The Substorm Current Wedge （SCW） occurrence in the late growth and onset phases of substorms was proposed as the current system which disrupts cross-tail current by diverting it to the ionosphere. The closure curren...The Substorm Current Wedge （SCW） occurrence in the late growth and onset phases of substorms was proposed as the current system which disrupts cross-tail current by diverting it to the ionosphere. The closure current for the SCW originally was suggested to be the strong westward auroral electrojet （WEJ）. However, the SCW-WEJ system has no viable generator current. Similarly, the asymmetric or Partial Ring Current （PRC） increases in strength during the growth phase, and is sometimes associated with an enhanced Region 2 field-aligned current （FAC） closing to the ionosphere, but specifics of that closure have been lacking. Here we present a tmifying picture which includes the SCW post- and pre-midnight （AM and PM, respectively） currents and a generator current in the midnight portion of the PRC system, with these currents based upon a model of the nightside magnetotail magnetic geometry. That geometry consists of open north and south lobe regions surrounding a plasmasheet with two types of closed field line regions-stretched lines in the central part of the plasmasheet （SPS） and dipolar lines （DPS） between the low lati- tude boundary layer （LLBL） regions and the SPS. There is also an important plasmasheet transition region （TPS） in which the dipolar field near the plasmapause gradually transforms to stretched lines near the earthward edge of the SPS, and in which the midnight part of the PRC flows. We propose that our proposed near-onset current system consists of a central current which be- comes part of the midnight sector PRC and which is the generator, to which are linked two three-part current systems, one on the dawnside and one on the duskside. The three-part systems consist of up and down FACs closing as Pedersen currents in the iono- sphere. These 3-part systems are not activated until near-onset is reached, because of a lack of ionospheric conductivity in the appropriate locations where the Pedersen current closure occurs. The initial downward FAC of the 3-part dawnside system and the final upward FAC of the 3-part duskside system correspond to the AM and PM current segments, respectively, of the originally proposed SCW.展开更多
The cause of substorm onset is not yet understood. Chen CX(2016) proposed an entropy switch model, in which substorm onset results from the development of interchange instability. In this study, we sought observationa...The cause of substorm onset is not yet understood. Chen CX(2016) proposed an entropy switch model, in which substorm onset results from the development of interchange instability. In this study, we sought observational evidence for this model by using Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms(THEMIS) data. We examined two events, one with and the other without a streamer before substorm onset. In contrast to the stable magnetosphere, where the total magnetic field strength is a decreasing function and entropy is an increasing function of the downtail distance, in both events the total magnetic field strength and entropy were reversed before substorm onset. After onset, the total magnetic field strength, entropy, and other plasma quantities fluctuated. In addition, a statistical study was performed. By confining the events with THEMIS satellites located in the downtail region between ~8 and ~12 Earth radii, and 3 hours before and after midnight, we found the occurrence rate of the total magnetic field strength reversal to be 69% and the occurrence rate of entropy reversal to be 77% of the total 205 events.展开更多
Using the data of LFEW/TC-2, we studied the dawn side chorus around substorm onsets during a strong geomagnetic storm in November 2004. During this storm, LFEW/TC-2 observed 14 dawnside chorus events. Nine of them wer...Using the data of LFEW/TC-2, we studied the dawn side chorus around substorm onsets during a strong geomagnetic storm in November 2004. During this storm, LFEW/TC-2 observed 14 dawnside chorus events. Nine of them were associated with substorms and occurred within 40 min around the substorm onsets. The fre-quencies of waves have a very good correlation with the half equatorial electron cyclotron frequencies. Chorus can be excited in the region near magnetic equato-rial plane and then propagate to the mid and high latitudes. When the wave fre-quencies reach the local lower hybrid frequencies, chorus can be reflected due to the lower hybrid resonance. The time delay between the chorus and its echo is about 28 min. Previous observations show that the chorus can propagate at most to the magnetic latitudes of 40°. LFEW/ TC-2 found for the first time that the chorus in space could propagate to the magnetic latitude of 70°. Since most of the previous chorus observations are made close to the magnetic equatorial plane, our results are important for the studies of excitation and propagation of whistler mode wave, and relevant relativistic electron acceleration in the magnetosphere.展开更多
Low frequency electromagnetic fluctuations in the vicinity of a magnetospheric substorm onset were investigated using simultaneous observations by THEMIS multiple probes in the near-Earth plasma sheet in the magnetota...Low frequency electromagnetic fluctuations in the vicinity of a magnetospheric substorm onset were investigated using simultaneous observations by THEMIS multiple probes in the near-Earth plasma sheet in the magnetotail.The observations indicate that in the vicinity of a substorm onset,kinetic Alfvén waves can be excited in the high-βplasma sheet(β=2μ0nT/B 2 ,the ratio of plasma thermal pressure to magnetic pressure)within the near-Earth magnetotail.The kinetic Alfvén wave has a small spatial scale in the high-βplasma.The parallel electric field accompanying kinetic Alfvén waves accelerates the charged particles along the magnetic field.The kinetic Alfvén waves play an important role in the substorm trigger process,and possibly in the formation of a substorm current wedge.展开更多
