Penetration of MeV electrons into the mesosphere accompanying pulsating aurorae
Abstract Pulsating aurorae (PsA) are caused by the intermittent precipitations of magnetospheric electrons (energies of a few keV to a few tens of keV) through wave-particle interactions, thereby depositing most of their energy at altitudes ~ 100 km. However, the maximum energy of precipitated elect...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92611-3 |
| _version_ | 1819202177567031296 |
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| author | Y. Miyoshi K. Hosokawa S. Kurita S.-I. Oyama Y. Ogawa S. Saito I. Shinohara A. Kero E. Turunen P. T. Verronen S. Kasahara S. Yokota T. Mitani T. Takashima N. Higashio Y. Kasahara S. Matsuda F. Tsuchiya A. Kumamoto A. Matsuoka T. Hori K. Keika M. Shoji M. Teramoto S. Imajo C. Jun S. Nakamura |
| author_facet | Y. Miyoshi K. Hosokawa S. Kurita S.-I. Oyama Y. Ogawa S. Saito I. Shinohara A. Kero E. Turunen P. T. Verronen S. Kasahara S. Yokota T. Mitani T. Takashima N. Higashio Y. Kasahara S. Matsuda F. Tsuchiya A. Kumamoto A. Matsuoka T. Hori K. Keika M. Shoji M. Teramoto S. Imajo C. Jun S. Nakamura |
| author_sort | Y. Miyoshi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Pulsating aurorae (PsA) are caused by the intermittent precipitations of magnetospheric electrons (energies of a few keV to a few tens of keV) through wave-particle interactions, thereby depositing most of their energy at altitudes ~ 100 km. However, the maximum energy of precipitated electrons and its impacts on the atmosphere are unknown. Herein, we report unique observations by the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) radar showing electron precipitations ranging from a few hundred keV to a few MeV during a PsA associated with a weak geomagnetic storm. Simultaneously, the Arase spacecraft has observed intense whistler-mode chorus waves at the conjugate location along magnetic field lines. A computer simulation based on the EISCAT observations shows immediate catalytic ozone depletion at the mesospheric altitudes. Since PsA occurs frequently, often in daily basis, and extends its impact over large MLT areas, we anticipate that the PsA possesses a significant forcing to the mesospheric ozone chemistry in high latitudes through high energy electron precipitations. Therefore, the generation of PsA results in the depletion of mesospheric ozone through high-energy electron precipitations caused by whistler-mode chorus waves, which are similar to the well-known effect due to solar energetic protons triggered by solar flares. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T03:59:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-909b20563ea64a88863b05f22a43f019 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T03:59:53Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-909b20563ea64a88863b05f22a43f0192022-12-21T18:00:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-07-011111910.1038/s41598-021-92611-3Penetration of MeV electrons into the mesosphere accompanying pulsating auroraeY. Miyoshi0K. Hosokawa1S. Kurita2S.-I. Oyama3Y. Ogawa4S. Saito5I. Shinohara6A. Kero7E. Turunen8P. T. Verronen9S. Kasahara10S. Yokota11T. Mitani12T. Takashima13N. Higashio14Y. Kasahara15S. Matsuda16F. Tsuchiya17A. Kumamoto18A. Matsuoka19T. Hori20K. Keika21M. Shoji22M. Teramoto23S. Imajo24C. Jun25S. Nakamura26Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya UniversityGraduate School of Communication Engineering and Informatics, University of Electro-CommunicationsResearch Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto UniversityInstitute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya UniversityNational Institute of Polar ResearchNational Institute of Information and Communications TechnologyJapan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, University of OuluSodankylä Geophysical Observatory, University of OuluSodankylä Geophysical Observatory, University of OuluGraduate School of Science, University of TokyoGraduate School of Science, Osaka UniversityJapan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa UniversityJapan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)Graduate School of Science, Tohoku UniversityGraduate School of Science, Tohoku UniversityGraduate School of Science, Kyoto UniversityInstitute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya UniversityGraduate School of Science, University of TokyoInstitute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya UniversityGraduate School of Engineering, Kyushu Institute of TechnologyGraduate School of Science, Kyoto UniversityInstitute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya UniversityInstitute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya UniversityAbstract Pulsating aurorae (PsA) are caused by the intermittent precipitations of magnetospheric electrons (energies of a few keV to a few tens of keV) through wave-particle interactions, thereby depositing most of their energy at altitudes ~ 100 km. However, the maximum energy of precipitated electrons and its impacts on the atmosphere are unknown. Herein, we report unique observations by the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) radar showing electron precipitations ranging from a few hundred keV to a few MeV during a PsA associated with a weak geomagnetic storm. Simultaneously, the Arase spacecraft has observed intense whistler-mode chorus waves at the conjugate location along magnetic field lines. A computer simulation based on the EISCAT observations shows immediate catalytic ozone depletion at the mesospheric altitudes. Since PsA occurs frequently, often in daily basis, and extends its impact over large MLT areas, we anticipate that the PsA possesses a significant forcing to the mesospheric ozone chemistry in high latitudes through high energy electron precipitations. Therefore, the generation of PsA results in the depletion of mesospheric ozone through high-energy electron precipitations caused by whistler-mode chorus waves, which are similar to the well-known effect due to solar energetic protons triggered by solar flares.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92611-3 |
| spellingShingle | Y. Miyoshi K. Hosokawa S. Kurita S.-I. Oyama Y. Ogawa S. Saito I. Shinohara A. Kero E. Turunen P. T. Verronen S. Kasahara S. Yokota T. Mitani T. Takashima N. Higashio Y. Kasahara S. Matsuda F. Tsuchiya A. Kumamoto A. Matsuoka T. Hori K. Keika M. Shoji M. Teramoto S. Imajo C. Jun S. Nakamura Penetration of MeV electrons into the mesosphere accompanying pulsating aurorae Scientific Reports |
| title | Penetration of MeV electrons into the mesosphere accompanying pulsating aurorae |
| title_full | Penetration of MeV electrons into the mesosphere accompanying pulsating aurorae |
| title_fullStr | Penetration of MeV electrons into the mesosphere accompanying pulsating aurorae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Penetration of MeV electrons into the mesosphere accompanying pulsating aurorae |
| title_short | Penetration of MeV electrons into the mesosphere accompanying pulsating aurorae |
| title_sort | penetration of mev electrons into the mesosphere accompanying pulsating aurorae |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92611-3 |
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