Evaluation on the analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and/or self-organized critical system
The dissipation power and size of auroral blobs are investigated in detail to examine the possible analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and/or self-organized critical system. The distributions of these auroral parameters are sorted in terms of different levels of activity, name...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2002-01-01
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Series: | Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics |
Online Access: | http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/9/399/2002/npg-9-399-2002.pdf |
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author | A. T. Y. Lui |
author_facet | A. T. Y. Lui |
author_sort | A. T. Y. Lui |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The dissipation power and size of auroral blobs are investigated in detail to examine the possible analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and/or self-organized critical system. The distributions of these auroral parameters are sorted in terms of different levels of activity, namely substorms, pseudo-breakups, and quiet conditions. A power law (scale-free) component is seen in all these distributions. In addition, a peak distribution is found for substorm intervals and a hump for pseudo-breakup intervals. The peak distribution is present prominently during magnetic storms, i.e. when the magnetosphere is strongly driven by the solar wind. It is interpreted that the scale-free component is associated with the activity of the diffuse aurora, corresponding to disturbances at all permissible scales within the plasma sheet. Ionospheric feedback appears to be essential for the presence of two components in the distribution for auroral dissipation power. These results are consistent with the concept that the magnetosphere is in a forced and/or self-organized critical state, although they do not constitute conclusive evidence for the analogy. |
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id | doaj.art-666a7808cb764790ba23cbaad50b80b3 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1023-5809 1607-7946 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:26:04Z |
publishDate | 2002-01-01 |
publisher | Copernicus Publications |
record_format | Article |
series | Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics |
spelling | doaj.art-666a7808cb764790ba23cbaad50b80b32022-12-22T03:12:25ZengCopernicus PublicationsNonlinear Processes in Geophysics1023-58091607-79462002-01-0195/6399407Evaluation on the analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and/or self-organized critical systemA. T. Y. LuiThe dissipation power and size of auroral blobs are investigated in detail to examine the possible analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and/or self-organized critical system. The distributions of these auroral parameters are sorted in terms of different levels of activity, namely substorms, pseudo-breakups, and quiet conditions. A power law (scale-free) component is seen in all these distributions. In addition, a peak distribution is found for substorm intervals and a hump for pseudo-breakup intervals. The peak distribution is present prominently during magnetic storms, i.e. when the magnetosphere is strongly driven by the solar wind. It is interpreted that the scale-free component is associated with the activity of the diffuse aurora, corresponding to disturbances at all permissible scales within the plasma sheet. Ionospheric feedback appears to be essential for the presence of two components in the distribution for auroral dissipation power. These results are consistent with the concept that the magnetosphere is in a forced and/or self-organized critical state, although they do not constitute conclusive evidence for the analogy.http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/9/399/2002/npg-9-399-2002.pdf |
spellingShingle | A. T. Y. Lui Evaluation on the analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and/or self-organized critical system Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics |
title | Evaluation on the analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and/or self-organized critical system |
title_full | Evaluation on the analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and/or self-organized critical system |
title_fullStr | Evaluation on the analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and/or self-organized critical system |
title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation on the analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and/or self-organized critical system |
title_short | Evaluation on the analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and/or self-organized critical system |
title_sort | evaluation on the analogy between the dynamic magnetosphere and a forced and or self organized critical system |
url | http://www.nonlin-processes-geophys.net/9/399/2002/npg-9-399-2002.pdf |
work_keys_str_mv | AT atylui evaluationontheanalogybetweenthedynamicmagnetosphereandaforcedandorselforganizedcriticalsystem |