On July 11, 2004, a substorm process in the period of continuous tailward flow was observed by the joint exploration of the TC-1, IMAGE and ACE satellites. The substorm observed by the TC-1 in the near-Earth has three...On July 11, 2004, a substorm process in the period of continuous tailward flow was observed by the joint exploration of the TC-1, IMAGE and ACE satellites. The substorm observed by the TC-1 in the near-Earth has three stages: the growth phase (from 11:43 to 12:19), the pre-expansion process (from 12:19 to 12:28) and the dipolarization process. The auroral brightening was at 12:26 recorded by the FUV instrument on IMAGE, and the dipolarization occurred two minutes later. During the 45 min period of the tailward flow, the magnetotail experienced the growth phase and the pre-expansion process. When the dipolarization process began, the TC-1 entered the plasma sheet and observed a high speed earthward flow. The field-aligned tailward flow is characterized by the low temperature and high density, which is consistent with the properties of the flow from the ionosphere detected in the near-Earth magnetotail by other satellites. The tailward flow is closely related with the southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), and may have an important effect on the substorm.展开更多
With the 4-s resolution data of the magnetometer and the ion plasma analyzer on TC-1 from June to November of each year during the period of 2004―2006, we statistically analyzed the occurrence rate of both convective...With the 4-s resolution data of the magnetometer and the ion plasma analyzer on TC-1 from June to November of each year during the period of 2004―2006, we statistically analyzed the occurrence rate of both convective and field-aligned bursty flows (FABFs). A near-Earth bursty bulk flow (NEBBF) occurred during both the quiet time and substorm process. In general, the magnetic field and the plasma density began oscillating with the appearance of the NEBBF associated with a distinct increase of the AE index. The increase of AE index during the NEBBF was more than 100 nT in both quiet time and substorm process. The statistical analysis indicated that the occurrence rates of the FABFs were nearly the same in the dif-ferent stages of the AE index, but the occurrence rate of the NEBBFs was much higher in the growth stage of the AE index, indicating that the NEBBFs were di-rectly related to the growth and expansion phases of the substorm. The observa-tions suggested that the quite large number of BBFs from the mid magnetotail could enter into the near-Earth tail and play important role in triggering the sub-storm onset.展开更多
文摘The Substorm Current Wedge （SCW） occurrence in the late growth and onset phases of substorms was proposed as the current system which disrupts cross-tail current by diverting it to the ionosphere. The closure current for the SCW originally was suggested to be the strong westward auroral electrojet （WEJ）. However, the SCW-WEJ system has no viable generator current. Similarly, the asymmetric or Partial Ring Current （PRC） increases in strength during the growth phase, and is sometimes associated with an enhanced Region 2 field-aligned current （FAC） closing to the ionosphere, but specifics of that closure have been lacking. Here we present a tmifying picture which includes the SCW post- and pre-midnight （AM and PM, respectively） currents and a generator current in the midnight portion of the PRC system, with these currents based upon a model of the nightside magnetotail magnetic geometry. That geometry consists of open north and south lobe regions surrounding a plasmasheet with two types of closed field line regions-stretched lines in the central part of the plasmasheet （SPS） and dipolar lines （DPS） between the low lati- tude boundary layer （LLBL） regions and the SPS. There is also an important plasmasheet transition region （TPS） in which the dipolar field near the plasmapause gradually transforms to stretched lines near the earthward edge of the SPS, and in which the midnight part of the PRC flows. We propose that our proposed near-onset current system consists of a central current which be- comes part of the midnight sector PRC and which is the generator, to which are linked two three-part current systems, one on the dawnside and one on the duskside. The three-part systems consist of up and down FACs closing as Pedersen currents in the iono- sphere. These 3-part systems are not activated until near-onset is reached, because of a lack of ionospheric conductivity in the appropriate locations where the Pedersen current closure occurs. The initial downward FAC of the 3-part dawnside system and the final upward FAC of the 3-part duskside system correspond to the AM and PM current segments, respectively, of the originally proposed SCW.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.NSFC41974204)。
文摘The cause of substorm onset is not yet understood. Chen CX(2016) proposed an entropy switch model, in which substorm onset results from the development of interchange instability. In this study, we sought observational evidence for this model by using Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms(THEMIS) data. We examined two events, one with and the other without a streamer before substorm onset. In contrast to the stable magnetosphere, where the total magnetic field strength is a decreasing function and entropy is an increasing function of the downtail distance, in both events the total magnetic field strength and entropy were reversed before substorm onset. After onset, the total magnetic field strength, entropy, and other plasma quantities fluctuated. In addition, a statistical study was performed. By confining the events with THEMIS satellites located in the downtail region between ~8 and ~12 Earth radii, and 3 hours before and after midnight, we found the occurrence rate of the total magnetic field strength reversal to be 69% and the occurrence rate of entropy reversal to be 77% of the total 205 events.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40621003, 40523006, 40704028, 40604018)973 Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB806305)the Specialized Research Fund for State Key Laboratories of China.
