A case study of large-amplitude ULF waves in the Martian foreshock

Foreshock ultralow frequency (ULF) waves constitute a significant physical phenomenon in the plasma environment of terrestrial planets. The occurrence of these waves, associated with backstreaming particles reflected and accelerated at the bow shock, implies specific conditions and properties of the shock and its foreshock. Using magnetic field and ion measurements from MAVEN, we report a clear event of ULF waves in the Martian foreshock. The interplanetary magnetic field connected to the Martian bow shock, forming a shock angle of ~51°. Indicating that this was a fast mode wave is the fact that ion density varied in phase with perturbations of the wave field. The peak frequency of the waves was about 0.040 Hz in the spacecraft frame, much lower than the local proton gyrofrequency (~0.088 Hz). The ULF waves had a propagation angle approximately 34° from ambient magnetic field and were accompanied by the whistler mode. The ULF waves displayed left-hand elliptical polarization with respect to the interplanetary magnetic field in the spacecraft frame. All these properties fit very well with foreshock waves excited by interactions between solar wind and backstreaming ions through right-hand beam instability.

Corotating drift-bounce resonance of plasmaspheric electron with poloidal ULF waves

The purpose of this paper is to understand how low energy plasmaspheric electrons respond to ULF waves excited by interplanetary shocks impinging on magnetosphere. It is found that both energy and pitch angle dispersed plasmaspheric electrons with energy of a few eV to tens of eV can be generated simultaneously by the interplanetary shock. The subsequent period of successive dispersion signatures is around 40 s and is consistent with the ULF wave period(third harmonic). By tracing back the energy and pitch angle dispersion signatures, the position of the electron injection region is found to be off-equator at around -32° in the southern hemisphere. This can be explained as the result of injected electrons being accelerated by higher harmonic ULF waves(e.g. third harmonic) which carry a larger amplitude electric field off-equator. The dispersion signatures are due to the flux modulations(or accelerations) of " local" plasmaspheric electrons rather than electrons from the ionosphere. With the observed wave-borne large electric field excited by the interplanetary shock impact, the kinetic energy can increase to a maximum of 23 percent in one bouncing cycle for plasmaspheric electrons satisfying the drift-bounce resonance condition by taking account of both the corotating drift and bounce motion of the local plasmaspheric electron.

Seismogenic ULF/ELF Wave Phenomena: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

There has been enormous progress in the field of electromagnetic phenomena associated with earthquakes (EQs) and EQ prediction during the last three decades, and it is recently agreed that electromagnetic effects do appear prior to an EQ. A few phenomena are well recognized as being statistically correlated with EQs as promising candidates for short-term EQ predictors: the first is ionospheric perturbation not only in the lower ionosphere as seen by subionospheric VLF (very low frequency, 3 kHz f 30 kHz)/LF (low frequency, 30 kHz f 300 kHz) propagation but also in the upper F region as detected by ionosondes, TEC (total electron content) observations, satellite observations, etc, and the second is DC earth current known as SES (Seismic electric signal). In addition to the above two physical phenomena, this review highlights the following four physical wave phenomena in ULF (ultra low frequency, frequency Hz)/ELF (extremely low frequency, 3 Hz frequency 3 kHz) ranges, including 1) ULF lithospheric radiation (i.e., direct radiation from the lithosphere), 2) ULF magnetic field depression effect (as an indicator of lower ionospheric perturbation), 3) ULF/ELF electromagnetic radiation (radiation in the atmosphere), and 4) Schumann resonance (SR) anomalies (as an indicator of the perturbations in the lower ionosphere and stratosphere). For each physical item, we will repeat the essential points and also discuss recent advances and future perspectives. For the purpose of future real EQ prediction practice, we pay attention to the statistical correlation of each phenomenon with EQs, and its predictability in terms of probability gain. Of course, all of those effects are recommended as plausible candidates for short-term EQ prediction, and they can be physically explained in terms of the unified concept of the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling (LAIC) process, so a brief description of this coupling has been carried out by using these four physical parameters though the mechanism of each phenomenon is still poorly understood. In conclusion, we have to emphasize the importance of more statistical studies for more abundant datasets sometimes with the use of AI (artificial intelligence) techniques, more case studies for huge (M greater than 7) EQ events, recommendation of critical analyses, and finally multi-parameters observation (even though it is tough work).

