M. Nosé

Storm‐substorm relationship: Contribution of the tail current to Dst

The Dst index has been conventionally used as a measure of the storm intensity, which ideally assumes that the associated ground magnetic disturbance is caused by the ring current. The present study examines the contribution of the tail current to Dst, focusing on the occurrence of geosynchronous dipolarization close to the Dst minimum, in other words, the start of the storm recovery phase. The Sym-H (referred to as Dst(Sym-H) hereafter) index rather than the conventional Dst index is used because of its higher time resolution (1 min). For the June 1998 storm event, dipolarization started at two GOES satellites and the Geotail satellite in the near-Earth tail when Dst(Sym-H) reached its minimum. This result indicates that the source current was located outside of geosynchronous orbit, and therefore the recovery of Dst(Sym-H) can be attributed to the reduction of the tail current rather than the decay of the ring current. A statistical study based on 59 storm events (79 GOES events) confirms the tendency for geosynchronous magnetic field to dipolarize at the Dst(Sym-H) minimum. It is therefore highly likely that the Dst(Sym-H) minimum is misidentified as the start of the ring current (storm) decay at a time when the ring current may actually be intensifying owing to substorm-associated injection. From the magnitude of the Dst(Sym-H) recovery during the interval of geosynchronous dipolarization, the contribution of the tail current to Dst(Sym-H) at the Dst(Sym-H) minimum is estimated to be 20–25%. However, the contribution of the tail current may be even larger because the tail current may not return to preintensification levels and may continue to contribute to Dst(Sym-H) after dipolarization. The trigger of dipolarization (substorm) and the subsequent recovery of Dst(Sym-H) tend to take place in the course of the reduction of the southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) BZ. It is therefore suggested that the ring current (storm) recovers after the substorm since the magnetospheric convection weakens because of weaker southward IMF BZ.

Acceleration of oxygen ions of ionospheric origin in the near‐Earth magnetotail during substorms

Measurements from the suprathermal ion composition spectrometer (STICS) sensor of the energetic particle and ion composition (EPIC) instrument on the Geotail spacecraft were used to investigate dynamics of O+ ions of ionospheric origin at energies of 9 keV to 210 keV in the near-Earth plasma sheet during the substorm expansion phase. Substorm signatures were clearly observed on the ground at 1850 UT on May 17, 1995. In the expansion phase of this substorm, Geotail stayed in the plasma sheet at X∼−10.5 RE and observed a local dipolarization signature accompanied by strong disturbances of the magnetic field. From the energetic ion flux data of EPIC/STICS, we obtained the following results: (1) energetic flux enhancement was more pronounced for O+ than for H+; (2) the flux was enhanced almost simultaneously with local dipolarization; (3) the enhancement factor of O+ ions (EO+), which represents the enhancement of the O+ flux ratio (after and before substorm onset) relative to the H+ flux ratio, was as large as 1.31; and (4) thermal energy increased from 8.9 keV to 42.8 keV for O+ ions and from 9.4 keV to 15.9 keV for H+ ions. We also performed statistical analysis for 35 events of local dipolarization found in the near-Earth region (X∼−6 to −16 RE). We found that EO+ is larger than unity in all ranges of radial distance and that the average value of EO+ is 1.37. These results suggest that O+ ions are commonly more energized than H+ ions during the substorm expansion phase. To interpret these observational results, we propose a mechanism in which ions are accelerated in a non-adiabatic way during substorm-associated field reconfiguration.

Near-earth dipolarization : Evidence for a non-MHD process

We have investigated a near-Earth dipolarization event in the midnight sector using simultaneous observations of Polar and Geotail. We have found evidence for near-Earth dipolarization to be a non-MHD process: dipolarization occurring without significant plasma flow or with tailward flow and during dawnward electric field different from that inferred based on the frozen-in condition. These observations are inconsistent with the idea that dipolarization is an MHD process of magnetic flux pileup from braking of sunward plasma flow. Possible variances of the flow braking scenario are considered but none is satisfactory in accounting for the observed features. On the other hand, these findings are quite consistent with the expectations from the current disruption scenario.

