Dayside and nightside contributions to cross-polar cap potential variations: the 20 March 2001 ICME case

We investigate the association between temporal-spatial structure of polar cap convection and auroral electrojet intensifications during a 5-h-long interval of strong forcing of the magnetosphere by an ICME/Magnetic cloud on 20 March 2001. We use data from coordinated ground-satellite observation...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Y. L. Andalsvik, P. E. Sandholt, C. J. Farrugia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2011-11-01
Series:Annales Geophysicae
Online Access:https://www.ann-geophys.net/29/2189/2011/angeo-29-2189-2011.pdf
_version_ 1819101366459564032
author Y. L. Andalsvik
P. E. Sandholt
C. J. Farrugia
author_facet Y. L. Andalsvik
P. E. Sandholt
C. J. Farrugia
author_sort Y. L. Andalsvik
collection DOAJ
description We investigate the association between temporal-spatial structure of polar cap convection and auroral electrojet intensifications during a 5-h-long interval of strong forcing of the magnetosphere by an ICME/Magnetic cloud on 20 March 2001. We use data from coordinated ground-satellite observations in the 15:00–20:00 MLT sector. We take advantage of the good latitudinal coverage in the polar cap and in the auroral zone of the IMAGE chain of ground magnetometers in Svalbard – Scandinavia – Russia and the stable magnetic field conditions in ICMEs. The electrojet events are characterized by a sequence of 10 min-long AL excursions to −1000/−1500 nT followed by poleward expansions and auroral streamers. These events are superimposed on a high disturbance level when the AL index remains around −500 nT for several hours. These signatures are different from those appearing in classical substorms, most notably the absence of a complete recovery phase when AL usually reaches above −100 nT. We concentrate on polar cap convection in both hemispheres (DMSP F13 data) in relation to the ICME <I>B</I><sub>y</sub> conditions, electrojet intensifications, and the global UV auroral configuration obtained from the IMAGE spacecraft. The temporal evolution of convection properties such as the cross-polar cap potential (CPCP) drop and flow channels at the dawn/dusk polar cap (PC) boundaries around the time of the electrojet events are investigated. This approach allows us to distinguish between dayside (magnetopause reconnection) and nightside (magnetotail reconnection) sources of the PC convection events within the context of the expanding-contracting model of high-latitude convection in the Dungey cycle. Inter-hemispheric symmetries/asymmetries in the presence of newly-discovered convection channels at the dawn or dusk side PC boundaries are determined.
first_indexed 2024-12-22T01:17:32Z
format Article
id doaj.art-2b8928e68a6b4f1fb69c6b2e6bfa82ea
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0992-7689
1432-0576
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-22T01:17:32Z
publishDate 2011-11-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Annales Geophysicae
spelling doaj.art-2b8928e68a6b4f1fb69c6b2e6bfa82ea2022-12-21T18:43:49ZengCopernicus PublicationsAnnales Geophysicae0992-76891432-05762011-11-01292189220110.5194/angeo-29-2189-2011Dayside and nightside contributions to cross-polar cap potential variations: the 20 March 2001 ICME caseY. L. Andalsvik0P. E. Sandholt1C. J. Farrugia2Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwayDepartment of Physics, University of Oslo, Oslo, NorwaySpace Science Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham, USAWe investigate the association between temporal-spatial structure of polar cap convection and auroral electrojet intensifications during a 5-h-long interval of strong forcing of the magnetosphere by an ICME/Magnetic cloud on 20 March 2001. We use data from coordinated ground-satellite observations in the 15:00–20:00 MLT sector. We take advantage of the good latitudinal coverage in the polar cap and in the auroral zone of the IMAGE chain of ground magnetometers in Svalbard – Scandinavia – Russia and the stable magnetic field conditions in ICMEs. The electrojet events are characterized by a sequence of 10 min-long AL excursions to −1000/−1500 nT followed by poleward expansions and auroral streamers. These events are superimposed on a high disturbance level when the AL index remains around −500 nT for several hours. These signatures are different from those appearing in classical substorms, most notably the absence of a complete recovery phase when AL usually reaches above −100 nT. We concentrate on polar cap convection in both hemispheres (DMSP F13 data) in relation to the ICME <I>B</I><sub>y</sub> conditions, electrojet intensifications, and the global UV auroral configuration obtained from the IMAGE spacecraft. The temporal evolution of convection properties such as the cross-polar cap potential (CPCP) drop and flow channels at the dawn/dusk polar cap (PC) boundaries around the time of the electrojet events are investigated. This approach allows us to distinguish between dayside (magnetopause reconnection) and nightside (magnetotail reconnection) sources of the PC convection events within the context of the expanding-contracting model of high-latitude convection in the Dungey cycle. Inter-hemispheric symmetries/asymmetries in the presence of newly-discovered convection channels at the dawn or dusk side PC boundaries are determined.https://www.ann-geophys.net/29/2189/2011/angeo-29-2189-2011.pdf
spellingShingle Y. L. Andalsvik
P. E. Sandholt
C. J. Farrugia
Dayside and nightside contributions to cross-polar cap potential variations: the 20 March 2001 ICME case
Annales Geophysicae
title Dayside and nightside contributions to cross-polar cap potential variations: the 20 March 2001 ICME case
title_full Dayside and nightside contributions to cross-polar cap potential variations: the 20 March 2001 ICME case
title_fullStr Dayside and nightside contributions to cross-polar cap potential variations: the 20 March 2001 ICME case
title_full_unstemmed Dayside and nightside contributions to cross-polar cap potential variations: the 20 March 2001 ICME case
title_short Dayside and nightside contributions to cross-polar cap potential variations: the 20 March 2001 ICME case
title_sort dayside and nightside contributions to cross polar cap potential variations the 20 march 2001 icme case
url https://www.ann-geophys.net/29/2189/2011/angeo-29-2189-2011.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT ylandalsvik daysideandnightsidecontributionstocrosspolarcappotentialvariationsthe20march2001icmecase
AT pesandholt daysideandnightsidecontributionstocrosspolarcappotentialvariationsthe20march2001icmecase
AT cjfarrugia daysideandnightsidecontributionstocrosspolarcappotentialvariationsthe20march2001icmecase