Bibliography





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Found 30 entries in the Bibliography.


Showing entries from 1 through 30


2022

Plasma-neutral gas interactions in various space environments: Assessment beyond simplified approximations as a Voyage 2050 theme

In the White Paper, submitted in response to the European Space Agency (ESA) Voyage 2050 Call, we present the importance of advancing our knowledge of plasma-neutral gas interactions, and of deepening our understanding of the partially ionized environments that are ubiquitous in the upper atmospheres of planets and moons, and elsewhere in space. In future space missions, the above task requires addressing the following fundamental questions: (A) How and by how much do plasma-neutral gas interactions influence the re-distribution of externally provided energy to the composing species? (B) How and by how much do plasma-neutral gas interactions contribute toward the growth of heavy complex molecules and biomolecules? Answering these questions is an absolute prerequisite for addressing the long-standing questions of atmospheric escape, the origin of biomolecules, and their role in the evolution of planets, moons, or comets, under the influence of energy sources in the form of electromagnetic and corpuscular radiation, because low-energy ion-neutral cross-sections in space cannot be reproduced quantitatively in laboratories for conditions of satisfying, particularly, (1) low-temperatures, (2) tenuous or strong gradients or layered media, and (3) in low-gravity plasma. Measurements with a minimum core instrument package (\textless 15 kg) can be used to perform such investigations in many different conditions and should be included in all deep-space missions. These investigations, if specific ranges of background parameters are considered, can also be pursued for Earth, Mars, and Venus.

Yamauchi, Masatoshi; De Keyser, Johan; Parks, George; Oyama, Shin-ichiro; Wurz, Peter; Abe, Takumi; Beth, Arnaud; Daglis, Ioannis; Dandouras, Iannis; Dunlop, Malcolm; Henri, Pierre; Ivchenko, Nickolay; Kallio, Esa; Kucharek, Harald; Liu, Yong; Mann, Ingrid; Marghitu, Octav; Nicolaou, Georgios; Rong, Zhaojin; Sakanoi, Takeshi; Saur, Joachim; Shimoyama, Manabu; Taguchi, Satoshi; Tian, Feng; Tsuda, Takuo; Tsurutani, Bruce; Turner, Drew; Ulich, Thomas; Yau, Andrew; Yoshikawa, Ichiro;

Published by: Experimental Astronomy      Published on: mar

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1007/s10686-022-09846-9

Collision cross-section; Future missions; Low-energy; Neutral gas; Plasma; Voyage 2050

Ionospheric Disturbances and Irregularities during the 25--26 August 2018 Geomagnetic Storm

We use ground-based (GNSS, SuperDARN, and ionosondes) and space-borne (Swarm, CSES, and DMSP) instruments to study ionospheric disturbances due to the 25–26 August 2018 geomagnetic storm. The strongest large-scale storm-time enhancements were detected over the Asian and Pacific regions during the main and early recovery phases of the storm. In the American sector, there occurred the most complex effects caused by the action of multiple drivers. At the beginning of the storm, a large positive disturbance occurred over North America at low and high latitudes, driven by the storm-time reinforcement of the equatorial ionization anomaly (at low latitudes) and by particle precipitation (at high latitudes). During local nighttime hours, we observed numerous medium-scale positive and negative ionospheric disturbances at middle and high latitudes that were attributed to a storm-enhanced density (SED)-plume, mid-latitude ionospheric trough, and particle precipitation in the auroral zone. In South America, total electron content (TEC) maps clearly showed the presence of the equatorial plasma bubbles, that, however, were not seen in data of Rate-of-TEC-change index (ROTI). Global ROTI maps revealed intensive small-scale irregularities at high latitudes in both hemispheres within the auroral region. In general, the ROTI disturbance “imaged” quite well the auroral oval boundaries. The most intensive ionospheric fluctuations were observed at low and mid-latitudes over the Pacific Ocean. The storm also affected the positioning accuracy by GPS receivers: during the main phase of the storm, the precise point positioning error exceeded 0.5 m, which is more than five times greater as compared to quiet days.

