S. Haaland

Dawn–dusk asymmetries in the coupled solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere system: a review

Abstract. Dawn–dusk asymmetries are ubiquitous features of the coupled solar-wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere system. During the last decades, increasing availability of satellite and ground-based measurements has made it possible to study these phenomena in more detail. Numerous publications have documented the existence of persistent asymmetries in processes, properties and topology of plasma structures in various regions of geospace. In this paper, we present a review of our present knowledge of some of the most pronounced dawn–dusk asymmetries. We focus on four key aspects: (1) the role of external influences such as the solar wind and its interaction with the Earths magnetosphere; (2) properties of the magnetosphere itself; (3) the role of the ionosphere and (4) feedback and coupling between regions. We have also identified potential inconsistencies and gaps in our understanding of dawn–dusk asymmetries in the Earths magnetosphere and ionosphere.

Estimating the capture and loss of cold plasma from ionospheric outflow

An important source of magnetospheric plasma is cold plasma from the terrestrial ionosphere. Low energy ions travel along the magnetic field lines and enter the magnetospheric lobes where they are convected toward the tail plasma sheet. Recent observations indicate that the field aligned ion outflow velocity is sometimes much higher than the convection toward the central plasma sheet. A substantial amount of plasma therefore escapes downtail without ever reaching the central plasma sheet. In this work, we use Cluster measurements of cold plasma outflow and lobe convection velocities combined with models of the magnetic field in an attempt to determine the fate of the outflowing ions and to quantify the amount of plasma lost downtail. The results show that both the circulation of plasma and the direct tailward escape of ions varies significantly with magnetospheric conditions. For strong solar wind driving with a southward interplanetary magnetic field, also typically associated with high geomagnetic activity, most of the outflowing plasma is convected to the plasma sheet and recirculated. For periods with northward interplanetary magnetic field, the convection is nearly stagnant, whereas the outflow, although limited, still persists. The dominant part of the outflowing ions escape downtail and are directly lost into the solar wind under such conditions.

Orientation and motion of a plasma discontinuity from single-spacecraft measurements: Generic residue analysis of Cluster data

(1) A unified minimum-residue approach is presented to the use of classical conservation laws for determination of the orientation and motion of a plasma discontinuity, using data from a single spacecraft that traverses the discontinuity and makes measurements, not only on its two sides but also within it. The method is a generalization of the minimum Faraday residue (MFR) analysis technique described by Khrabrov and Sonnerup (1998a). It includes not only the standard MHD conservation laws for mass, momentum, total energy, and (where applicable) entropy, but also magnetic flux conservation from Faradays law, absence of magnetic poles from rB = 0, and electric charge conservation from Amperes law. A method, denoted by COM, for combining the results from more than one conservation law into a single optimal determination of the orientation and motion is presented, along with a general approach to the application of a certain class of constraints that can be placed on the vector normal to the discontinuity. The methodology, which is applicable to many types of discontinuity, including shocks, is illustrated by analysis of one magnetopause encounter by two of the four Cluster spacecraft (C1 and C3). The results from the various individual methods have considerable spread. However, in favorable circumstances and by exercising considerable care, the vector normal to the magnetopause from COM can be accurate to within a couple of degrees. For the C1 crossing, believed to be nearly a tangential discontinuity, albeit with signatures of incipient reconnection, the magnetopause speed (� 56 km s � 1 ) from COM appears accurate to within a few km s � 1 . The plasma flow across the magnetopause and the normal field component are both very nearly zero, and the results are consistent with those obtained from timing of the layer as it crosses the four Cluster spacecraft (assuming a constant thickness of the layer). The results for the velocity of the magnetopause and for the plasma flow across the layer are less consistent for the C3 crossing, believed to be a rotational discontinuity. For this crossing the presence of a component of the magnetic field along the normal direction could not be established with certitude. It is likely that the lower quality of the results for this crossing is caused by local multidimensional structure of the magnetopause.

How the IMF By induces a By component in the closed magnetosphere ‐ and how it leads to asymmetric currents and convection patterns in the two hemispheres

We acknowledge the use of NASA/GSFC’s Space Physics Data Facility for OMNI data. Simulation results have been provided by the Community Coordinated Modeling Center at Goddard Space Flight Center through their public Runs on Request system (http://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov). The CCMC is a multiagency partnership between NASA, AFMC, AFOSR, AFRL, AFWA, NOAA, NSF, and ONR (Paul-Tenfjord-032514-1). We thank the AMPERE team and the AMPERE Science Center for providing the Iridium-derived data products. This study was supported by the Research Council of Norway/CoE under contract 223252/F50.

On the ionospheric source region of cold ion outflow

Recent studies have shown that low energy ions constitute a significant part of the total ion population in the Earths magnetosphere. In this study, we have used a comprehensive data set with measurements of cold (total energy less than 70 eV) ion velocity and density to determine their source. This data set is derived from Cluster satellite measurements combined with solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field measurements and geomagnetic indices. By using the guiding center equation of motion, we were able to calculate the trajectories and thus determine the source region of the cold ions. Our results show that the polar cap region is the primary source for cold ions. We also found that the expansion and contraction of the polar cap as a consequence of changes in solar wind parameters were correlated with the source region size and intensity of the cold ion outflow. Elevated outflow fluxes near the nightside auroral zone and the dayside cusps during disturbed conditions suggest that energy and particle precipitation from the magnetosphere or directly from the solar wind can enhance the outflow of cold ions from the ionosphere. Citation: Li, K., et al. (2012), On the ionospheric source region of cold ion outflow, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L18102, doi:10.1029/2012GL053297.