Joint observations of the large-scale ULF wave activity from space to ground associated with the solar wind dynamic pressure enhancement

This study reports the rare ultralow-frequency(ULF) wave activity associated with the solar wind dynamic pressure enhancement that was successively observed by the GOES-17(Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) in the magnetosphere, the CSES(China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite) in the ionosphere, and the THEMIS ground-based observatories(GBO) GAKO and EAGL in the Earth's polar region during the main phase of an intense storm on 4 November 2021. Along with the enhanced-pressure solar wind moving tailward, the geomagnetic field structure experienced a large-scale change. From dawn/dusk sides to midnight, the GAKO, EAGL, and GOES-17 sequentially observed the ULF waves in a frequency range of0.04–0.36 Hz at L shells of ~5.07, 6.29, and 5.67, respectively. CSES also observed the ULF wave event with the same frequency ranges at wide L-shells of 2.52–6.22 in the nightside ionosphere. The analysis results show that the ULF waves at ionospheric altitude were mixed toroidal-poloidal mode waves. Comparing the ULF waves observed in different regions, we infer that the nightside ULF waves were directly or indirectly excited by the solar wind dynamic pressure increase: in the area of L-shells~2.52–6.29, the magnetic field line resonances(FLRs) driven by the solar wind dynamic pressure increase is an essential excitation source;on the other hand, around L~3.29, the ULF waves can also be excited by the outward expansion of the plasmapause owing to the decrease of the magnetospheric convection, and in the region of L-shells ~5.19–6.29, the ULF waves are also likely excited by the ion cyclotron instabilities driven by the solar wind dynamic pressure increase.

Evolutions of equatorial ring current ions during a magnetic storm

In this paper, we present evolutions of the phase space density(PSD) spectra of ring current(RC) ions based on observations made by Van Allen Probe B during a geomagnetic storm on 23–24 August 2016. By analyzing PSD spectra ratios from the initial phase to the main phase of the storm, we find that during the main phase, RC ions with low magnetic moment μ values can penetrate deeper into the magnetosphere than can those with high μ values, and that the μ range of PSD enhancement meets the relationship: S(O^+) >S(He^+)>S(H^+). Based on simultaneously observed ULF waves, theoretical calculation suggests that the radial transport of RC ions into the deep inner magnetosphere is caused by drift-bounce resonance interactions, and the efficiency of these resonance interactions satisfies the relationship: η(O^+) > η(He^+) > η(H^+), leading to the differences in μ range of PSD enhancement for different RC ions. In the recovery phase,the observed decay rates for different RC ions meet the relationship: R(O^+) > R(He^+) > R(H^+), in accordance with previous theoretical calculations, i.e., the charge exchange lifetime of O^+ is shorter than those of H^+ and He^+.

Study of fluctuations in the Martian magnetosheath using a kurtosis technique:Mars Express observations

Planetary magnetosheaths are characterized by high plasma wave and turbulence activity.The Martian magnetosheath is no exception;both upstream and locally generated plasma waves have been observed in the region between its bow shock and magnetic boundary layer,its induced magnetosphere.This statistical study of wave activity in the Martian magnetosheath is based on 12 years(2005-2016)of observations made during Mars Express(MEX)crossings of the planet’s magnetosheath-in particular,data on electron density and temperature data collected by the electron spectrometer(ELS)of the plasma analyzer(ASPERA-3)experiment on board the MEX spacecraft.A kurtosis parameter has been calculated for these plasma parameters.This value indicates intermittent behavior in the data when it is higher than 3(the value for a normal or Gaussian distribution).The variation of wave activity occurrence has been analyzed in relation to solar cycle,Martian orbit,and distance to the bow shock.Non-Gaussian properties are observed in the magnetosheath of Mars on all analyzed scales,especially in those near the proton gyrofrequency in the upstream region of the Martian magnetosphere.We also report that non-Gaussian behavior is most prominent at the smaller scales(higher frequencies).A significant influence of the solar cycle was also observed;the kurtosis parameter is higher during declining and solar maximum phases,when the presence of disturbed solar wind conditions,caused by large scale solar wind structures,increases.The kurtosis decreases with increasing distance from the bow shock,which indicates that the intermittence level is higher near the bow shock.In the electron temperature data the kurtosis is higher near the perihelion due to the higher incidence of EUV when the planet is closer to the Sun,which causes a more extended exosphere,and consequently increases the wave activity in the magnetosheath and its upstream region.The extended exosphere seems to play a lower effect in the electron density data.

Reconstruction of morningside plasma sheet compressional ULF Pc5 wave

We studied the compressional wave event in Pc5 frequency range observed in the dawn-side magnetic equator on 9 March 1998 by Grad-Shafranov(GS) reconstruction method for the first time. To test the effectiveness of application of GS method on Pc5 compressional wave, we benchmarked our procedure by applying it to a one-dimensional current sheet model first. Excluding the left-hand corners, the average error magnitude was less than 10%. The reconstruction of actual data showed that we obtained the 2-D map of compressional wave without suffering model constraints for the first time. The magnetic filed lines density cyclical changed, and the wavelength was about 2-4 times earth radius. The reconstructed magnetic topology had a shape very similar to the empirical 2-dimensional standing wave model proposed by the former workers. Besides, we also recovered the plasma thermal pressure and current density of the wave quantitatively.

