Statistical study on interplanetary drivers behind intense geomagnetic storms and substorms

Geomagnetic storms and substorms play a central role in both the daily life of mankind and in academic space physics.The profiles of storms,especially their initial phase morphology and the intensity of their substorms under different interplanetary conditions,have usually been ignored in previous studies.In this study,97 intense geomagnetic storms(Dstmin≤–100 nT)between 1998 and 2018 were studied statistically using the double superposed epoch analysis(DSEA)and normalized superposed epoch analysis(NSEA)methods.These storms are categorized into two types according to different interplanetary magnetic field(IMF)Bz orientations:geomagnetic storms whose IMF is northward,both upstream and downstream relative to the interplanetary shock,and geomagnetic storms whose upstream and downstream IMF is consistently southward.We further divide these two types into two subsets,by different geomagnetic storm profiles:Type Ⅰ/Type Ⅱ—one/two-step geomagnetic storms with northward IMF both upstream and downstream of the interplanetary shock;Type Ⅲ/TypeⅣ—one/two-step geomagnetic storms with southward IMF both upstream and downstream of the interplanetary shock.The results show that:(1)geomagnetic storms with northward IMF both upstream and downstream of the interplanetary shock have a clear initial phase;geomagnetic storms with southward IMF in both upstream and downstream of the interplanetary shock do not;(2)the IMF is an important controlling factor in affecting the intensity characteristics of substorms.When Bz is positive before and after the interplanetary shock arrival,the Auroral Electrojet(AE)index changes gently during the initial phase of geomagnetic storms,the median value of AE index is maintained at 500–1000 nT;(3)when Bz is negative before and after the interplanetary shock arrival,the AE index rises rapidly and reaches its maxmum value about one hour after storm sudden commencements(SSC),although the time is scaled between reference points and the maximum value of AE is usually greater than 1,000 nT,representing intense substorms;(4)for most cases,the Dst0 usually reaches its minimum at least one hour after Bz.These results are useful in improving contemporary space weather models,especially for those that address geomagnetic storms and substorms.

Correlations between plasmapause evolutions and auroral signatures during substorms observed by Chang'e-3 EUV Camera

The plasmapause locations determined from the Chang'e-3(CE-3) Extreme Ultraviolet Camera(EUVC) images and the auroral boundaries determined from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program(DMSP) Special Sensor Ultraviolet Spectrographic Imager(SSUSI) images are used to investigate the plasmaspheric evolutions during substorms. The most important finding is a nightside pointing plasmaspheric plume observed at 23:05 UT on 21 April 2014 under quiet solar wind and geomagnetic conditions, which drifted from the dusk sector. High correlations between the plasmapause evolutions and the auroral signatures exist during substorms. After substorm onset, the plasmapause erosion and the equatorward expansion of the auroral oval occur almost simultaneously in both MLT and UT, and then both the erosion and the expansion propagate westward and eastward. It is suggested that the plasmaspheric erosion and its MLT propagations are induced by the enhanced earthward plasma convection during substorm period, and the substorm dipolarization causes pitch-angle scattering of plasma sheet electrons and the resulting precipitation excites aurora emissions at the same time.

Understanding Substorms in the Magnetotail：Early Development and Recent Progress

This is a concise review of physics of the substorm in the magnetotail.It consists of two parts. The first part summarizes historical developments in the early days of the space age(1960-1975)when the basic concepts such as magnetotail and reconnection were established and the leading model of the substorm was introduced.The second part is an overview of the research conducted in recent years(1995-2010)when very significant advances have been achieved in understanding the substorm physics by virtue of several major satellites missions that addressed the magnetotail physics intensively.

