K. H. Yearby

Global model of lower band and upper band chorus from multiple satellite observations

Gyroresonant wave particle interactions with whistler mode chorus play a fundamental role in the dynamics of the Earth’s radiation belts and inner magnetosphere, affecting both the acceleration and loss of radiation belt electrons. Knowledge of the variability of chorus wave power as a function of both spatial location and geomagnetic activity, required for the computation of pitch angle and energy diffusion rates, is thus a critical input for global radiation belt models. Here we present a global model of lower band (0.1fce < f < 0.5fce) and upper band (0.5fce < f < fce) chorus, where fce is the local electron gyrofrequency, using data from five satellites, extending the coverage and improving the statistics of existing models. From the plasmapause out to L* = 10 the chorus emissions are found to be largely substorm dependent with the largest intensities being seen during active conditions. Equatorial lower band chorus is strongest during active conditions with peak intensities of the order 2000 pT2 in the region 4 < L* < 9 between 2300 and 1200 MLT. Equatorial upper band chorus is both weaker and less extensive with peak intensities of the order a few hundred pT2 during active conditions between 2300 and 1100 MLT from L* = 3 to L* = 7. Moving away from the equator midlatitude chorus is strongest in the lower band during active conditions with peak intensities of the order 2000 pT2 in the region 4 < L* < 9 but is restricted to the dayside between 0700 and 1400 MLT.

The Digital Wave-Processing Experiment on Cluster

The wide variety of geophysical plasmas that will be investigated by the Cluster mission contain waves with a frequency range from DC to over 100 kHz with both magnetic and electric components. The characteristic duration of these waves extends from a few milliseconds to minutes and a dynamic range of over 90 dB is desired. All of these factors make it essential that the on-board control system for the Wave-Experiment Consortium (WEC) instruments be flexible so as to make effective use of the limited spacecraft resources of power and telemetry-information bandwidth. The Digital Wave Processing Experiment, (DWP), will be flown on Cluster satellites as a component of the WEC. DWP will coordinate WEC measurements as well as perform particle correlations in order to permit the direct study of wave/particle interactions. The DWP instrument employs a novel architecture based on the use of transputers with parallel processing and re-allocatable tasks to provide a high-reliability system. Members of the DWP team are also providing sophisticated electrical ground support equipment, for use during development and testing by the WEC. This is described further in Pedersen et al. (this issue).

In situ and ground‐based intercalibration measurements of plasma density at L = 2.5

[1] Two independent ground-based experiments and two satellite-borne experiments are used to interpret the changes in plasmaspheric composition at the same point in space during moderate geomagnetic activity on 22 January and 14 February 2001. Mass density at L = 2.5 was determined from an array of magnetometers on the Antarctic Peninsula, while the electron number density along the same flux tube was determined from analysis of the group delay of man-made VLF transmissions from north-east America. The IMAGE satellite RPI experiment provided in situ measurements of the electron number density in passing the equatorial region of the same field line, while the EUV Imager experiment was able to resolve the He+ abundance by looking back toward the same place a few hours later. On 22 January 2001 all measurements were consistent with a moderately disturbed plasmasphere. On 14 February 2001 there appeared to be a significant response of the plasmasphere to the moderate (Kp = 5) activity levels. Both the electron number density and the mass density determined from the ground-based experiments were markedly higher than on 22 January 2001. Also, the IMAGE RPI gave a markedly lower electron number density than did the ground-based data; this is explained by differences in the longitude at which the measurements were made and the presence of localized plasmaspheric structures. At Antarctic Peninsula longitudes a He+ column abundance value of 6 × 1010 cm-2 is found to be equivalent to plasmaspheric electron density levels of 3000 cm-3 at L = 2.5. For these conditions the He+ mass abundance was about 12–16% compared with H+. Both decreases and increases in the He+ column abundance measured by the EUV Imager appear to be linearly correlated to changes in the percentage occurrence of He+ as determined from a combination of ground-based VLF and ULF observations.