Astafyeva, E.; Yasyukevich, Y.; Maletckii, B.; Oinats, A.; Vesnin, A.; Yasyukevich, A.; Syrovatskii, S.; Guendouz, N.;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1029/2021JA029843

Geomagnetic storms; Ionosphere; ROTI; ionospheric disturbances; ionospheric irregularities; multi-instrumental approach

2021

Comparison of ionospheric anomalies over African equatorial/low-latitude region with IRI-2016 model predictions during the maximum phase of solar cycle 24

The capability of IRI-2016 in reproducing the hemispheric asymmetry, the winter and semiannual anomalies has been assessed over the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) during quiet periods of years 2013–2014. The EIA reconstructed using Total Electron Content (TEC) derived from Global Navigation Satellite System was compared with that computed using IRI-2016 along longitude 25° − 40oE. These were analyzed along with hemispheric changes in the neutral wind derived from the horizontal wind model and the TIMED GUVI columnar O/N2 data. IRI-2016 clearly captured the hemispheric asymmetry of the anomaly during all seasons albeit with some discrepancies in the magnitude and location of the crests. The winter anomaly in TEC which corresponded with greater O/N2 in the winter hemisphere was also predicted by IRI-2016 during December solstice. The model also captured the semiannual anomaly with stronger crests in the northern hemisphere. Furthermore, it reproduced the variation trend of the asymmetry index (A) in December solstice and equinox during noon. However, in June solstice the model failed to capture the winter anomaly and misrepresented the variation of A. This was linked with its inability to accurately predict the pattern of the neutral wind, the maximum height of the F2 layer and the changes in O/N2 in both hemispheres. The difference between the variations of EUV and F10.7 fluxes was also a potential source of errors in IRI-2016. The results highlight the significance of the inclusion of wind data in IRI-2016 in order to enhance its performance over East Africa.

Amaechi, Paul; Oyeyemi, Elijah; Akala, Andrew; Kaab, Mohamed; Younas, Waqar; Benkhaldoun, Zouhair; Khan, Majid; Mazaudier, Christine-Amory;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on: aug

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2021.03.040

Equatorial ionization anomaly; hemispheric asymmetry; IRI-2016; Semiannual anomaly; Winter anomaly

Global Effects of a Polar Solar Eclipse on the Coupled Magnetosphere-Ionosphere System

It is well-known that solar eclipses can significantly impact the ionosphere and thermosphere, but how an eclipse influences the magnetosphere-ionosphere system is still unknown. Using a coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere model, we examined the impact on geospace of the northern polar-region eclipse that occurred on June 10, 2021. The simulations reveal that the eclipse-induced reduction in polar ionospheric conductivity causes large changes in field-aligned current, cross-polar cap potential and auroral activity. While such effects are expected in the northern hemisphere where solar obscuration occurred, they also occurred in the southern hemisphere through electrodynamic coupling. Eclipse-induced changes in monoenergetic auroral precipitation differ significantly between the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere while diffuse auroral precipitation is interhemispherically symmetric. This study demonstrates that the geospace response to a polar-region solar eclipse is not limited just to the eclipse region but has global implications.

Chen, Xuetao; Dang, Tong; Zhang, Binzheng; Lotko, William; Pham, Kevin; Wang, Wenbin; Lin, Dong; Sorathia, Kareem; Merkin, Viacheslav; Luan, Xiaoli; Dou, Xiankang; Luo, Bingxian; Lei, Jiuhou;

Published by: Geophysical Research Letters      Published on:

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1029/2021GL096471

auroral activity; magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling; polar solar eclipse

2019

Topside ionospheric conditions during the 7—8 September 2017 geomagnetic storm

The uplooking total electron contents (TECs) from the GRACE, SWARM-A, TerraSAR-X, and MetOp-A satellites and in situ electron density (Ne) from SWARM-A were utilized to investigate the topside ionospheric conditions during the 7–8 September 2017 geomagnetic storm. The rate of TEC index (ROTI) and rate of density index (RODI), which are derivative indices of TEC and Ne, respectively, were also used to characterize the topside ionospheric irregularities. The main results of this study are as follows: (1) There were significant enhancements seen in the uplooking TEC during the first main phase of the storm. (2) The uplooking TEC did not show unusual enhancement at the morning and evening local times in the Asian-Australian sector during the recovery phase of the storm. (3) Prominent TEC hemispheric asymmetry at the middle and high latitudes was observed at both day and night sectors. (4) Long-duration recovery of topside TEC with respect to the prestorm condition was also detected in this event. (5) Nighttime ROTI enhancements were presented in a wide latitudinal range from the equator to the poles during the main phases of the storm. (6) The ionospheric electric field disturbances associated with IMF-Bz fluctuations probably played a very important role in triggering ionospheric irregularities during the relatively weak geomagnetic activity on 7 September, which implies that ionospheric irregularities do not necessarily occur under the severe geomagnetic conditions only.