THEMIS observations of two substorms on February 26,2008

Two substorms occurred at ～04:05 and ～04:55 UT on February 26,2008 are studied with the in-situ observations of THEMIS satellites and ground-based aurora and magnetic field measurements.Angelopoulos et al.have made a comprehensive study of the 04:55 UT event.We showed detailed features of the two substorms with much attention to the first event and to the rela-tionship between mid-tail magnetic reconnection(MR) and substorm activities.It was found that in the earlier stage of each substorm,a first auroral intensification occurred 2-3 min soon after the start of mid-tail MR,followed by a slow and very lim-ited expansion.The auroral arcs were weak,short-lived,and localized,characterizing all features of a pseudobreakup.We re-garded the first auroral brightening as the initial onset of the substorms.A few minutes later,a second stronger auroral intensification appeared,followed by quick and extensive expansions.It was interesting to note that the second brightening and related poleward expansion happened almost simultaneously(within a couple of minutes) with the onset of earthward flow and dipolarization in the near-Earth tail and other phenomenon of the substorm expansion phase.We thus regarded the second auroral brightening as the major onset of the substorms.Furthermore,it was seen that during the growth phase of the two substorms,the polar cap open flux Ψ kept increasing,while it quickly reduced during the substorm expansion and recovery phase.These variations of Ψ implied that the evolution of the two substorm expansion phases were closely related to MR of tail lobe open field lines.Analysis of substorm activities revealed that the two events studied were small substorms;while estimate of MR rate indicated that the MR processes in the two substorms were weak.The aforementioned observations suggested that mid-tail MR initiated the pseudobreakup first;the earthward flow generated by MR transported magnetic flux and energy to the near-Earth tail to cause the formation of SCW and CD,which induced near-Earth dipolarization and major auroral brightening,and eventually led to the onset of the substorm expansion phase.These results were clearly consistent with the picture of NENL and RCS models and supported the two step initiation scenario of substorms.

Particle precipitation from the magnetotail during substorms

The dynamics of particles in the magnetosphere during a substorm has been studied. The electromagnetic field of the magnetotail is assumed to be a dawn-dusk electric field and a two-dimensional neutral sheet magnetic field with Bz, where Bz varies with the distance from the earth. The numerical trajectories of the particles show that there is a non-adiabatic region near the equatorial plane, which is determined by δ = |(ρ·(?))B| /B>0.1 (ρ is the Larmor radius). The vanishing of the invariant μ leads to a pitch angle scattering. After a long time of scattering, most of the pitch angles of the particles become small enough for the particles to precipitate into the ionosphere. With the Tsyganenko model, the magnetosphere might be divided into 6 regions: the closed adiabatic region, the open adiabatic region, the non-adiabatic region near the equatorial plane of the near magnetotail, the non-adiabatic region in the cusp, the neutral sheet adiabatic region and the precipitation region. The precipitation region links the non-adiabatic regions with the aurora oval, which shows that the non-adiabatic region is one of the main sources of partide precipitation during substorms.

Identification of Radial Distance of Plasma Dispersionless Injection Boundary from the Injection Source

Measurements of energetic particles obtained by the two geosynchronous satellites （1991-080 and LANL-97A） are performed to investigate the plasma injection boundary and source region during the magnetospheric substorms. The measurement method is developed to allow remote sensing of the plasma injection time and the radial distance of injection boundaries by using measured energy dispersion and modelling particle drifts within the Volland-Stern electric field and the dipole magnetic field model. The radial distance of the injection boundary deduced from a dispersion event observed by the LANL-97A satellite on 14 June 1998 is 7.1RE, and the injection time agrees well with the substorm onset time identified by the Polar Ultraviolet Imager. The method has been applied to an event happened at 22.9 UT on 11 March 1998, when both the satellites （1991-080 and LANL-97A） observed the dispersionless character. The results indicate that the radial distance of injection source locates at 8.1RE at magnetotail, and particles move earthward from magnetotail into inner magnetosphere at 22.5 UT.

Probability of Field-Aligned Currents Observed by the Satellite Cluster in the Magnetotail

Field-aligned current （FAC） density distribution at the plasma sheet boundary layers is statistically studied. The FAC is calculated by the so-called curlometer technique with the data from FGM onboard the four Cluster spacecraft in 2001. By calculation we obtain a large number of FAC samples. In the samples, most of calculated FAC densities were very small and around zero caused by some errors or noise. In order to get the real FAC density distribution in the magnetotail, we use a three-Gaussian distribution to fit the errors, then subtract the estimated error contribution from the full distribution and obtain the FAC density distribution. The result shows that the FAC occurrence versus its density has a distribution consisting of a Gauss/an distribution with an additional decreasing exponential distribution. The most probable value of the FAC density is 3.45 pT/km.

Observation evidence for the entropy switch model of substorm onset

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.

Characteristics of magnetic dipolarizations in the vicinity of the substorm onset region observed by THEMIS

