J. W. Gjerloev

Geotail observations of magnetic flux ropes in the plasma sheet

[1] Examination of Geotail measurements in the near-tail (X > � 30 RE) has revealed the presence of small flux ropes in the plasma sheet. A total of 73 flux rope events were identified in the Geotail magnetic field measurements between November 1998 and April 1999. This corresponds to an estimated occurrence frequency of � 1 flux rope per 5 hours of central plasma sheet observing time. All of the flux ropes were embedded within high-speed plasma sheet flows with 35 directed Earthward, hVxi = 431 km/s, and 38 moving tailward, hVxi = � 451 km/s. We refer to these two populations as ‘‘BBF-type’’ and ‘‘plasmoid-type’’ flux ropes. The flux ropes were usually several tens of seconds in duration, and the two types were readily distinguished by the sense of their quasisinusoidal Bz perturbations, i.e., � for the ‘‘BBF’’ events and ± for the ‘‘plasmoid’’ events. Most typically, a flux rope was observed to closely follow the onset of a high-speed flow within � 1–2 min. Application of the Lepping-Burlaga constant-a flux rope model (i.e., J = aB) to these events showed that approximately 60% of each class could be acceptably described as cylindrical, force-free flux ropes. The modeling results yielded mean flux rope diameters and core field intensities of 1.4 RE and 20 nT and 4.4 RE and 14 nT for the BBF and plasmoid-type events, respectively. The inclinations of the flux ropes were small relative to the GSM X–Y plane, but a wide range of azimuthal orientations were determined within that plane. The frequent presence of these flux ropes in the plasma sheet is interpreted as strong evidence for multiple reconnection X-lines (MRX) in the near-tail. Hence, our results suggest that reconnection in the near-tail may closely resemble that at the dayside magnetopause where MRX reconnection has been hypothesized to be responsible for the generation of flux transfer events. INDEX TERMS: 2740 Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetospheric configuration and dynamics; 2764 Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma sheet; 2744 Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetotail; 2788 Magnetospheric Physics: Storms and substorms

Field‐aligned currents' scale analysis performed with the Swarm constellation

We present a statistical study of the temporal- and spatial-scale characteristics of different field-aligned current (FAC) types derived with the Swarm satellite formation. We divide FACs into two classes: small-scale, up to some 10 km, which are carried predominantly by kinetic Alfven waves, and large-scale FACs with sizes of more than 150 km. For determining temporal variability we consider measurements at the same point, the orbital crossovers near the poles, but at different times. From correlation analysis we obtain a persistent period of small-scale FACs of order 10 s, while large-scale FACs can be regarded stationary for more than 60 s. For the first time we investigate the longitudinal scales. Large-scale FACs are different on dayside and nightside. On the nightside the longitudinal extension is on average 4 times the latitudinal width, while on the dayside, particularly in the cusp region, latitudinal and longitudinal scales are comparable.

A Global Ground-Based Magnetometer Initiative

With the motto “Knowledge is the common wealth of humanity,” the 2007–2008 Electronic Geophysical Year (eGY) advocated that scientists have the responsibility to create and implement strategies that utilize the full potential of digital capabilities in providing information for present and future generations. Although eGY has officially ended, the geomagnetic research community continues to support the goals of eGY through a global ground-based magnetometer initiative. This initiative, called SuperMAG, helps scientists have easy access to measurements of the Earths magnetic field.