Automated detection of Pi 2 pulsations using wavelet analysis: 1. Method and an application for substorm monitoring

Wavelet analysis is suitable for investigating waves, such as Pi 2 pulsations, which are limited in both time and frequency. We have developed an algorithm to detect Pi 2 pulsations by wavelet analysis. We tested the algorithm and found that the results of Pi 2 detection are consistent with those obtained by visual inspection. The algorithm is applied in a project which aims at the nowcasting of substorm onsets. In this project we use real-time geomagnetic field data, with a sampling rate of 1 second, obtained at mid- and low-latitude stations (Mineyama in Japan, the York SAMNET station in the U.K., and Boulder in the U.S.). These stations are each separated by about 120° in longitude, so at least one station is on the nightside at all times. We plan to analyze the real-time data at each station using the Pi 2 detection algorithm, and to exchange the detection results among these stations via the Internet. Therefore we can obtain information about substorm onsets in real-time, even if we are on the dayside. We have constructed a system to detect Pi 2 pulsations automatically at Mineyama observatory. The detection results for the period of February to August 1996 showed that the rate of successful detection of Pi 2 pulsations was 83.4% for the nightside (18-06MLT) and 26.5% for the dayside (06-18MLT). The detection results near local midnight (20-02MLT) give the rate of successful detection of 93.2%.

Determination of the substorm initiation region from a major conjunction interval of THEMIS satellites

[1] We investigate in detail the time history of substorm disturbances in the magnetotail observed during a major tail conjunction of Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) satellites on 29 January 2008, 0700―0900 UT. During this interval, all THEMIS satellites were closely aligned along the tail axis near midnight and were bracketed in local time by GOES 11 and 12. The radial distance covered ranges from the geosynchronous altitude to ∼30 R E in the tail. This interval consists of three activations detected by the THEMIS satellites with good ground all-sky-camera observations of auroral activity. The first activation is a small substorm with spatially limited disturbance in the tail. The onset arc was equatorward of an undisturbed arc. The second activation is a moderate size substorm with the onset arc also being equatorward of an undisturbed arc. The third activation is an intensification of the substorm with its onset indicated by the second activation. The active auroral arc for this intensification was near the poleward boundary of the auroral oval. Analysis of these observations indicates that the first activation is a small substorm initiated in the near-Earth plasma sheet and does not involve magnetic reconnection of open magnetic field lines. Magnetic reconnection on closed field lines can be ruled out for this substorm because it cannot generate the observed high-speed plasma flow. The second and third activations are part of a moderate size substorm initiated also in the near-Earth plasma sheet, with a subsequent substorm intensification involving activity initiated tailward of ∼30 R E . Overall, the time history of substorm activity for these two substorms is consistent with the near-Earth initiation model.

Ion composition of the near-Earth plasma sheet in storm and quiet intervals: Geotail/EPIC measurements

We investigate the ion composition of the near-Earth plasma sheet in storm and quiet intervals, using energetic (9-210 keV) particle flux data obtained by the suprathermal ion composition spectrometer (STICS) sensor of the energetic particle and ion composition (EPIC) instrument on the Geotail spacecraft. In 1998 four magnetic storms (minimum Dst -20 nT. The energy density of the H + , He + , and O + ions was computed from the EPIC/STICS data for these storm and quiet-time events. We obtained the following results: (1) The energy density is higher during storms than during quiet times for all ion species (H + , He + , and O + ); (2) the He + /H + energy density ratio during storms is 0.01-0.02, while that during quiet times is ∼0.01; and (3) the O + /H + energy density ratio is significantly larger during storms (0.2-0.6) than during quiet times (0.05-0.1). To explain these results we suggested a current sheet acceleration mechanism in which ions are energized by the dawn-to-dusk convection electric field in a mass-dependent way in the course of interaction with the current sheet.

Geotail observations of plasma sheet ion composition over 16 years: On variations of average plasma ion mass and O+ triggering substorm model

