T. J. Immel

Control of equatorial ionospheric morphology by atmospheric tides

[1] A newly discovered 1000-km scale longitudinal variation in ionospheric densities is an unexpected and heretofore unexplained phenomenon. Here we show that ionospheric densities vary with the strength of nonmigrating, diurnal atmospheric tides that are, in turn, driven mainly by weather in the tropics. A strong connection between tropospheric and ionospheric conditions is unexpected, as these upward propagating tides are damped far below the peak in ionospheric density. The observations can be explained by consideration of the dynamo interaction of the tides with the lower ionosphere (E-layer) in daytime. The influence of persistent tropical rainstorms is therefore an important new consideration for space weather. Citation: Immel, T. J., E. Sagawa, S. L. England, S. B. Henderson, M. E. Hagan, S. B. Mende, H. U. Frey, C. M. Swenson, and L. J. Paxton (2006), Control of equatorial ionospheric morphology by atmospheric tides, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L15108, doi:10.1029/2006GL026161. [2] The ionosphere is the region of highest plasma density in Earth’s space environment. It is a dynamic environment supporting a host of plasma instability processes, with important implications for global communications and geo-location applications. Produced by the ionization of the neutral atmosphere by solar x-ray and UV radiation, the uppermost ionospheric layer has the highest plasma density with a peak around 350–400 km altitude and primarily consists of O + ions. This is called the F-layer and it is considered to be a collisionless environment such that the charged particles interact only weakly with the neutral atmosphere, lingering long after sunset. The E-layer is composed of molecular ions and is located between 100–150 km where collisions between ions and neutrals are much more frequent, with the result that the layer recombines and is reduced in density a hundredfold soon after sunset [Rees ,1 989;Heelis, 2004]. The respective altitude regimes of these two layers are commonly called the E- and F-regions. [3] The ionosphere glows as O + ions recombine to an excited state of atomic oxygen (O I) at a rate proportional to

Magnetospheric and auroral activity during the 18 April 2002 sawtooth event

We examine the 18 April 2002 sawtooth event. We find that the strong magnetic field dipolarizations observed in association with each tooth are not global in occurrence but are rather confined to the nightside. In addition, we find that the flux increases are not globally dispersionless. Instead, each tooth is associated with a nonglobal, but wider-than-usual, dispersionless injection region that is consistent with the high Kp versions of the standard injection boundary model (which places the entire nightside segment of geosynchronous orbit tailward of the injection boundary for values of Kp above about 5). We also find evidence that at least one of the teeth was likely triggered by a pressure pulse. The auroral distribution shows a repeatable evolution in which a wide double-oval configuration gradually thins. Following this, a localized substorm-like brightening in the dusk to midnight sector occurs on the lower branch of the double oval which subsequently expands rapidly poleward and azimuthally. A new expanded double oval configuration emerges from this expansion phase activity and the cycle repeats itself for the duration of the sawtooth event. The observations presented give considerable support to the contention that sawtooth events are actually sequences of quasi-periodic substorms. We suggest that sawtooth events can be viewed as a magnetospheric mode similar to Steady Magnetospheric Convection intervals (SMCs) except that for sawtooth events, the flow of energy from the solar wind into the magnetosphere becomes too large to dissipate without the periodic occurrence of substorms. We further suggest that the quasi-periodicity arises because the magnetosphere may only become susceptible to external or internal triggering after it has been driven beyond a stability threshold. This hypothesis can account for the existence of more potential external triggers (in the interplanetary magnetic field or solar wind) than teeth in that the magnetosphere may be selectively responsive to them.

Effect of atmospheric tides on the morphology of the quiet time, postsunset equatorial ionospheric anomaly

longitudinal wave number four pattern in the magnetic latitude and concentration of the F region peak ion density when measured at a fixed local time. In a new comparison of two data sets with observations made by the OGO 4 satellite, this pattern is seen to be persistent over many days around equinox during magnetically quiet conditions close to solar maximum but can be dominated by other processes such as cross-equator winds during other periods. It is found that the longitudinal variability is created by a processes occurring in the dayside ionosphere. A longitudinal modulation of the dayside equatorial fountainisthemostlikelydrivingmechanism.ThroughcomparisonwithGWSM-02model,it isshownthatthepredictedmodulationofthedaysidethermosphericwindsandtemperaturesat E region altitudes created by non-migrating diurnal tides can explain the modulation in the dayside equatorial fountain. This result highlights the importance of understanding the temporal variability of tropospheric weather systems on our understanding and possible predictability of the development of the F region ionosphere. It may also provide a possible further means of testing our understanding of atmospheric tides on a global scale.