With conjunction observations of electromagnetic fields and plasma from Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorm(THEMIS)in the near-Earth magnetotail,we investigate the spatial and temporal properties of substorm dipolarizations in the near-Earth plasma sheet(NEPS)during a substorm at 03:23 UT on 12 February 2008.Substorm dipolarizations with different features are detected by three near-Earth THEMIS probes(THA(P5),THD(P3)and THE(P4))in the magnetotail.In the current sheet with a large plasma beta value(β>2,whereβis the ratio of the plasma thermal pressure to the magnetic pressure),the dipolarization within the substorm onset region,(−10.4,2.8,−2.6)RE_gsm,has a large initial magnetic field elevation angle,θ>60°,θ=arctan(Bz/(Bx2+By2)1/2),and is accompanied by energetic ion(tens to hundred keV)dispersionless injection detected by THD(P3).This substorm onset dipolarization is characterized by Bx and By components around 0 nT with significant fluctuations.The Bz component increases sharply and its subsequent magnitude approaches the total magnetic field,Bt.The maximum value of the elevation angle approaches 85°during the later substorm expansion phase.In the NEPS withβ~1,the dipolarization outside the substorm onset region is characterized by a magnetic elevation angle with a small beginning value ofθ<45°and following multi-step enhancements during the substorm expansion phase.The maximum value of the elevation angle approaches to 70°during the later substorm expansion phase.Our observation results indicate that characteristics of dipolarization with a large beginning elevation angle within the substorm onset region provide a new indicator to identify substorm onset location.

MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS

Magnetospheric physics has been one of the most active areas in Chinese space research in past two years. The major project "Energy Transport Processes in the Solar-Terrestrial System" (1993-1997) sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation in China (NSFC) has been successfully completed. Prestudies relevant to the key scientific engineering program "Meridian Chain at One Hundred Twenty Degree East Multi-Station and Multi-Instrument Observatory System" have started. A new key project "Study of Auroral Magnetospheric and Ionospheric Physics" (1997-1999) sponsored by the NSFC has begun. The Space Active Experiment Program has been carrying on further.Collaborations between Chinese and international magnetospheric physicists have proceeded forward. More than 40 papers covering a variety of subjects in the magnetospheric physics were published in Chinese and international academic journals. Most of these works were supported by the NSFC. This report provides a brief summary of aforementioned advances made in China in the past two years.

Exohiss wave enhancement following substorm electron injection in the dayside magnetosphere

Exohiss is a low-frequency structureless whistler-mode emission potentially contributing to the precipitation loss of radiation belt electrons outside the plasmasphere. Exohiss is usually considered the plasmaspheric hiss leaked out of the dayside plasmapause.However, the evolution of exohiss after the leakage has not been fully understood. Here we report the prompt enhancements of exohiss waves following substorm injections observed by Van Allen Probes. Within several minutes, the energetic electron fluxes around 100 keV were enhanced by up to 5 times, accompanied by an up to 10-time increase of the exohiss wave power. These substorm-injected electrons are shown to produce a new peak of linear growth rate in the exohiss band(< 0.1 f_(ce)). The corresponding path-integrated growth rate of wave power within 10° latitude of the magnetic equatorial plane can reach 13.4, approximately explaining the observed enhancement of exohiss waves. These observations and simulations suggest that the substorm-injected energetic electrons could amplify the preexisting exohiss waves.

Near Earth Vortices Driving of Field Aligned Currents Based on Magnetosphere Multiscale and Swarm Observations

A long-standing mystery in the study of Field-Aligned Currents(FACs) has been that: how the currents are generated and why they appear to be much stronger at high altitudes than in the ionosphere. Here we present two events of magnetotail FACs observed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Spacecraft(MMS) on 1 st July and 14 th July 2016, to show how the Substorm Current Wedges(SCW) were formed. The results show that particles were transferred heading towards the Earth during the expansion phase of substorms.The azimuthal flow formed clockwise(counter-clockwise) vortex-like motion, and then generated downward(upward) FACs on the tailward/poleward side of the distorted field with opposite vorticity on their Earthward/equatorward side. We also analyzed the Region 1 FACs observed by the Earth Explorer Swarm spacecraft on 1 st July 2016 and found that they were associated with FACs observed by MMS, although differing by a factor of 10. This difference suggests that either there was the closure of the currents at altitudes above 500 km or the currents were not strictly parallel to B and closed at longitudes away from where they were generated.

Space Weather Parameters Computed on the Basis of the Magnetogram Inversion Technique

In this paper is given short description of the magnetogram inversion technique,MIT2,and of methods of calculation of some parameters of space weather.Are given also examples of new results,obtained using the MIT2 and solar wind data.

The substorm current wedge and midnight sector partial ring current near substorm onset: A synthesis based on a magnetotail magnetic field geometry model

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.

