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Auroral electrojet perturbation of geomagnetic field perturbing pitch angle distribution of precipitated electrons, developing computer program for model calculations
Charge separation mechanism of auroral electrojets, noting enhanced ionospheric conductivity by electron bombardment
This presentation provides a comparison of in situ measurements of plasma instabilities gathered by rocket-borne probes in the equatorial and auroral electrojets. Specifically, using detailed measurements of the DC electric fields, current density, and plasma number density within the unstable daytime equatorial electrojet from Brazil (Guara Campaign) and in the auroral electrojet from Sweden (ERRIS Campaign), we present comparative observations and general conclusions regarding the observed physical properties of Farley-Buneman two-stream waves and large scale, gradient drift waves. The two stream observations reveal coherent-like waves propagating near the E x B direction but at reduced speeds (nearer to the presumed acoustic velocity) with wavelengths of approximately 5-10m in both the equatorial and auroral electrojet, as measured using the spaced-receiver technique. The auroral electrojet data generally shows extensions to shorter wavelengths, in concert with the fact that these waves are driven harder. With respect to gradient-drift driven waves, observations of this instability are much more pronounced in the equatorial electrojet, given the more favorable geometry for growth provided by the vertical gradient and horizontal magnetic field lines. We present new analysis of Guara rocket observations of electric field and plasma density data that reveal considerable structuring in the middle and lower portion of the electrojet (90-105 km) where the ambient plasma density gradient is unstable. Although the electric field amplitudes are largest (approximately 10-15 mV/m) in the zonal direction, considerable structure (approximately 5-10 mV/m) is also observed in the vertical electric field component as well, implying that the dominant large scale waves involve significant vertical interaction and coupling within the narrow altitude range where they are observed. Furthermore, a detailed examination of the phase of the waveforms show that on some, but not all occasions, locally enhanced eastward fields are associated with locally enhanced upwards (polarization) electric fields. The measurements are discussed in terms of theories involving the non-linear evolution and structuring of plasma waves.
Using the O2 118 GHz spectral radiance measurements obtained by the Microwave Limb Sounder instrument on board the Aura spacecraft, we demonstrate that the Zeeman effect can be used to remotely measure the magnetic field perturbations produced by the auroral electrojet near the Hall current closure altitudes. Our derived current-induced magnetic field perturbations are found to be highly correlated with those coincidently obtained by ground magnetometers. These perturbations are also found to be linearly correlated with auroral electrojet strength. The statistically derived polar maps of our measured magnetic field perturbation reveal a spatial-temporal morphology consistent with that produced by the Hall current during substorms and storms. With today's technology, a constellation of compact, low-power, high spectral-resolution cubesats would have the capability to provide high precision and spatiotemporal magnetic field samplings needed for auroral electrojet measurements to gain insights into the spatiotemporal behavior of the auroral electrojet system.
The development of the polar cap current and the relationship of that development to the evolution of auroral electrojets during individual polar geomagnetic disturbances is studied using 1 min average data from US-Canada IMS network stations and standard magnetograms from sites on the polar cap and in the auroral zone. It is found that even when the auroral electrojet activity is weak, polar cap currents producing fields of magnitude approximately 100-200 nT almost always exist. A normal convection current system exists quasi-persistently in the polar cap during extended quiet or weakly disturbed periods of auroral electrojet activity. After one such period, some drastic changes occur in the polar cap currents, which are followed by phases of growth, expansion, and recovery. Polar cap currents cannot all be completely ascribed to a single source mechanism.
Polarization electric field induced across auroral electrojet by primary electric field associated with magnetospheric circulation, noting effects of induced field
Auroral electrojet activity index and universal time variations
Auroral electrojet index and universal time variations, discussing polar disturbance statistics
Evidence is presented in support of the concept that, during magnetospheric substorms, ionospheric auroral electrojet currents are directly coupled to the proton partial ring current in the outer magnetosphere. It has been found that for sufficiently isolated substorms the timing of the start of the electron dropout and of its maximum depression is in good agreement with the start and maximum of electrojet activity as indicated by the auroral electrojet index. This correlation suggests a direct coupling between the electrojet currents and the proton partial ring current.
Auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) observations by Polar and Geotail are compared with the auroral electro jet index for the January 1997 magnetic cloud event. These two-spacecraft measurements are complementary in covering the AKR emission cones throughout the event and,together,reasonably represent the auroral electrojet AE index. We point out, however, limitations of both the AKR index and the AE index in providing truly global measurements of substorm activity.
The central theme of the considered investigation is the surprising detailed correlation between dynamical changes in electron directional intensity measurements at synchronous orbit and the auroral electrojet currents in the polar ionosphere. The statistical study reported has been carried out following the discovery by Erickson and Winckler (1973) of a close relationship between the time profiles of auroral electrojet intensifications and electron intensity decreases observed in the pre-midnight sector at synchronous orbit. The electron data used in the study were obtained during 1967 and 1968 by the University of Minnesota magnetic spectrometer carried onboard ATSl.
Sounding rocket measurements of electric and magnetic fields near auroral electrojet
A thermal instability leading to the filamentation of auroral electrojet currents and giving rise to purely growing magnetic field-aligned density irregularities in the E region of the high-latitude ionosphere is investigated. The physical process of the instability is through the modification of the electron-neutral collision frequency due to the electron temperature perturbation in the electrojet. A dispersion relation of the instability is derived, from which the threshold electrojet current and the growth rate of the instability are determined. It is found that they become independent of the scale sizes of the irregularities for scale sizes larger than about 13 m. The proposed instability can thus be considered to be one of the mechanisms responsible for observed relatively large-scale E region irregularities (Pfaff et al., 1984).
A Nike Tomahawk with fields and particles payload was launched on Nov. 18, 1970, over a strong westward electrojet current and auroral forms moving rapidly to the east. Electron fluxes moving up and down the magnetic field lines were measured. Upward-moving electrons below 1-keV energy were dominant and were equivalent to a net downward electric current that fluctuated between .2 and .6 microamp/sq m during the flight above 130 km. As the rocket traversed this broad region of downward electric current over and to the north of the auroral forms, the horizontal electric field slowly rotated from east to west. The magnetic measurements indicate that the westward electrojet was a horizontal sheet of current several hundred kilometers in north-south extent.
Five Nike-Tomahawk rockets were flown to measure perturbations in the magnitude of the geomagnetic field due to auroral electrojets. The dates and locations of the rocket launches are given along with a brief explanation of payloads and instrumentation. Papers published as a result of the project are listed. An abstract is included which outlines the scientific results from one of the flights.
Magnetometric data are used to define the poleward and equatorward borders of the eastward electrojet in the evening sector. The relationship between central plasma sheet (cps) and boundary plasma sheet (bps) and the auroral electrojet region is explored. This relationship is used to infer the electric field configuration in the cps and bps regions. It is shown that in the evening sector the cps is threaded by field lines carrying current flowing into the ionosphere, while the bps is threaded by field lines carrying current flowing out of the ionosphere.