Temporal properties of magnetospheric line radiation

Magnetospheric line radiation (MLR) events are relatively narrowband VLF signals that sometimes drift in frequency and have been observed in both ground-based and satellite data sets. We present the results of a survey undertaken on the basis of measurements made of MLR events observed at Halley, Antarctica (75°30′S, 26°54′W, L ≈ 4.3), in June, July, September, and December 1995, specifically looking at the temporal properties of Halley MLR events. We find that (1) single MLR lines described in previous papers tend to be comprised of up to 3 lines with widths of 5–10 Hz. (2) The multiple lines show highly variable spacings (e.g., 6), which affects only 8% of the total MLR events in this study. For smaller storms, there is little effect, although MLR events tend not to occur when the geomagnetic activity has been quiet in the previous 48 hours. (7) There is no dependence of MLR occurrence rates upon the instantaneous levels of geomagnetic activity. (8) The average duration of a typical MLR event at Halley is ∼ 30 min, quite similar to previous reports.

Magnetospheric line radiation observations at Halley, Antarctica

Magnetospheric line Radiation (MLR) events are relatively narrowband VLF signals that sometimes drift in frequency, and have been observed in both ground based and satellite data sets. Line radiation has been attributed by some authors to be power line harmonic radiation (PLHR), generated from harmonics of the power transmission frequency (50 or 60 Hz) and radiated into the ionosphere and magnetosphere by long power lines. We present the result of a survey undertaken on the basis of measurements made of MLR events observed at Halley station, Antarctica (75°30′S, 26°54′W, L ≈ 4.3) in part of June 1995. Particular attention is given to the frequency spacing, drift rates, and amplitude of the MLR lines. MLR is present in 7.0% of the minute-long VLF recordings made at Halley. The MLR lines rise in frequency as often as they fall. However, these lines do not necessarily rise or fall monotonically and can oscillate while drifting. The Halley MLR has a wide range of line spacings and does not preferentially show spacings near harmonics of electrical transmission frequencies, either 50 Hz or 60 Hz. There is no correlation between the frequency drifts of the local 50 Hz Halley electrical supply and those of the observed MLR lines. The distribution of MLR line spacings observed in the Halley data has a roughly exponential form, suggesting a different mechanism for MLR than for PLHR.

The polarisation of whistlers received on the ground near L = 4

The observed polarisation of the horizontal magnetic components of whistler mode signals received at Halley, Antarctica (L≈ 4.3), is in many cases that expected from a simple model of the transionospheric and sub-ionospheric propagation in the southern hemisphere; i.e. right-hand elliptical (field vectors rotate clockwise, looking towards the source) for ionospheric exit points close to the receiver, tending towards linear for more distant exit points. This suggests it may be possible to use the observed polarisation to estimate the propagation distance. However, in other cases, in certain frequency ranges, left-hand elliptically polarised signals have been observed. More realistic models do predict polarisation reversals at certain frequencies and exit point to receiver distances, but not over such a wide frequency range as has sometimes been observed. Also, in some cases, signals with nearly right-hand circular polarisation have been observed for exit points at large distances where linear polarisation would be expected.

Power line harmonic radiation in Newfoundland

Abstract Recent research strongly suggests that harmonic radiation from electrical power distribution networks in industrialized regions (PHLR) has a significant effect on the occurrence of VLF waves and the energetic electron population in the inner magnetosphere, particularly in the American longitude sector. We have measured the PLHR power radiated into the magnetosphere from typical high voltage power transmission lines in Newfoundland due to unbalanced currents flowing in the lines which return through the ground, at harmonics of 60 Hz up to 4.5 kHz. From measurements of the induced a.c. magnetic field at distances from the lines both small and large compared to the skin depth (typically 1 km at 1 kHz), we have been able to estimate both the amplitudes of these unbalanced harmonic currents (~ 1 mA for frequencies 1–4 kHz) and the radiation efficiency of the lines considered as transmitting aerials. We estimate PLHR radiated powers of order 0.05–0.5 μW per transmission line in a 1 kHz bandwidth around 3.2 kHz. This is probably much too small to stimulate magnetospheric emissions but we expect considerably greater radiated powers in other locations where there are strong single sources of 60 Hz harmonics and also in areas where the power consumption density and hence density of power lines is greater.