Height‐integrated conductivity in auroral substorms: 1. Data

We present height-integrated Hall and Pedersen conductivity (conductance) calculations from 31 individual Dynamics Explorer 2 (DE 2) substorm crossings. All are northern hemisphere (except one) nighttime passes which took place from September 1981 to January 1982. Global auroral images are used to select substorms which display a typical bulge-type auroral emission pattern and to organize the position of individual DE 2 passes with respect to key features in the emission pattern. The Hall and Pedersen conductances are calculated from electron precipitation data obtained by the low altitude plasma instrument (LAPI) carried on DE 2 and the monoenergetic conductance model by Reiff [1984]. This method is shown to effectively minimize undesirable smearing of parameters in statistical substorm studies. Large spatial gradients in the conductance profiles are common in high-latitude part of the premidnight substorm region. The conductances maximizes in the high-latitude part of the surge with average Hall and Pedersen conductances of 38 and 18 mho respectively. During six different DE 2 passes we found Hall conductance peaks exceeding 100 mho in the high-latitude part of the surge or surge horn. These peaks are highly localized with a typical scale size of ∼20 km and are associated with energetic (>10 keV) inverted V events. Except in the low-latitude part of the auroral oval the Hall to Pedersen ratio equals or exceeds 1.0, and it peaks in the high-latitude part of the surge where values of 3 or more are common. The latitudinal conductance profiles are strongly asymmetric and have a pronounced local time dependency.

Spatial structure and temporal evolution of energetic particle injections in the inner magnetosphere during the 14 July 2013 substorm event

Recent results by the Van Allen Probes mission showed that the occurrence of energetic ion injections inside geosynchronous orbit could be very frequent throughout the main phase of a geomagnetic storm. Understanding, therefore, the formation and evolution of energetic particle injections is critical in order to quantify their effect in the inner magnetosphere. We present a case study of a substorm event that occurred during a weak storm (Dst ~ −40 nT) on 14 July 2013. Van Allen Probe B, inside geosynchronous orbit, observed two energetic proton injections within 10 min, with different dipolarization signatures and duration. The first one is a dispersionless, short-timescale injection pulse accompanied by a sharp dipolarization signature, while the second one is a dispersed, longer-timescale injection pulse accompanied by a gradual dipolarization signature. We combined ground magnetometer data from various stations and in situ particle and magnetic field data from multiple satellites in the inner magnetosphere and near-Earth plasma sheet to determine the spatial extent of these injections, their temporal evolution, and their effects in the inner magnetosphere. Our results indicate that there are different spatial and temporal scales at which injections can occur in the inner magnetosphere and depict the necessity of multipoint observations of both particle and magnetic field data in order to determine these scales.

The large-scale current system during auroral substorms

We present an empirical model of the equivalent current system in the ionosphere during the peak of a classical bulge-type auroral substorm. This model is derived from measurements made by ~110 ground magnetometer stations during 116 substorms. The data are temporally and spatially organized using global auroral images obtained by the Polar Visible Imaging System Earth Camera. The empirical equivalent current system displays three key features: a poleward shift of the westward electrojet connecting the postmidnight and premidnight components; a polar cap swirl; and significantly different magnitudes of the postmidnight and premidnight westward electrojets. This leads us to propose a two-wedge current system linking the ionosphere to the magnetosphere. The bulge current wedge is located in the premidnight region just equatorward of the open-closed field line boundary while another three-dimensional current system is located in the postmidnight region well within the auroral oval. We use Biot and Savart calculations and Tsyganenko mapping and show that this new model is a likely solution for the large-scale current system.

The convection electric field in auroral substorms

Dynamics Explorer 2 (DE 2) electric field and ion drift data are used in a statistical study of the ionospheric convection electric field in bulge-type auroral substorms. Thirty-one individual DE 2 substorm crossings were carefully selected and organized by the use of global auroral images obtained by DE 1. The selected passes, which occurred during substorm expansion phase, maximum, or early recovery phase, cover the entire nighttime substorm. The organization of the data used the method developed by Fujii et al. [1994], which divided the data into six local time sectors covering the nighttime substorm region. Following the procedures employed in the paper by Gjerloev and Hoffman [2000b], the latitudinal width and location of each auroral oval crossing was then adjusted to fit the sector average. In addition to the detailed study of the characteristics of the field within each sector this database enabled us to compile a model of the ionospheric convection electric field. The characteristics of the premidnight convection reversal show a pronounced local time dependency. Far west of the surge it is a fairly well defined point reversal or convection shear. Approaching the surge and within the surge it is a region of weak electric fields increasing in width toward midnight that separates regions of equatorward and poleward electric fields. Therefore we adopt the term Harang region rather than the Harang discontinuity for the premidnight convection reversal. A relatively narrow convection channel is coincident with the highest conductances located just poleward of the Harang region. This channel drives the substorm current wedge component of the westward electrojet in the surge and middle surge sectors. It is present in all premidnight passes and consequently is an integral part of the three-dimensional substorm current wedge system.

