DFB, but even at L = 3 (XGSM = −2.2), they were still traveling with a significant earthward Poynting flux. In addition, we observed evidence of interaction between these waves and electrons at GEO.

Structure and Properties of the Foreshock at Venus

AbstractThe interaction of the solar wind with Venus is dominated by the planet's ionosphere that acts as an obstacle to the flow resulting in an induced magnetosphere and bow shock much smaller than their terrestrial counterparts. This study presents a 3‐D electromagnetic hybrid (kinetic ions and fluid electrons) simulation of the solar wind interaction with an unmagnetized obstacle to examine the structure and properties of the Cytherean foreshock during periods of near radial IMF, that is, when it lies upstream of the ionosphere. The interaction between the backstreaming ions and the solar wind results in the generation of two classes of ULF waves: (1) parallel propagating sinusoidal waves with periods ~20–30 s and (2) highly oblique fast magnetosonic waves. The joint nonlinear evolution of these waves results in the formation of structures called foreshock cavitons with dimensions comparable to the size of the planet. Foreshock cavitons are also present in the terrestrial foreshock. The excavation of plasma and magnetic field from their cores leads to lower average densities and magnetic field strengths in the foreshock. As in the case of Earth, this excavation results in the formation of a fast magnetosonic pulse/shock at the edge of the foreshock named the foreshock compressional boundary. Also similar to Earth is the formation of spontaneous hot flow anomalies (SHFAs) as foreshock cavitons approach the bow shock. The size and properties of SHFAs at Venus are comparable to those at Earth, and their existence has recently been established at Mars and Venus in a companion paper.

Periodic Emission Within Jupiter's Main Auroral Oval

AbstractWe have discovered pulsating emission within Jupiter's main auroral oval, providing evidence of the auroral signature of Jovian ULF wave processes. The form comprises a 1° × 2° spot located directly on the main emission, whose intensity oscillates with a period of ∼10 min throughout the 45 min observation. The feature appears on the duskward edge of the discontinuity, maps to ∼13–14 h LT and ∼20–50 RJ, and rotates at around a half of rigid corotation. We show that the period of the oscillation is similar to the expected Alfvén travel time between the ionosphere and the upper edge of the equatorial plasma sheet in the middle magnetosphere, and we thus suggest that the pulsating aurora is driven by a mode confined to the low‐density region outside the plasma sheet. This significant new observation shows that Jupiter's auroras present an important remote sensing window on Jovian magnetospheric wave processes.

Relativistic electron dynamics produced by azimuthally localized poloidal mode ULF waves: Boomerang‐shaped pitch angle evolutions

AbstractWe present an analysis of “boomerang‐shaped” pitch angle evolutions of outer radiation belt relativistic electrons observed by the Van Allen Probes after the passage of an interplanetary shock on 7 June 2014. The flux at different pitch angles is modulated by Pc5 waves, with equatorially mirroring electrons reaching the satellite first. For 90° pitch angle electrons, the phase change of the flux modulations across energy exceeds 180° and increasingly tilts with time. Using estimates of the arrival time of particles of different pitch angles at the spacecraft location, a scenario is investigated in which shock‐induced ULF waves interact with electrons through the drift resonance mechanism in a localized region westward of the spacecraft. Numerical calculations on particle energy gain with the modified ULF wavefield reproduce the observed boomerang stripes and modulations in the electron energy spectrogram. The study of boomerang stripes and their relationship to drift resonance taking place at a location different from the observation point adds new understanding of the processes controlling the dynamics of the outer radiation belt.

Non-resonant instability of coupled Alfvén and drift compressional modes in magnetospheric plasma

A new mechanism of generation of the high-m compressional ULF waves in the magnetosphere is considered. It is suggested that the wave can be generated by the non-resonant instability of coupled Alfvén and drift compressional modes in the energetic component of the magnetospheric plasma. A stability analysis of the of the coupled modes in the inhomogeneous finite-β plasma in the dipole-like field in gyrokinetics is performed. A quadratic equation was obtained that determines mode frequency and the growth rate. The frequencies of both modes depend on the azimuthal wave number, m. The branches are merged at some critical m value, forming a mode with both real and imaginary parts of the wave frequency. This mode is amplified due to the instability called the drift coupling instability. The instability criterion was found. Its growth rate is determined by the mode coupling.