Theories and Simulations in Substorm Research:A Review

Both theory and simulation have played important roles in defining and illuminating the key mechanisms involved in substorms.Basic theories of magnetic reconnection and of interchange and ballooning instabilities were developed more than 50 years ago,and these plasma physical concepts have been central in discussions of substorm physics.A vast amount of research on reconnection,including both theoretical and computational studies,has helped provide a picture of how reconnection operates in the collisionless environment of the magnetosphere.Still,however,we do not fully understand how key microscale processes and large-scale dynamics work together to determine the location and rate of reconnection.While in the last twenty years,it has become clear that interchange processes are important for transporting plasma through the plasma sheet in the form of bursty bulk flows and substorm expansions,we still have not reached the point where simulations are able to realistically and defensibly represent all of the important aspects of the phenomenon.More than two decades ago it was suggested that the ballooning instability,the basic theory for which dates from the 1950s,may play an important role in substorms.Now the majority of experts agree that regions of the plasma sheet are often linearly unstable to ideal-MHD ballooning.However,it is also clear that kinetic effects introduce important modifications to the MHD stability criterion.It is still uncertain whether ballooning plays a leading role in substorms or has just a minor part.Among the different types of simulations that have been applied to the substorm problem,global MHD codes are unique in that,in a sense, they represent the entire global substorm phenomenon,including coupling to the solar wind and ionosphere, and the important mechanisms of reconnection,interchange,and ballooning.However,they have not yet progressed to the point where they can accurately represent the whole phenomenon,because grid-resolution problems limit the accuracy with which they can solve the equations of ideal MHD and the couphng to the ionosphere,and they cannot accurately represent small-scale processes that violate ideal MHD.

Recent Progresses of Magnetospheric Physics in China:2010—2011

In the past two years,many progresses are made in magnetospheric physics by using either the data of Double Star Program,Cluster and THEMIS missions,or by computer simulations. This paper briefly reviews these works based on papers selected from the 80 publications from April 2010 to April 2011.The subjects covered various sub-branches of magnetospheric physics,including geomagnetic storm,magnetospheric substorm,etc.

Analysis of Characteristic of Aurora Substorm Observed at Antarctic Zhongshan Station

The characteristics of a strong aurora substorm observed at Antarctic Zhongshan station (magnetic latitude=74.5°) on 8 April, 1999, were discussed and analyzed. The developing steps of the aurora substorm that happened in dusk time were almost the same with that of midnight aurora substorm. The averaged moving speed of the aurora arc toward pole area during the substorm expansion phase was about 3.0 km/s, westward-traveling surge speed was about 2.0 km/s. The extension from south to north in the substorm can cover 1100 km in distance.

The intensity ratio I (557.7 nm)/I (427.8 nm) at Zhongshan Station in Antarctica

Auroral intensity ratios at Zhongshan Station in Antarctica on 8 April 1999 are studied, along with variations in pene- trated electron energy. Ratios of/（557.7 nm）/I （427.8 nm） during the quiet period were from 5 to 22, and I （630.0 nm） / I （427.8 rim） ranged from 1 to 2.76. These variations were not caused by changes of atomic oxygen concentration, but rather by penetrated electron energy variability, or other mechanisms. Ratios decreased sharply during the auroral substorm, ranging from 1.66--6.5 and 0.071-1, respectively, mainly because of the increase in penetrated electron energy. At the onset of the substorm, the ratios reached their minima. This means that penetrated electron energy was maximized. When the substorm weakened, the penetrated electron energy returned to the pre-substorm level.

On principal factors in substorm models

This paper gives a brief account of substorm modeling with different key elements or factors. The progress of our understanding of substorms consists of three chief stages during this century. Nine previous substorm models are briefly recapitulated, and then a recent two neutral-points model by Prof. C.T. Russell is introduced. In order to test or to strengthen this new model, several correlated examples of meaningful data are duly given in this short paper.

A study on the multi-componentsubstrom current

A new technique of eigen mode analysis, Method of Natural Orthogonal Components (MNOC) is used to analyze the ionospheric equivalent current systems obtained on the basis of magnetic data at six meridian magnetometer chains in the northern hemisphere during March 17 19, 1978. The results show that the whole current pattern for any given instant consists of a few eigen modes with different intensities. The first eigen mode exhibits a two cell current construction, characterizing the large scale magnetospheric convection and directly driven process, while the second eigen mode shows a concentrated westward electrojet at midnight sector, characterizing the substorm current wedge and the loading unloading process. The first mode consistently exists whenever during quiet periods or at substorms, and its intensity increases from the beginning of the growth phase of substorms, then quickly intensifies in the expansion phase, followed by a gradual decrease in the recovery phase. On the other hand, the intensity of the second mode remains to be near zero during both quiet time and the growth phase of substorms. Its rapid enhancement occurs in the expansion phase. These characteristics in the current patterns and the intensity variations coincide with the defined physical processes of the directly driven and loading unloading components.