Height‐integrated conductivity in auroral substorms: 2. Modeling

Calculations of height-integrated conductivity from 31 individual Dynamics Explorer (DE 2) substorm crossings presented by Gjerloev and Hoffman [this issue] are used to compile empirical models of the height-integrated Pedersen and Hall conductivities (conductances) in a bulge-type auroral substorm. Global auroral images obtained by Dynamics Explorer 1 (DE 1) were used to select substorms displaying a typical bulge-type emission pattern and each individual DE 2 pass was positioned with respect to key features in the observed emission pattern. The conductances were calculated for each DE 2 pass using electron precipitation data and a monoenergetic conductance model. All passes were divided into six different sectors, and average conductance profiles were carefully deduced for each of these sectors. Using a simple boxcar filter, smoothed average sector passes were calculated and from linear interpolation between these, two-dimensional conductance models were compiled. The characteristics of our models are (1) the Hall conductance maximizes in the high-latitude part of the surge at 48 mho with a Hall to Pedersen ratio of 2.4; (2) two channels of enhanced conductance are overlapping in local time near midnight and are fairly separated in latitude; (3) the conductance has a sharp gradient at the high-latitude boundary in the premidnight sector while in the postmidnight sector a broad region of low conductance stretches up to 10° invariant latitude poleward of the local peak; and finally, (4) the enhanced conductance region displays a characteristic broadening toward dawn primarily owing to a poleward shift of the high-latitude boundary.

Typical auroral substorm: A bifurcated oval

[1] Utilizing global auroral images obtained by Polar Visible Imaging System Earth Camera, we have analyzed the UV emissions from 116 auroral substorms. The events selected were fairly isolated and had to expand from a localized onset. It was found that essentially all auroral events fulfilling these simple criteria expand into the Akasofu (1964) bulge-type aurora. Averaged auroral emission patterns were compiled for 11 time steps of the substorm covering 20 min prior to the onset until well into the recovery phase. This compilation required a three-step normalization technique, one temporal based on the expansion time and two spatial, magnetic local time and latitude. These average patterns were then fit to either a single or double Gaussian distribution in latitude for each of 24 magnetic local times. On the basis of this analysis we made the following conclusions. The normalization technique is highly efficient in maintaining the key features in the individual auroral emission patterns, even though the individual events varied significantly in intensity, size, position, and lifetime. Thus our normalization results quantitatively validate the Akasofu (1964) assumption that key auroral features exist in the bulge-type auroral substorm. After the substorm onset the auroral oval becomes clearly bifurcated consisting of two components: the oval aurora in the latitude range of the preonset oval and expanding primarily eastward postmidnight, and the bulge aurora, which emerges out of the oval, expanding poleward and both east and west in MLT. The oval aurora decay faster than the bulge emissions indicating that the decays have separate time constants. Owing to the pronounced difference in the spatiotemporal behavior of the two auroral components we suggest that their sources are quasi-independent.

A new technique for determining Substorm Onsets and Phases from Indices of the Electrojet (SOPHIE)

We present a new quantitative technique that determines the times and durations of substorm expansion and recovery phases and possible growth phases based on percentiles of the rate of change of auroral electrojet indices. By being able to prescribe different percentile values, we can determine the onset and duration of substorm phases for smaller or larger variations of the auroral index or indeed any auroral zone ground-based magnetometer data. We apply this technique to the SuperMAG AL (SML) index and compare our expansion phase onset times with previous lists of substorm onsets. We find that more than 50% of events in previous lists occur within 20 min of our identified onsets. We also present a comparison of superposed epoch analyses of SML based on our onsets identified by our technique and existing onset lists and find that the general characteristics of the substorm bay are comparable. By prescribing user-defined thresholds, this automated, quantitative technique represents an improvement over any visual identification of substorm onsets or indeed any fixed threshold method.