Phase relationship between ULF waves and drift‐bounce resonant ions: A statistical study

AbstractWe explore the phase relationship between the poloidal mode ULF wave electric field oscillations and drift‐bounce resonant oxygen ions under the resonant condition of N = 2 at the magnetic equator. Using Cluster data from 2001 to 2004, we identify 55 fundamental poloidal mode wave events, among which 42 show “negative slope” pitch angle dispersion signatures in the southern hemisphere, 11 show “positive slope” dispersion in the northern hemisphere, and two near‐equatorial events are associated with in‐phase field‐aligned signatures. For each event, the off‐equatorial resonant ions are traced along their bouncing trajectories to determine the last time they moved across the equator. The resulting time series of the resonant oxygen ion fluxes at the equator are found to be statistically in antiphase with the wave electric fields. The resonant ion flux variation depends on both ion energy change and radial transportation. This antiphase relationship in statistics suggests two possibilities: (1) the fundamental poloidal mode wave electric fields are generally characterized by electric field intensity peaking near the magnetic equator if the flux variation is mainly caused by energy change and (2) the radial gradient of phase space density is positive if the flux variation caused by radial transportation is dominant.

Ionospheric Alfvén resonator and aurora: Modeling of MICA observations

AbstractWe present results from a numerical study of small‐scale, intense magnetic field‐aligned currents observed in the vicinity of the discrete auroral arc by the Magnetosphere‐Ionosphere Coupling in the Alfvén Resonator (MICA) sounding rocket launched from Poker Flat, Alaska, on 19 February 2012. The goal of the MICA project was to investigate the hypothesis that such currents can be produced inside the ionospheric Alfvén resonator by the ionospheric feedback instability (IFI) driven by the system of large‐scale magnetic field‐aligned currents interacting with the ionosphere. The trajectory of the MICA rocket crossed two discrete auroral arcs and detected packages of intense, small‐scale currents at the edges of these arcs, in the most favorable location for the development of the ionospheric feedback instability, predicted by the IFI theory. Simulations of the reduced MHD model derived in the dipole magnetic field geometry with realistic background parameters confirm that IFI indeed generates small‐scale ULF waves inside the ionospheric Alfvén resonator with frequency, scale size, and amplitude showing a good, quantitative agreement with the observations. The comparison between numerical results and observations was performed by “flying” a virtual MICA rocket through the computational domain, and this comparison shows that, for example, the waves generated in the numerical model have frequencies in the range from 0.30 to 0.45 Hz, and the waves detected by the MICA rocket have frequencies in the range from 0.18 to 0.50 Hz.

ULF wave analysis and radial diffusion calculation using a global MHD model for the 17 March 2013 and 2015 storms

AbstractThe 17 March 2015 St. Patrick's Day Storm is the largest geomagnetic storm to date of Solar Cycle 24, with a Dst of −223 nT. The magnetopause moved inside geosynchronous orbit under high solar wind dynamic pressure and strong southward interplanetary magnetic field Bz causing loss; however, a subsequent drop in pressure allowed for rapid rebuilding of the radiation belts. The 17 March 2013 storm also shows similar effects on outer zone electrons: first, a rapid dropout due to inward motion of the magnetopause followed by rapid increase in flux above the prestorm level early in the recovery phase and a slow increase over the next 12 days. These phases can be seen in temporal evolution of the electron phase space density measured by the Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma Suite (ECT) instruments on Van Allen Probes. Using the Lyon‐Fedder‐Mobarry global MHD model driven by upstream solar wind measurements, we simulated both St. Patrick's Day 2013 and 2015 events, analyzing Lyon‐Fedder‐Mobarry electric and magnetic fields to calculate radial diffusion coefficients. These coefficients have been implemented in a radial diffusion code, using the measured electron phase space density following the local heating as the initial radial profile and outer boundary condition for subsequent temporal evolution over the next 12 days, beginning 18 March. Agreement with electron phase space density at 1000 MeV/G measured by the MagEIS component of the ECT instrument suite on Van Allen Probes was much improved using radial diffusion coefficients from the MHD simulations relative to coefficients parameterized by a global geomagnetic activity index.