Jimoh, Oluwaseyi; Lei, Jiuhou; Zhong, Jiahao; Owolabi, Charles; Luan, Xiaoli; Dou, Xiankang;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2019     DOI: 10.1029/2019JA026590

2018

An Empirical Dayglow Model for the Lyman-Birge-Hopfield-Long Band Derived From the Polar Ultraviolet Imager Data

The Lyman-Birge-Hopfield-long band dayglow emissions near 1,700\ \r A, which were observed by the ultraviolet imager on board Polar satellite, are characterized as a cosine-like function of the solar zenith angle. These emissions are mainly excited by the solar extreme ultraviolet produced photoelectrons acting on the nitrogen molecules. The amplitude and phase factors are used to quantify the cosine-like function and subsequently develop a dayglow model. In this study, a model is developed by considering broader dayglow emission areas outside the auroral oval, as the dayglow intensities in the dayside can exceed the auroral brightness, especially in summer. Also, this model is constructed by considering the seasonal variations of the two factors. It is demonstrated that, besides the strong solar cycle and universal time dependencies, the amplitude factors of the cosine-like function show prominent seasonal variations, which are associated with the solar zenith angle changes. The amplitude factors are the largest in summer and smallest in winter. In addition, the dayglow phase factors show nearly constant values within each season, but throughout the year, they are higher in summer and equinoctial months and lower in winter. The dayglow model can benefit the investigation of global auroral patterns for all seasons.

Wang, Lingmin; Luan, Xiaoli; Lei, Jiuhou; Dou, Xiankang;

Published by: Space Weather      Published on: 07/2018

YEAR: 2018     DOI: 10.1029/2018SW001954

Was Magnetic Storm the Only Driver of the Long-Duration Enhancements of Daytime Total Electron Content in the Asian-Australian Sector Between 7 and 12 September 2017?

In this study, multiple data sets from Beidou geostationary orbit satellites total electron contents (TECs), ionosonde, meteor radar, magnetometer, and model simulations have been used to investigate the ionospheric responses in the Asian-Australian sector during the September 2017 geomagnetic storm. It was found that long-duration daytime TEC enhancements that lasted from 7 to 12 September 2017 were observed by the Beidou geostationary orbit satellite constellation. This is a unique event as the prominent TEC enhancements persisted during the storm recovery phase when geomagnetic activity became quiet. The Thermosphere-Ionosphere Electrodynamics Global Circulation Model predicted that the TEC enhancements on 7\textendash9 September were associated with the geomagnetic activity, but it showed significant electron density depletions on 10 and 11 September in contrast to the observed TEC enhancements. Our results suggested that the observed long-duration TEC enhancements from 7 to 12 September are mainly associated with the interplay of ionospheric dynamics and electrodynamics. Nevertheless, the root causes for the observed TEC enhancements seen in the storm recovery phase are unknown and require further observations and model studies.

Lei, Jiuhou; Huang, Fuqing; Chen, Xuetao; Zhong, Jiahao; Ren, Dexin; Wang, Wenbin; Yue, Xinan; Luan, Xiaoli; Jia, Mingjiao; Dou, Xiankang; Hu, Lianhuan; Ning, Baiqi; Owolabi, Charles; Chen, Jinsong; Li, Guozhu; Xue, Xianghui;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 04/2018

YEAR: 2018     DOI: 10.1029/2017JA025166

2017

Solar cycle variations of thermospheric O/N 2 longitudinal pattern from TIMED/GUVI

Thermospheric composition (O/N2 ratio) is well known to have a great impact on the variation of daytime ionospheric electron density. This study aims to investigate the local time, seasonal, and solar cycle variations of the O/N2 longitudinal pattern in both hemispheres during daytime in solstices. The O/N2 data used are from TIMED/Global Ultraviolet Imager observations made over a solar cycle for geomagnetically quiet conditions. The main findings are as follows: (1) The O/N2 longitudinal patterns are generally similar during 10:00\textendash14:00 LT and between solar minimum and maximum, although the O/N2 values change with local time and solar cycle. (2) The winter O/N2 subauroral enhancement is unexpectedly smaller in the longitudes where the magnetic pole is (near-pole longitudes), rather than in the longitudes far from the magnetic pole, especially during solar maximum, and consequently, the longitudinal pattern of O/N2 depends on latitude in local winter. (3) The winter O/N2 subauroral enhancement generally moves to more poleward latitudes during solar maximum, as compared to solar minimum. (4) At higher midlatitudes (~45\textdegree\textendash60\textdegreeN and ~40\textdegree\textendash50\textdegreeS in geographic latitudes) in solar minimum, the winter-to-summer ratio of O/N2 in each hemisphere has an obvious minimum in near-pole longitudes. This minimum becomes more evident during solar maximum. The National Center for Atmospheric Research Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model simulations indicate that in the winter hemisphere, the unexpected O/N2 longitudinal pattern in higher midlatitudes is mainly associated with high-latitude Joule heating under the impact from ion convection and auroral precipitation.