Experimental determination of the dispersion relation of magnetosonic waves

Magnetosonic waves are commonly observed in the vicinity of the terrestrial magnetic equator. It has been proposed that within this region they may interact with radiation belt electrons, accelerating some to high energies. These wave-particle interactions depend upon the characteristic properties of the wave mode. Hence, determination of the wave properties is a fundamental part of understanding these interaction processes. Using data collected during the Cluster Inner Magnetosphere Campaign, this paper identifies an occurrence of magnetosonic waves, discusses their generation and propagation properties from a theoretical perspective, and utilizes multispacecraft measurements to experimentally determine their dispersion relation. Their experimental dispersion is found to be in accordance with that based on cold plasma theory.

Statistical study of chorus wave distributions in the inner magnetosphere using Ae and solar wind parameters

Energetic electrons within the Earths radiation belts represent a serious hazard to geostationary satellites. The interactions of electrons with chorus waves play an important role in both the acceleration and loss of radiation belt electrons. The common approach is to present model wave distributions in the inner magnetosphere under different values of geomagnetic activity as expressed by the geomagnetic indices. However, it has been shown that only around 50% of geomagnetic storms increase flux of relativistic electrons at geostationary orbit while 20% causes a decrease and the remaining 30% has relatively no effect. This emphasizes the importance of including solar wind parameters such as bulk velocity (V), density (n), flow pressure (P), and the vertical interplanetary magnetic field component (Bz) that are known to be predominately effective in the control of high energy fluxes at the geostationary orbit. Therefore, in the present study the set of parameters of the wave distributions is expanded to include the solar wind parameters in addition to the geomagnetic activity. The present study examines almost 4 years (1 January 2004 to 29 September 2007) of Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Field Fluctuation data from Double Star TC1 combined with geomagnetic indices and solar wind parameters from OMNI database in order to present a comprehensive model of wave magnetic field intensities for the chorus waves as a function of magnetic local time, L shell (L), magnetic latitude (λm), geomagnetic activity, and solar wind parameters. Generally, the results indicate that the intensity of chorus emission is not only dependent upon geomagnetic activity but also dependent on solar wind parameters with velocity and southward interplanetary magnetic field Bs (Bz < 0), evidently the most influential solar wind parameters. The largest peak chorus intensities in the order of 50 pT are observed during active conditions, high solar wind velocities, low solar wind densities, high pressures, and high Bs. The average chorus intensities are more extensive and stronger for lower band chorus than the corresponding upper band chorus.

Bandwidths and amplitudes of chorus-like banded emissions measured by the TC-1 Double Star spacecraft

Characteristics of banded whistler-mode emissions are derived from a database of chorus-like events obtained from the complete data set of the wave measurements provided by the Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Field Fluctuation-Digital Wave Processing (STAFF-DWP) wave instrument on board the TC-1 Double Star spacecraft. Our study covers the full operational period of this spacecraft (almost 4 years). Our entire data set has been collected within 30◦ of geomagnetic latitude at L shells between 2 and 12 and below 4 kHz. All events have been processed automatically to accurately determine their power spectral density (PSD), bandwidth, and amplitude. We found most cases of chorus-like banded emissions at L≤10 on the dawnside and dayside. The upper band emissions (above one half of the equatorial electron cyclotron frequency) occur almost 20 times less often than the lower band, and their average amplitude is almost 3 times smaller than for the lower band. Intense upper band emissions cover smaller L shell, magnetic local time (MLT), and magnetic latitudes regions than intense lower band emissions. The intense nightside and dawnside chorus-like banded emissions were observed at low magnetic latitudes, while the intense dayside and duskside emissions were mostly found at higher magnetic latitudes. The amplitudes of dayside lower band waves slightly increase as they propagate away from the geomagnetic equator and are smaller than chorus amplitudes on nightside and dawnside. The PSD, the amplitude of the lower band, its frequency bandwidth, and its occurrence rate significantly increase with increasing geomagnetic activity, while all these parameters for the upper band are not so strongly dependent on the geomagnetic activity.