The electron and proton aurora as seen by IMAGE-FUV and FAST

The Far Ultraviolet Instrument (FUV) on the IMAGE spacecraft observes the aurora in three different channels. One of them (SI12) is sensitive to the signal from precipitating protons, while the other two (WIC and SI13) observe auroral emissions which are not only excited by precipitating electrons, but also by protons. We examine a period when in-situ particle measurements by the FAST spacecraft were available simultaneously with global imaging with FUV. The measured electron and proton energy spectra are used to calculate the auroral brightness along the FAST orbit. The comparison with the FUV/IMAGE observations shows good quantitative agreement and demonstrates that under certain circumstances high proton fluxes may produce significant amounts of auroral FUV emission.

Assimilated observations of thermospheric winds, the aurora, and ionospheric currents over Alaska

We present simultaneous measurements of thermospheric winds, auroral emissions, and ionospheric currents over Alaska, obtained from four separate instruments. Thermospheric (F region) wind maps were recorded by an all-sky imaging Fabry-Perot spectrometer located at Poker Flat and observing at λ630.0 nm. Auroral images at λ557.7 nm were obtained from the low-resolution visible imager on board the Polar satellite. White-light all-sky auroral images were recorded by ground-based all-sky cameras located in Alaska at Poker Flat (65° 07′N, 212° 34′E) and at Kaktovik (70° 06′N, 217° 24′E). Finally, the east-west component of the ionospheric F region plasma convection was inferred using the Alaskan meridian chain of magnetometers. Montage images of these four data sets are presented, projected onto a geographic map of the Alaskan region. We examine a 10-hour period during the Alaskan local nighttime of February 10, 1997. These montages illustrate a close relationship between spatial structures occurring in the aurora, in the ionospheric plasma convection, and in the F region wind field. Latitudinal shear of the geomagnetic zonal wind, often observed in the premidnight time sector, was seen to be associated with both the equatorward and poleward boundaries of the discrete aurora. We focus particularly on a period commencing just after 0900 UT, when a strong shear in the zonal wind was observed to sweep southward across Alaska. After magnetic midnight the wind field was dominated by the emergence of the “cross-polar jet” from the polar cap. This overwhelmed any wind features associated with local auroral processes.

GLOBAL IMAGING OF PROTON AND ELECTRON AURORAE IN THE FAR ULTRAVIOLET

The IMAGE spacecraft carries three FUV photon imagers, the Wideband Imaging Camera (WIC) and two channels, SI-12 and SI-13, of the Spectrographic Imager. These provide simultaneous global images, which can be interpreted in terms of the precipitating particle types (protons and electrons) and their energies. IMAGE FUV is the first space-borne global imager that can provide instantaneous global images of the proton precipitation. At times a bright auroral spot, rich in proton precipitation, is observed on the dayside, several degrees poleward of the auroral zone. The spot was identified as the footprint of the merging region of the cusp that is located on lobe field lines when IMF Bz was northward. This identification was based on compelling statistical evidence showing that the appearance and location of the spot is consistent with the IMF Bz and By directions. The intensity of the spot is well correlated with the solar wind dynamic pressure and it was found that the direct entry of solar wind particles could account for the intensity of the observed spot without the need for any additional acceleration. Another discovery was the observation of dayside sub-auroral proton arcs. These arcs were observed in the midday to afternoon MLT sector. Conjugate satellite observations showed that these arcs were generated by pure proton precipitation. Nightside auroras and their relationship to substorm phases were studied through single case studies and in a superimposed epoch analysis. It was found that generally there is substantial proton precipitation prior to substorms and the proton intensity only doubles at substorm onset while the electron auroral brightness increases on average by a factor of 5 and sometimes by as much as a factor of 10. Substorm onset occurs in the central region of the pre-existing proton precipitation. Assuming that nightside protons are precipitating from a quasi-stable ring current at its outer regions where the field lines are distorted by neutral sheet currents we can associate the onset location with this region of closed but distorted field lines relatively close to the earth. Our results also show that protons are present in the initial poleward substorm expansion however later they are over taken by the electrons. We also find that the intensity of the substorms as quantified by the intensity of the post onset electron precipitation is correlated with the intensity of the proton precipitation prior to the substorms, highlighting the role of the pre-existing near earth plasma in the production of the next substorm.