Luan, Xiaoli; Wang, Wenbin; Burns, Alan; Dou, Xiankang;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 03/2018

YEAR: 2017     DOI: 10.1002/jgra.v122.210.1002/2016JA023696

Solar cycle variations of thermospheric O/N2 longitudinal pattern from TIMED/GUVI

Luan, Xiaoli; Wang, Wenbin; Burns, Alan; Dou, Xiankang;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2017     DOI:

2016

Long-duration depletion in the topside ionospheric total electron content during the recovery phase of the March 2015 strong storm

Topside ionospheric total electron content (TEC) observations from multiple low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites have been used to investigate the local time, altitudinal, and longitudinal dependence of the topside ionospheric storm effect during both the main and recovery phases of the March 2015 geomagnetic storm. The results of this study show, for the first time, that there was a persistent topside TEC depletion that lasted for more than 3 days after the storm main phase at most longitudes, except in the Pacific Ocean region, where the topside TECs during the storm recovery phase were comparable to the quiet time ones. The observed depletion in the topside ionospheric TEC was relatively larger at higher altitudes in the evening sector and greater at local times closer to midnight. Moreover, the topside TEC patterns observed by MetOp-A (832 km) were different from those seen by other LEO satellites with lower orbital altitudes during the storm main phase and at the beginning of the recovery phase, especially in the evening sector. This suggests that the physical processes that control the storm time behavior of topside ionospheric response to storms are altitude-dependent.

Zhong, Jiahao; Wang, Wenbin; Yue, Xinan; Burns, Alan; Dou, Xiankang; Lei, Jiuhou;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 04/2016

YEAR: 2016     DOI: 10.1002/2016JA022469

Solar activity dependence of nightside aurora in winter conditions

The dependence of the nightside (21:00\textendash03:00 MLT; magnetic local time) auroral energy flux on solar activity was quantitatively studied for winter/dark and geomagnetically quiet conditions. Using data combined from Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics/Global Ultraviolet Imager and Defense Meteorological Satellite Program/Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager observations, we separated the effects of geomagnetic activity from those of solar flux on the nightside auroral precipitation. The results showed that the nightside auroral power was reduced by ~42\% in solar maximum (F10.7 = 200 sfu; solar flux unit 1 sfu = 10-22 W m-2 Hz-1) with respect to that under solar minimum (F10.7 = 70 sfu) for the\ Kp = 1 condition, and this change rate became less (~21\%) for the\ Kp = 3 condition. In addition, the solar cycle dependence of nightside auroral power was similar with that from both the premidnight (21:00\textendash23:00 MLT) and postmidnight (01:00\textendash03:00 MLT) sectors. These results indicated that as the ionospheric ionization increases with the enhanced auroral and geomagnetic activities, the solar activity dependences of nightside auroral power become weaker, at least under geomagnetically quiet conditions.

Zhou, Su; Luan, Xiaoli; Dou, Xiankang;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 02/2016

YEAR: 2016     DOI: 10.1002/2015JA021865

auroral conjugate effects; auroral geomagnetic activity variation; auroral imaging scaling; auroral solar cycle variation

Universal time variations of the auroral hemispheric power and their interhemispheric asymmetry from TIMED/GUVI observations

This paper quantitatively analyzes the auroral hemispheric power (HP) and its interhemispheric asymmetry as a function of universal time (UT) for geomagnetically quiet conditions (Kp 1\textendash3) from Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics/Global Ultraviolet Imager (TIMED/GUVI) imaging observations. The HP variation with UT can be approximately characterized as two cases: One is for similar HP variations in the equinoxes in the Northern Hemisphere and for the June solstices of both hemispheres, and the other is for similar HP patterns in the equinoxes in the Southern Hemisphere and for the December solstices of both hemispheres. In the equinoxes, the HP variations are interhemispherically asymmetric due to different occurrence time of the HP peak. In the solstices, the HP is generally interhemispherically symmetric in its diurnal variations, but there is interhemispheric asymmetry in the magnitudes of the maximum HP. For geomagnetically quiet conditions (Kp = 2), in the equinoxes relative interhemispheric differences are typically between 0 and 20\%, with respect to the averaged HP from the two hemispheres, while during the solstices, the maximum relative interhemispheric asymmetry can be as large as 30\% in December, but it is only ~15\% in June. These two cases are mainly associated with variations of auroral precipitation power in the night side sector (21:00\textendash03:00 magnetic local time/MLT), which are primarily controlled by solar illumination conditions in both hemispheres and are also attributed to the difference in the geographical area of the auroral oval in the two hemispheres. Furthermore, the general interhemispheric symmetry of the HP variations in solstices suggests that auroral acceleration is not only controlled locally by solar illumination conditions, which has been well known previously, but also might be affected by processes in the precipitation source region.