Global ULF waves generated by a hot flow anomaly

AbstractHot flow anomalies (HFAs), which are frequently observed near Earth's bow shock, are phenomena resulting from the interaction between interplanetary discontinuities and Earth's bow shock. Such transient phenomena upstream the bow shock can cause significant deformation of the bow shock and the magnetosphere, generating traveling convection vortices, field‐aligned currents, and ULF waves in the Earth's magnetosphere. A large HFA (4.9 RE) was observed by Cluster on 27 April 2008. Nearly monochromatic Pc 3 ULF waves generated by the HFA were observed by multiple spacecrafts and ground stations. The ULF waves show characteristics of standing Alfvén waves. The wave power of the poloidal mode of the generated ULF waves is stronger than that of the toroidal mode. Polarization rotation from the poloidal mode to the toroidal mode is also observed. The Pc 3 ULF waves generated by the HFA were observed at dawn, noon, dusk sectors, and nightside, indicating that the Pc 3 ULF wave response of the magnetosphere to the HFA is global. Our results show that the impact of HFAs to the magnetosphere is much stronger than what we thought before.

Unusual refilling of the slot region between the Van Allen radiation belts from November 2004 to January 2005

AbstractUsing multisatellite measurements, a uniquely strong and long‐lived relativistic electron slot region refilling event from November 2004 to January 2005 is investigated. This event occurred under remarkable interplanetary and magnetospheric conditions. Both empirically modeled and observationally estimated plasmapause locations demonstrate that the plasmasphere eroded significantly prior to the enhancement phase of this event. The estimated diffusion coefficients indicate that the radial diffusion due to ULF waves is insufficient to account for the observed enhancement of slot region electrons. However, the diffusion coefficients evaluated using the distribution of chorus wave intensities derived from low‐altitude POES electron observations indicate that the local acceleration induced by chorus could account for the major feature of observed enhancement outside the plasmapause. When the plasmasphere recovered, the refilled slot region was enveloped inside the plasmapause. In the plasmasphere, while the efficiency of hiss scattering loss increases by including unusually low frequency hiss waves, the interaction with hiss alone cannot fully explain the decay of this event, especially at higher energies, which suggests that electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves contribute to the relativistic electron loss process at such low L shells for this refilling event. Through a comprehensive analysis on the basis of data analyses and numerical calculations, the present study sheds light on the underlying physics responsible for the unusual slot refilling by relativistic electrons, which exhibits the complexity of both radiation belt electron dynamics and associated wave‐particle interactions.

Equatorward propagating auroral arcs driven by ULF wave activity: Multipoint ground‐ and space‐based observations in the dusk sector auroral oval

AbstractObservations of multiple equatorward propagating arcs driven by a resonant Alfvén wave on closed field lines are presented. Data sets from the European Incoherent Scatter Svalbard Radar (ESR) and Meridian Scanning Photometer in Longyearbyen, All‐Sky Camera in Ny Ålesund, ground magnetometer data in Svalbard, and Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F16 satellite were utilized to study the arc structures. The arcs had an equatorward phase propagation of ~0.46 km s−1 and were observed in the dusk ionosphere from 1800 to 2030 magnetic local time. Analysis of the optical data indicates that the Alfvén wave had a frequency of 1.63 mHz and an azimuthal wave number, m ~ −20 (the negative sign indicating a westward propagation). Inverted‐V electron populations associated with field‐aligned currents of between 0.5 and 0.8 μA m−2 are observed by DMSP F16 inside the arc structures. In addition to electron density enhancements associated with the arcs, the ESR data show elevated ion temperatures in between the arcs consistent with electric field enhancements and ionospheric heating effects. The combination of ESR and DMSP F16 data indicates that the wave energy was dissipated through ionospheric Joule and/or ion frictional heating and acceleration of particles into the ionosphere, generating the auroral displays. The fine‐scale structuring, in addition to the propagation direction and scale size, would suggest that the auroral features are the signatures of a field line resonance driven by an interaction with a compressional fast mode wave propagating earthward from the magnetotail.

Scaling laws for the inner structure of the radiation belts

AbstractAccurately modeling the evolution of the electron radiation belts within the plasmasphere represents both an imperative goal for space weather forecasting and a great challenge. Combining previously developed approximate analytical expressions of electron lifetimes with recent statistical models of plasma density, ULF, whistler‐mode, and electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves, we demonstrate that geomagnetic activity and plasma density actually govern the inner structure of the radiation belts through several simple analytical scaling laws when Kp < 3. Many of the observed characteristic features of electron fluxes in the energy versus L shell parameter space are straightforwardly explained. In particular, the upper energy limit of significant electron fluxes at L = 1.5 is estimated as ∼1 MeV in agreement with recent satellite observations. This approximate analytical model represents a very simple and powerful tool for exploring and better understanding the complex variations of the inner structure of the radiation belts with geomagnetic activity during relatively quiet times.