Propagation properties of foreshock cavitons: Cluster observations

Foreshock cavitons are transient phenomena observed in the terrestrial foreshock region.They are characterized by a simultaneous depression of magnetic field magnitude and plasma density,which are bounded with enhancements of these two parameters and surrounded by ultralow frequency(ULF)waves.Previous studies focused on the interplanetary magnetic field(IMF)conditions,solar wind(SW)conditions,and the growth of the foreshock waves related to the generation of foreshock cavitons.Previously,a multipoint spacecraft analysis method using Cluster data was applied to analyze only two foreshock cavitons,and this method did not consider uncertainties.In this study,multipoint spacecraft analysis methods,including the timing method,the minimum directional derivative(MDD)method,and the spatiotemporal difference(STD)method are applied to determine the velocity in both spacecraft and solar wind frames.The propagation properties show good agreement with previous results from simulations and observations that most cavitons move sunward in the solar wind frame,with the velocities larger than the Alfvén speed.The propagation properties of foreshock cavitons support the formation mechanism of cavitons in previous simulations,which suggested that cavitons are formed due to the nonlinear evolution of compressive ULF waves.We find that there is clear decreasing trend between the size of cavitons and their velocity in the solar wind frame.In addition,the timing method considering errors has been applied to study the evolution properties by comparing the velocities with errors of the leading and trailing edges,and we identify three stable cavitons and one contracting caviton,which has not been studied before.Most cavitons should remain stable when they travel toward the Earth’s bow shock.The relationship between the size of foreshock cavitons and their distance from the bow shock is also discussed.

Dynamic variation and the fast acceleration of particles in Earth's radiation belt

We have quantitatively investigated the radiation belt's dynamic variations of 1.5-6.0 MeV electrons during 54 CME (coronal mass ejection)-driven storms from 1993 to 2003 and 26 CIR (corotating interaction region)-driven recurrent storms in 1995 by utilizing case and statistical studies based on the data from the SAMPEX satellite. It is found that the boundaries determined by fitting an exponential to the flux as a function of L shell obtained in this study agree with the observed outer and inner boundaries of the outer radiation belt. Furthermore, we have constructed the Radiation Belt Content (RBC) index by integrating the number density of electrons between those inner and outer boundaries. According to the ratio of the maximum RBC index during the recovery phase to the pre-storm average RBC index, we conclude that CME-driven storms produce more relativistic electrons than CIR-driven storms in the entire outer radiation belt, although the relativistic electron fluxes during CIR-related storms are much higher than those during CME-related storms at geosynchronous orbit. The physical radiation belt model STEERB is based on the three-dimensional Fokker-Planck equation and includes the physical processes of local wave-particle interactions, radial diffusion, and adiabatic transport. Due to the limitation of numerical schemes, formal radiation belt models do not include the cross diffusion term of local wave-particle interactions. The numerical experiments of STEERB have shown that the energetic electron fluxes can be overestimated by a factor of 5 or even several orders (depending on the pitch angle) if the cross diffusion term is ignored. This implies that the cross diffusion term is indispensable for the evaluation of radiation belt electron fluxes. Formal radiation belt models often adopt dipole magnetic field; the time varying Hilmer-Voigt geomagnetic field was adopted by the STEERB model, which self-consistently included the adiabatic transport process. The test simulations clearly indicate that the adiabatic process can significantly affect the evolution of radiation belt electrons. The interactions between interplanetary shocks and magnetosphere can excite ULF waves in the inner magnetosphere; the excited polodial mode ULF wave can cause the fast acceleration of "killer electrons". The acceleration mechanism of energetic electrons by poloidal and toroidal mode ULF wave is different at different L shells. The acceleration of energetic electrons by the toroidal mode ULF waves becomes important in the region with a larger L shell (the outer magnetosphere); in smaller L shell regions (the inner magnetosphere), the poloidal mode ULF becomes responsible for the acceleration of energetic electrons.

Multiple ground-based observations at Zhongshan Station during the April/May 1998 solar events

Simultaneous observations at Zhongshan Station, Antarctica, during May 1-7, 1998 are presented to show the responses of the polar ionosphere to the April/May 1998 solar events. One of the main geo-effects of the solar events resulted in the major magnetic storm on May 4. At the storm onset on May 2 the ionosphere F2 layer abruptly increased in altitude, the geomagnetic H-component started negative deviation and the spectral amplitude of the ULF wave intensified. Both large isolated riometer absorption and large negative deviation of the geomagnetic H-component occurred at about 0639UT. There was a time lag of about one hour and ten minutes between the storm onset and the IMF southward turning, as measured by the WIND satellite. The polar ionosphere was highly disturbed, as shown by frequent large deviations of the geomagnetic H-component, large riometer absorption events and strong ULF waves in all the courses of the storm. The absorption increased greatly causing the digisonde to be blackout most of the time. However, the data still showed a substantial decrease in the F2 electron density and oscillation of the F2 layer peak height with an amplitude exceeding 200 km.

Ultralow frequency wave characteristics extracted from particle data:Application of IGSO observations

3 Summary and discussion In the generalized drift resonance theory[17],a characteristic signature of the ULF wave-particle interactions is the increasingly-tilted stripes in the particle energy spectrum.The phase difference across different energy channels is relatively small