Luan, Xiaoli; Wang, Wenbin; Burns, Alan; Dou, Xiankang;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 01/2016

YEAR: 2016     DOI: 10.1002/2016JA022730

2015

Solar illumination control of ionospheric outflow above polar cap arcs

We measure the flux density, composition, and energy of outflowing ions above the polar cap, accelerated by quasi-static electric fields parallel to the magnetic field and associated with polar cap arcs, using Cluster. Mapping the spacecraft position to its ionospheric foot point, we analyze the dependence of these parameters on the solar zenith angle (SZA). We find a clear transition at SZA between \~94\textdegree and \~107\textdegree, with the O+ flux higher above the sunlit ionosphere. This dependence on the illumination of the local ionosphere indicates that significant O+ upflow occurs locally above the polar ionosphere. The same is found for H+, but to a lesser extent. This effect can result in a seasonal variation of the total ion upflow from the polar ionosphere. Furthermore, we show that low-magnitude field-aligned potential drops are preferentially observed above the sunlit ionosphere, suggesting a feedback effect of ionospheric conductivity.

Maes, L.; Maggiolo, R.; De Keyser, J.; Dandouras, I.; Fear, R.; Fontaine, D.; Haaland, S.;

Published by: Geophysical Research Letters      Published on: 03/2015

YEAR: 2015     DOI: 10.1002/2014GL062972

cold ion outflow; ion upflow; polar cap arc; polar ionosphere; polar wind; solar illumination

Link between pre-midnight second harmonic poloidal waves and auroral undulations: Conjugate observations with a Van Allen Probes spacecraft and a THEMIS all-sky imager

We report, for the first time, an auroral undulation event on 1 May 2013 observed by an all-sky imager (ASI) at Athabasca (L = 4.6), Canada, for which in situ field and particle measurements in the conjugate magnetosphere were available from a Van Allen Probes spacecraft. The ASI observed a train of auroral undulation structures emerging spontaneously in the pre-midnight subauroral ionosphere, during the growth phase of a substorm. The undulations had an azimuthal wavelength of ~180 km and propagated westward at a speed of 3\textendash4 km s-1. The successive passage over an observing point yielded quasi-periodic oscillations in diffuse auroral emissions with a period of ~40 s. The azimuthal wave number m of the auroral luminosity oscillations was found to be m ~ -103. During the event the spacecraft \textendash being on tailward stretched field lines ~0.5 RE outside the plasmapause that mapped into the ionosphere conjugate to the auroral undulations \textendash encountered intense poloidal ULF oscillations in the magnetic and electric fields. We identify the field oscillations to be the second harmonic mode along the magnetic field line through comparisons of the observed wave properties with theoretical predictions. The field oscillations were accompanied by oscillations in proton and electron fluxes. Most interestingly, both field and particle oscillations at the spacecraft had one-to-one association with the auroral luminosity oscillations around its footprint. Our findings strongly suggest that this auroral undulation event is closely linked to the generation of second harmonic poloidal waves

Motoba, T.; Takahashi, K.; Ukhorskiy, A.; Gkioulidou, M.; Mitchell, D.; Lanzerotti, L.; Korotova, G.; Donovan, E.; Wygant, J.; Kletzing, C.; Kurth, W.; Blake, J.;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 02/2015

YEAR: 2015     DOI: 10.1002/2014JA020863

Longitudinal variations of the nighttime E layer electron density in the auroral zone

Longitudinal variations of the nighttime E layer electron density (21:00\textendash03:00 magnetic local time) in the auroral zone are investigated, and their sources are discussed in terms of auroral precipitation and solar radiation. The electron density data used in this study are retrieved from Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate radio occultation observations during 2006\textendash2009 under quiet geomagnetic activity (Kp <= 3) and solar minimum conditions. The main conclusions of this study are as follows: (1) the nighttime E layer electron density had pronounced longitudinal variations in the auroral zone. These variations depended on season and had large hemispheric asymmetry for all seasons. In winter, relatively larger electron density was located in 120\textendash310\textdegree magnetic longitude (MLON) in the northern hemisphere and in 170\textendash360\textdegree MLON in the southern hemisphere, and greater maximum density occurred in the northern hemisphere than in the southern one. In summer and equinox, the longitudinal asymmetry was greater in the southern hemisphere. (2) The peaks of the E layer electron density along latitude generally occurred between 65\textdegree and 70\textdegree magnetic latitude in the auroral zone in all seasons for both hemispheres except for the sunlit sector of the southern summer. (3) The greater electron density in local winter in the auroral zone was generally associated with the more intense auroral precipitation intensity at roughly the same longitude, whereas the longitudinal patterns of the electron density were under the combined impact of both auroral precipitation and solar radiation in the local summer and equinoxes.