On the origin of the energetic ion events measured upstream of the Earth’s bow shock by STEREO, Cluster, and Geotail

[1] In 2007 during the declining phase of the solar cycle the energetic upstream ion events occurred mainly after a corotating interaction region passed the Earth’s magnetosphere. We study the relation between these upstream events observed from about 70 to 1750 RE away from the Earth and observations in the vicinity of the terrestrial bow shock (up to 30 RE). For this purpose, simultaneous measurements of energetic ions from STEREO A and STEREO B (far upstream region) and from Cluster and Geotail (near the bow shock) are used. In all cases the energetic ions far upstream are associated with the upstream ion events near the bow shock. The upstream events are observed simultaneously mainly when the magnetic field is pointing along the line joining those satellites in the far upstream region with those near the terrestrial bow shock. The upstream events near the bow shock often coincide with sunward directed electron bursts, increased AE index (>200 nT), nonexponential proton spectra, and most important the presence of O + ions, all of which imply at least partly a magnetospheric origin. In ∼57% of cases the upstream ion events near the bow shock are associated with electron bursts and/or with the presence of O + , and ∼40% of the latter events are associated with electron bursts at STEREO A. Although we present strong evidence that the events are partially of magnetospheric origin, we do not exclude the presence of the ions accelerated at the bow shock.

Interhemispheric differences in ionospheric convection: Cluster EDI observations revisited

The interaction between the interplanetary magnetic field and the geomagnetic field sets up a large-scale circulation in the magnetosphere. This circulation is also reflected in the magnetically connected ionosphere. In this paper, we present a study of ionospheric convection based on Cluster Electron Drift Instrument (EDI) satellite measurements covering both hemispheres and obtained over a full solar cycle. The results from this study show that average flow patterns and polar cap potentials for a given orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field can be very different in the two hemispheres. In particular during southward directed interplanetary magnetic field conditions, and thus enhanced energy input from the solar wind, the measurements show that the southern polar cap has a higher cross polar cap potential. There are persistent north-south asymmetries, which cannot easily be explained by the influence of external drivers. These persistent asymmetries are primarily a result of the significant differences in the strength and configuration of the geomagnetic field between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Since the ionosphere is magnetically connected to the magnetosphere, this difference will also be reflected in the magnetosphere in the form of different feedback from the two hemispheres. Consequently, local ionospheric conditions and the geomagnetic field configuration are important for north-south asymmetries in large regions of geospace.

Distribution of energetic oxygen and hydrogen in the near-Earth plasma sheet

The spatial distributions of different ion species are useful indicators for plasma sheet dynamics. In this statistical study based on 7 years of Cluster observations, we establish the spatial distributions of oxygen ions and protons at energies from 274 to 955 keV, depending on geomagnetic and solar wind (SW) conditions. Compared with protons, the distribution of energetic oxygen has stronger dawn-dusk asymmetry in response to changes in the geomagnetic activity. When the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is directed southward, the oxygen ions show significant acceleration in the tail plasma sheet. Changes in the SW dynamic pressure (Pdyn) affect the oxygen and proton intensities in the same way. The energetic protons show significant intensity increases at the near-Earth duskside during disturbed geomagnetic conditions, enhanced SW Pdyn, and southward IMF, implying there location of effective inductive acceleration mechanisms and a strong duskward drift due to the increase of the magnetic field gradient in the near-Earth tail. Higher losses of energetic ions are observed in the dayside plasma sheet under disturbed geomagnetic conditions and enhanced SW Pdyn. These observations are in agreement with theoretical models.

Birkeland current effects on high‐latitude ground magnetic field perturbations

Magnetic perturbations on ground at high latitudes are directly associated only with the divergence-free component of the height-integrated horizontal ionospheric current, J⊥,df. Here we show how J⊥,df can be expressed as the total horizontal current J⊥ minus its curl-free component, the latter being completely determined by the global Birkeland current pattern. Thus, in regions where J⊥=0, the global Birkeland current distribution alone determines the local magnetic perturbation. We show with observations from ground and space that in the polar cap, the ground magnetic field perturbations tend to align with the Birkeland current contribution in darkness but not in sunlight. We also show that in sunlight, the magnetic perturbations are typically such that the equivalent overhead current is antiparallel to the convection, indicating that the Hall current system dominates. Thus, the ground magnetic field in the polar cap relates to different current systems in sunlight and in darkness.

Intensity asymmetries in the dusk sector of the poleward auroral oval due to IMF B x

In the exploration of global-scale features of the Earths aurora, little attention has been given to the radial component of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF). This study investigates the global auroral response in both hemispheres when the IMF is southward and lies in the xz plane. We present a statistical study of the average auroral response in the 12-24 magnetic local time (MLT) sector to an x component in the IMF. Maps of auroral intensity in both hemispheres for two IMF Bx dominated conditions (± IMF Bx) are shown during periods of negative IMF Bz, small IMF By, and local winter. This is obtained by using global imaging from the Wideband Imaging Camera on the IMAGE satellite. The analysis indicates a significant asymmetry between the two IMF Bx dominated conditions in both hemispheres. In the Northern Hemisphere the aurora is brighter in the 15-19 MLT region during negative IMF Bx. In the Southern Hemisphere the aurora is brighter in the 16-20 MLT sector during positive IMF Bx. We interpret the results in the context of a more efficient solar wind dynamo in one hemisphere. Both the intensity asymmetry and its location are consistent with this idea. This has earlier been suggested from case studies of simultaneous observations of the aurora in both hemispheres, but hitherto never been observed to have a general impact on global auroral brightness in both hemispheres from a statistical study. The observed asymmetries between the two IMF B x cases are not large; however, the difference is significant with a 95% confidence level. As the solar wind conditions examined in the study are rather common (37% of the time) the accumulative effect of this small influence may be important for the total energy budget.