文摘Using the data of LFEW/TC-2, we studied the dawn side chorus around substorm onsets during a strong geomagnetic storm in November 2004. During this storm, LFEW/TC-2 observed 14 dawnside chorus events. Nine of them were associated with substorms and occurred within 40 min around the substorm onsets. The fre-quencies of waves have a very good correlation with the half equatorial electron cyclotron frequencies. Chorus can be excited in the region near magnetic equato-rial plane and then propagate to the mid and high latitudes. When the wave fre-quencies reach the local lower hybrid frequencies, chorus can be reflected due to the lower hybrid resonance. The time delay between the chorus and its echo is about 28 min. Previous observations show that the chorus can propagate at most to the magnetic latitudes of 40°. LFEW/ TC-2 found for the first time that the chorus in space could propagate to the magnetic latitude of 70°. Since most of the previous chorus observations are made close to the magnetic equatorial plane, our results are important for the studies of excitation and propagation of whistler mode wave, and relevant relativistic electron acceleration in the magnetosphere.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(40974099,40731054,40704027 and 40921063)the Specialized Research Fund for State Key Laboratories and the National Basic Research Program of China(2011CB811404)
文摘Low frequency electromagnetic fluctuations in the vicinity of a magnetospheric substorm onset were investigated using simultaneous observations by THEMIS multiple probes in the near-Earth plasma sheet in the magnetotail.The observations indicate that in the vicinity of a substorm onset,kinetic Alfvén waves can be excited in the high-βplasma sheet(β=2μ0nT/B 2 ,the ratio of plasma thermal pressure to magnetic pressure)within the near-Earth magnetotail.The kinetic Alfvén wave has a small spatial scale in the high-βplasma.The parallel electric field accompanying kinetic Alfvén waves accelerates the charged particles along the magnetic field.The kinetic Alfvén waves play an important role in the substorm trigger process,and possibly in the formation of a substorm current wedge.
基金The authors are grateful to Japanese WDC-C2 KY0T0 AE index service for presenting AU,AL and AE indices and to Goddard Space Flight Center,NASA for presenting data of the interpanaetary condition and auroradata.Thanks are also given to Cluster and Double-Star Data Center for providing data used in the study.This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.40390152)the State Key Basic Research Program(Grant No.G200000784)the XK100010404 of Beijing City,and the Space Weather Laboratory,Center for Space Science and Applied Research,CAS.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40390150, 40474058 and 40125012)
文摘On July 11, 2004, a substorm process in the period of continuous tailward flow was observed by the joint exploration of the TC-1, IMAGE and ACE satellites. The substorm observed by the TC-1 in the near-Earth has three stages: the growth phase (from 11:43 to 12:19), the pre-expansion process (from 12:19 to 12:28) and the dipolarization process. The auroral brightening was at 12:26 recorded by the FUV instrument on IMAGE, and the dipolarization occurred two minutes later. During the 45 min period of the tailward flow, the magnetotail experienced the growth phase and the pre-expansion process. When the dipolarization process began, the TC-1 entered the plasma sheet and observed a high speed earthward flow. The field-aligned tailward flow is characterized by the low temperature and high density, which is consistent with the properties of the flow from the ionosphere detected in the near-Earth magnetotail by other satellites. The tailward flow is closely related with the southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), and may have an important effect on the substorm.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40704031, 40674091 and 40536030)
文摘With the 4-s resolution data of the magnetometer and the ion plasma analyzer on TC-1 from June to November of each year during the period of 2004―2006, we statistically analyzed the occurrence rate of both convective and field-aligned bursty flows (FABFs). A near-Earth bursty bulk flow (NEBBF) occurred during both the quiet time and substorm process. In general, the magnetic field and the plasma density began oscillating with the appearance of the NEBBF associated with a distinct increase of the AE index. The increase of AE index during the NEBBF was more than 100 nT in both quiet time and substorm process. The statistical analysis indicated that the occurrence rates of the FABFs were nearly the same in the dif-ferent stages of the AE index, but the occurrence rate of the NEBBFs was much higher in the growth stage of the AE index, indicating that the NEBBFs were di-rectly related to the growth and expansion phases of the substorm. The observa-tions suggested that the quite large number of BBFs from the mid magnetotail could enter into the near-Earth tail and play important role in triggering the sub-storm onset.