Luan, Xiaoli; Wang, Wenbin; Dou, Xiankang; Burns, Alan; Yue, Xinan;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 01/2015

YEAR: 2015     DOI: 10.1002/2014JA020610

auroral E layer; hemispheric asymmetry; longitudinal variations; Seasonal variations

GPS phase scintillation at high latitudes during geomagnetic storms of 7—17 March 2012—Part 2: Interhemispheric comparison

During the ascending phase of solar cycle 24, a series of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) in the period 7–17 March 2012 caused geomagnetic storms that strongly

Prikryl, P; Ghoddousi-Fard, R; Spogli, L; Mitchell, CN; Li, G; Ning, B; Cilliers, PJ; , Sreeja; Aquino, M; Terkildsen, M; , others;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2015     DOI: 10.5194/angeo-33-637-2015

Longitudinal variations of the nighttime E layer electron density in the auroral zone

Luan, Xiaoli; Wang, Wenbin; Dou, Xiankang; Burns, Alan; Yue, Xinan;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2015     DOI:

GPS phase scintillation at high latitudes during two geomagnetic storms

Prikryl, Paul; Ghoddousi-Fard, Reza; Ruohoniemi, John; Thomas, Evan; Zhang, Y; Paxton, LJ;

Published by: Auroral dynamics and space weather      Published on:

YEAR: 2015     DOI:

Solar Activity Dependence of Night Side Aurora in Winter/Dark Conditions

Luan, Xiaoli; Zhou, Su; Dou, Xiankang;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2015     DOI:

2014

Simulations of the equatorial thermosphere anomaly: Geomagnetic activity modulation

The modulation of geomagnetic activity on the equatorial thermosphere anomaly (ETA) in thermospheric temperature under the high solar activity condition is investigated using the Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model simulations. The model simulations during the geomagnetically disturbed interval, when the north-south component of the interplanetary magnetic field (Bz) oscillates between southward and northward directions, are analyzed and also compared with those under the quiet time condition. Our results show that ionospheric electron densities increase greatly in the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crest region and decrease around the magnetic equator during the storm time, resulting from the enhanced eastward electric fields. The impact of both the direct heat deposition at high latitudes and the modulation of the storm time enhanced EIA crests on the ETA are subsequently studied. The increased plasma densities over the EIA crest region enhance the field-aligned ion drag that accelerates the poleward meridional winds and consequently their associated adiabatic cooling effect. This process alone produces a deeper temperature trough over the magnetic equator as a result of the enhanced divergence of meridional winds. Moreover, the enhanced plasma-neutral collisional heating at higher latitudes associated with the ionospheric positive storm effect causes a weak increase of the ETA crests. On the other hand, strong changes of the neutral temperature are mainly confined to higher latitudes. Nevertheless, the changes of the ETA purely due to the increased plasma density are overwhelmed by those associated with the storm time heat deposition, which is the major cause of an overall elevated temperature in both the ETA crests and trough during the geomagnetically active period. Associated with the enhanced neutral temperature at high latitudes due to the heat deposition, the ETA crest-trough differences become larger under the minor geomagnetic activity condition than under the quiet time condition. However, when geomagnetic activity is further elevated, the ETA crests tend to be masked by high temperatures at middle and high latitudes.

Lei, Jiuhou; Wang, Wenbin; Thayer, Jeffrey; Luan, Xiaoli; Dou, Xiankang; Burns, Alan; Solomon, Stanley;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 08/2014

YEAR: 2014     DOI: 10.1002/2014JA020152

equatorial thermosphere anomaly; geomagnetic activity; ion-neutral coupling; positive ionospheric storm

Longitudinal and Hemispheric Variations of Nighttime E-Layer Electron Density in the Auroral Zone

Luan, Xiaoli; Wang, Wenbin; Dou, Xiankang; Burns, Alan; Yue, Xinan;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2014     DOI:

2013

Annual asymmetry in thermospheric density: Observations and simulations

[1]\ In this paper, the Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) observations during 2002\textendash2010 are utilized to study the variation of the annual asymmetry in thermospheric density at 400 km under low solar activity condition (F10.7 = 80) based on the method of empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs). The derived asymmetry index (AI) in thermospheric density from the EOF analysis shows a strong latitudinal variation at night but varies a little with latitudes in daytime. Moreover, it exhibits a terdiurnal tidal signature at low to middle latitudes. The global mean value of the AI is 0.191, indicating that a 47\% difference in thermosphere between the December and June solstices in the global average. In addition, the NCAR Thermosphere-Ionosphere Electrodynamics Global Circulation Model (TIEGCM) is used to explore the possible mechanisms responsible for the observed annual asymmetry in thermospheric density. It is found that the standard simulations give a lower AI and also a weaker day-to-night difference. The simulated AI shows a semidiurnal pattern in the equatorial and low-latitude regions in contrast with the terdiurnal tide signature seen in the observed AI. The daily mean AI obtained from the simulation is 0.125, corresponding to a 29\% December-to-June difference in thermospheric density at 400 km. Further sensitivity simulations demonstrated that the effect of the varying Sun-Earth distance between the December and June solstices is the main process responsible for the annual asymmetry in thermospheric density, while the magnetic field configuration and tides from the lower atmosphere contribute to the temporal and spatial variations of the AI. Specifically, the simulations show that the Sun-Earth distance effect explains 93\% of the difference in thermospheric density between December and June, which is mainly associated with the corresponding changes in neutral temperature. However, our calculation from the density observations reveals that the varying Sun-Earth distance effect only accounts for ~67\% of the December-to-June difference in thermosphere density, indicating that the TIEGCM might significantly underestimate the forcing originating from the lower atmosphere.

Lei, Jiuhou; Dou, Xiankang; Burns, Alan; Wang, Wenbin; Luan, Xiaoli; Zeng, Zhen; Xu, JiYao;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 05/2013

YEAR: 2013     DOI: 10.1002/jgra.50253

Annual asymmetry; Empirical orthogonal functions; Sun-Earth distance; Upper thermosphere

Geomagnetic and auroral activity driven by corotating interaction regions during the declining phase of Solar Cycle 23

A superposed epoch analysis is performed to investigate the relative impact of the solar wind/interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) on geomagnetic activity, auroral hemispheric power, and auroral morphology during corotating interaction regions (CIRs) events between 2002 and 2007, when auroral images from Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics/Global Ultraviolet Imager were available. Four categories of CIRs have been compared. These were classified by the averaged IMF Bz and the time of maximum solar wind dynamic pressure around the CIR stream interface or onset time. It is found that during CIR events: (1) The peaks of auroral power and Kp were largely associated with dominant southward Bz, whereas auroral activity also became stronger with increases of solar wind speed, density, and dynamic pressure. (2) The percentage and absolute increases of auroral hemispheric power with solar wind speed were much greater under dominantly northward Bz conditions than under dominantly southward Bz conditions. (3) The enhancement of the auroral power and Kp with increasing solar wind speed followed the same pattern, for both dominantly southward and northward Bz conditions, regardless of the behavior of solar wind density and dynamic pressure. These results suggest that, during CIR events, southward Bz played the most critical role in determining geomagnetic and auroral activity, whereas solar wind speed was the next most important contributor. The solar wind dynamic pressure was the less important factor, as compared with Bz and solar wind speed. Relatively strong auroral precipitation energy flux (\> ~3 mW/m2) occurred in a wider auroral oval region after the stream interface than before it for both dominantly northward and southward Bz conditions. These conditions enhanced the auroral hemispheric power after the stream interface. Intense auroral precipitation (\> ~4 mW/m2) generally occurred widely at night under dominantly southward Bz conditions, but the location of this precipitation in the auroral oval was different when it was associated with different solar wind density and speed conditions.

Luan, Xiaoli; Wang, Wenbin; Lei, Jiuhou; Burns, Alan; Dou, Xiankang; Xu, JiYao;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 03/2013

YEAR: 2013     DOI: 10.1002/jgra.50195

auroral morphology; corotating interaction regions; solar wind/IMF forcing

Ionosphere-Thermosphere Coupling-Data Analysis and Numerical Simulation Study

The well-known Fang parameterizations of monoenergetic particle impact ionization have been applied to the complex energy spectra measured by the DMSP F16 satellite to calculate

Christodoulou, Christos;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2013     DOI:

An interhemispheric comparison of GPS phase scintillation with auroral emission observed at the South Pole and from the DMSP satellite