Global comparison of magnetospheric ion fluxes and auroral precipitation during a substorm

[1] Integrated fluxes from global images taken by the High Energy Neutral Atom (HENA) and the far ultraviolet (FUV) imagers on the IMAGE spacecraft were compared for a six-hour period, during which a reasonably intense substorm occurred. HENA and the FUV proton auroral imager (SI-12) monitor emissions which are representative of trapped and precipitating magnetospheric proton fluxes, respectively. For several hours prior to substorm onset, measurements of the fluxes of lower energy (10-16 and 16-27 keV) magnetospheric Energetic Neutral Atoms (ENA-s) by HENA and precipitating auroral protons by FUV SI-12 show strong similarities, with the implication that, in general, proton precipitation is controlled by a steady pitch angle diffusion process. Less similarity is seen between ENA-s and the auroral electron precipitation, which is monitored with the FUV Wideband Imaging Camera. Prior to substorm onset, ENA intensity at large radial distance (L > 8) is reduced while the overall integrated ENA flux increases signifying earthward motion and accumulation of the plasma. About 20 minutes before onset, the auroral fluxes decrease while the ENA intensity continues to grow. The observations are consistent with a pre-onset increase in plasma pressure in the inner magnetosphere without an increase in precipitation showing more efficient trapping perhaps by the distorted nightside magnetosphere. At substorm onset the increase in precipitation intensity is very sudden while the more gradual intensification of the energetic ENA-s continues. At onset the electron aurora shows an increase in intensity of one order of magnitude, while the increase in precipitating proton flux is only 50%. The intensification of the precipitation is relatively short lived (∼10 minutes) while the ENA substorm enhancements last about an hour.

A method for determining the drift velocity of plasma depletions in the equatorial ionosphere using far‐ultraviolet spacecraft observations

Received 7 February 2007; revised 12 June 2007; accepted 25 July 2007; published 27 November 2007. [1] The Far-Ultraviolet Imager (IMAGE-FUV) on board the NASA IMAGE satellite has been used to observe plasma depletions in the nightside equatorial ionosphere. Observations from periods around spacecraft apogee, during which equatorial regions are visible for several hours, have allowed the velocity of these plasma depletions to be determined. A new method for determining the velocity of these depletions using an image analysis technique, Tracking Of Airglow Depletions (TOAD), has been developed. TOAD allows the objective identification and tracking of depletions. The automation of this process has also allowed for the tracking of a greater number of depletions than previously achieved without requiring any human input, which shows that TOAD is suitable for use with large data sets and for future routine monitoring of the ionosphere from space. Furthermore, this automation allows the drift velocities of each bubble to be determined as a function of magnetic latitude, which will give us the capability of retrieving geophysically important parameters such as the electric field, which are believed to vary rapidly with magnetic latitude.

On the Relation between Electric Fields in the Inner Magnetosphere, Ring Current, Auroral Conductance, and Plasmapause Motion

At around 19:30 UT on 17 April 2002, an undulative motion of the plasma-pause was observed by the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) camera on board the IMAGE satellite. The motion expanded westward into the duskside and at the same time a ring current pressure increase was observed by the High Energy Neutral Atom (HENA) imager on board IMAGE. The pressure increase was due to a substorm injection with a localized auroral onset at 19:05 UT. It has been shown that the motion of the plasmapause was caused by an electric field set up in the sub-auroral, duskside ionosphere, by the closure of the Region-2 currents, poleward to Region-1 as originally proposed by Anderson et al. (1993). In this paper we discuss the cause of the westward propagation of the motion of the plasmapause, and suggest that it may be caused by the westward expansion of the aurora.

Geomagnetic disturbance intensity dependence on the universal timing of the storm peak

The role of Universal Time (UT) dependence on storm-time development has remained an unresolved question in geospace research. This study presents new insight into storm progression in terms of the UT of the storm peak. We present a superposed epoch analysis of solar wind drivers and geomagnetic index responses during magnetic storms, categorized as a function of UT of the storm peak, to investigate the dependency of storm intensity on UT. Storms with Dst minimum less than - 100 nT were identified in the 1970 - 2012 era (305 events), covering four solar cycles. The storms were classified into 6 groups based on the UT of the minimum Dst (40 to 61 events per bin), then each grouping was superposed on a timeline that aligns the time of the minimum Dst. Fifteen different quantities were considered, seven solar wind parameters and eight activity indices derived from ground-based magnetometer data. Statistical analyses of the superposed means against each other (between the different UT groupings) were conducted to determine the mathematical significance of similarities and differences in the time series plots. It was found that the solar wind parameters have no significant difference between the UT groupings, as expected. The geomagnetic activity indices, however, all show statistically significant differences with UT during the main phase and/or early recovery phase. Specifically, the 02:00 UT groupings are stronger storms than those in the other UT bins. That is, storms are stronger when the Asian sector is on the nightside (American sector on the dayside) during the main phase.