[1] We examined long-term variations of ion composition in the plasma sheet, using energetic (9.4-212.1 keV/e) ion flux data obtained by the suprathermal ion composition spectrometer (STICS) sensor of the energetic particle and ion composition (EPIC) instrument on board the Geotail spacecraft. EPIC/STICS observations are available from 17 October 1992 for more than 16 years, covering the declining phase of solar cycle 22, all of solar cycle 23, and the early phase of solar cycle 24. This unprecedented long-term data set revealed that (1) the He + /H + and O + /H + flux ratios in the plasma sheet were dependent on the F10.7 index; (2) the F10.7 index dependence is stronger for O + /H + than He + /H + ; (3) the 0 + /H + flux ratio is also weakly correlated with the ∑Kp index; and (4) the He 2+ /H + flux ratio in the plasma sheet appeared to show no long-term trend. From these results, we derived empirical equations related to plasma sheet ion composition and the F10.7 index and estimated that the average plasma ion mass changes from ∼1.1 amu during solar minimum to ∼2.8 amu during solar maximum. In such a case, the Alfven velocity during solar maximum decreases to ∼60% of the solar minimum value. Thus, physical processes in the plasma sheet are considered to be much different between solar minimum and solar maximum. We also compared long-term variation of the plasma sheet ion composition with that of the substorm occurrence rate, which is evaluated by the number of Pi2 pulsations. No correlation or negative correlation was found between them. This result contradicts the O + triggering substorm model, in which heavy ions in the plasma sheet increase the growth rate of the linear ion tearing mode and play an important role in localization and initiation of substorms. In contrast, O + ions in the plasma sheet may prevent occurrence of substorms.

Change of energetic ion composition in the plasma sheet during substorms

It has been reported by previous studies that the energetic particle flux of ions of ionospheric origin like O+ ions is more enhanced than that of H+ ions in the near-Earth tail (X ∼ −6 to −16 RE) during substorms. To explain this strong O+ flux enhancement, some studies have surmised that thermal O+ ions in the plasma sheet boundary layer or the lobe are strongly accelerated at the magnetic reconnection region (X ∼ −20 to −30 RE), and are subsequently transported into the near-Earth plasma sheet with earthward plasma flows. However, other studies have supposed that the strong O+ flux enhancement is caused by local magnetic field reconfiguration (local dipolarization). In the present study, we used Geotail/EPIC measurements of energetic (60 keV to 3.6 MeV) ion flux to test the above two scenarios. We investigated ion composition in the plasma sheet while earthward plasma flows and/or dipolarization signatures were observed. In terms of energy density ratio of oxygen ions to protons, the observational results can be summarized as follows: (1) earthward plasma flows without dipolarization signatures did not accompany large increases of the ratio in most cases; (2) when earthward plasma flows appeared with dipolarization signatures, they accompanied increases of the ratio; and (3) most of dipolarization events were associated with large increases of the ratio. These results suggest that the strong increase in the energetic oxygen constituent in the near-Earth plasma sheet is due to acceleration of ions during dipolarization, consistent with the latter scenario.

Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Rising Tone Emissions Observed by THEMIS Probes Outside the Plasmapause

We report observations of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) triggered emissions observed by the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) probes outside the plasmasphere. Although these phenomena have recently received much attention because of the possibility of strong interaction with particles, only a few events of EMIC triggered emissions have been reported near the equatorial plasmapause. We performed a survey of the THEMIS probe data and found various types of emissions mainly on the dayside at radial distances of 6–10 RE. We study three distinctive events in detail. The first is a typical event with an obvious rising tone emission in the afternoon sector. The emissions in the second event are simultaneously excited in different frequency bands separated by the cyclotron frequency of helium ions. In the third event, which occurred near local noon, rising tone emissions were excited in an extended region near the equator where the field-aligned B gradient was much reduced because of compression of the magnetosphere by the solar wind. We compare these events with the nonlinear wave growth theory developed by Omura et al. (2010). In all events, it is found that the observed relationship between the amplitudes and frequencies of the emissions are in good agreement with the theory.

The Energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG) Project

The Energization and Radiation in Geospace (ERG) project for solar cycle 24 will explore how relativistic electrons in the radiation belts are generated during space storms. This geospace exploration project consists of three research teams: the ERG satellite observation team, the ground-based network observation team, and the integrated data analysis/simulation team. Satellite observation will provide in situ measurements of features such as the plasma distribution function, electric and magnetic fields, and plasma waves, whereas remote sensing by ground-based observations using, for example, HF radars, magnetometers, optical instruments, and radio wave receivers will provide the global state of the geospace. Various kinds of data will be integrated and compared with numerical simulations for quantitative understanding. Such a synergetic approach is essential for comprehensive understanding of relativistic electron generation/loss processes through crossenergy and cross-regional coupling in which different plasma populations and regions are dynamically coupled with each other. In addition, the ERG satellite will utilize a new and innovative measurement technique for wave-particle interactions that can directly measure the energy exchange process between particles and plasma waves. In this paper, we briefly review some of the profound problems regarding relativistic electron accelerations and losses that will be solved by the ERG project, and we provide an overview of the project.