The global positioning system (GPS) phase scintillation caused by highlatitude ionospheric irregularities during an intense high-speed stream (HSS) of the solar wind from April 29 to May 5, 2011, was observed using arrays of GPS ionospheric scintillation and total electron content monitors in the Arctic and Antarctica. The one-minute phase-scintillation index derived from the data sampled at 50 Hz was complemented by a proxy index (delta phase rate) obtained from 1-Hz GPS data. The scintillation occurrence coincided with the aurora borealis and aurora australis observed by an all-sky imager at the South Pole, and by special sensor ultraviolet scanning imagers on board satellites of the Defense Meteorological Satellites Program. The South Pole (SP) station is approximately conjugate with two Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network stations on Baffin Island, Canada, which provided the opportunity to study magnetic conjugacy of scintillation with support of riometers and magnetometers. The GPS ionospheric pierce points were mapped at their actual or conjugate locations, along with the auroral emission over the South Pole, assuming an altitude of 120 km. As the aurora brightened and/or drifted across the field of view of the all-sky imager, sequences of scintillation events were observed that indicated conjugate auroras as a locator of simultaneous or delayed bipolar scintillation events. In spite of the greater scintillation intensity in the auroral oval, where phase scintillation sometimes exceeded 1 radian during the auroral break-up and substorms, the percentage occurrence of moderate scintillation was highest in the cusp. Interhemispheric comparisons of bipolar scintillation maps show that the scintillation occurrence is significantly higher in the southern cusp and polar cap.

Prikryl, Paul; Zhang, Yongliang; Ebihara, Yusuke; Ghoddousi-Fard, Reza; Jayachandran, Periyadan; Kinrade, Joe; Mitchell, Cathryn; Weatherwax, Allan; Bust, Gary; Cilliers, Pierre; , others;

Published by: Annals of Geophysics      Published on:

YEAR: 2013     DOI:

An interhemispheric comparison of GPS phase scintillation with auroral emission observed at South Pole and from DMSP satellite

Prikryl, Paul; Zhang, Yongliang; Ebihara, Yusuke; Ghoddousi-Fard, Reza; Jayachandran, Periyadan; Kinrade, Joe; Mitchell, Cathryn; Weatherwax, Allan; Bust, Gary; Cilliers, Pierre; , others;

Published by: Annals of Geophysics      Published on:

YEAR: 2013     DOI:

2012

Annual and semiannual variations of thermospheric density: EOF analysis of CHAMP and GRACE data

Lei, Jiuhou; Matsuo, Tomoko; Dou, Xiankang; Sutton, Eric; Luan, Xiaoli;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2012     DOI:

2008

Oscillations of the equatorward boundary of the ion auroral oval – radar observations

Three SuperDARN radars in the afternoon-midnight sector of the auroral oval detected a boundary oscillation, originating near ∼1800 MLT sector. Analysis of the phase of the oscillations measured in three meridians indicates that the disturbance has a longitudinally (azimuthally) isolated source and away from which it propagates. The eastward and westward phase speeds are 2.6 and 3.6 km/s respectively and the period is roughly 28 minutes. An examination of the geo-synchronous magnetic field inclination also revealed oscillations similar to the oscillations of the boundary. Solar wind and IMF conditions were steady during the period except for variations of the IMF By component. The IMF By component showed variations similar to the oscillations in the boundary and the geo-synchronous magnetic field inclination. During reduced and negative IMF By, the boundary was moving equatorward, while during increased or positive IMF By it was moving poleward. The variations in the magnetic field inclination measured at geosynchronous orbit by the GOES satellites were consistent with these boundary motions: decreases (more stretched) and increases (more dipolar) in the inclination corresponded to equatorward and poleward moving boundaries, respectively. Polar cap convection also showed changes in the direction of the convection in response to the change in the IMF By component. Observed oscillation of the boundary can be explained by stretching of the tail field lines due to asymmetric merging associated with changes in the By component of the interplanetary magnetic field.

Jayachandran, P.; Sato, N.; Ebihara, Y.; Yukimatu, A.; Kadokura, A.; MacDougall, J.; Donovan, E.; Liou, K.;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2008     DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JA012870

Boundary oscillation; SuperDARN radars; Convection

2004

Global ring current pressure during geomagnetic storms: solar wind and storm phase dependence

Brandt, PC; Roelof, EC; DeMajistre, R; Mitchell, DG; Vallat, C; Dandouras, I;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2004     DOI:

2002

Validation of Global Ultraviolet Imager (GUVI) Derived Electron Density Profiles With Measurements by the EISCAT Radar

McCrea, IW; Anderson, PC; , Howells; Paxton, LJ; Zhang, Y; Douglas, SJ; Christensen, AB;

Published by:       Published on:

YEAR: 2002     DOI:



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