Articles | Volume 31, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-555-2013
© Author(s) 2013. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-555-2013
© Author(s) 2013. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Regular paper
| 
21 Mar 2013
Regular paper |
| 21 Mar 2013
Analysis of the substructure within a complex magnetic cloud on 3–4 September 2008
K. Andreeova
Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, University of Helsinki, Finland
E. K. J. Kilpua
Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, University of Helsinki, Finland
H. Hietala
Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, University of Helsinki, Finland
currently at: Imperial College, London, UK
H. E. J. Koskinen
Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, University of Helsinki, Finland
Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
A. Isavnin
Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, University of Helsinki, Finland
R. Vainio
Department of Physics, P.O. Box 64, University of Helsinki, Finland
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Rumi Nakamura, Thierry Dudok de Wit, Geraint H. Jones, Matt G. G. T. Taylor, Nicolas C. Andre, Charlotte Goetz, Lina Z. Hadid, Laura A. Hayes, Heli Hietala, Caitriona M. Jackman, Larry Kepko, Aurelie Marchaudon, Adam Masters, Mathew Owens, Noora Partamies, Stefaan Poedts, Jonathan Rae, Yuri Shprits, Manuela Temmer, Daniel Verscharen, and Robert F. Wimmer-Schweingruber
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3814, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3814, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Annales Geophysicae (ANGEO).
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Heliophysics spans a wide range of disciplines covering the study of the Sun and the different Solar System bodies, such as Earth and other planets, moons, comets, and asteroids, and their interactions with the Sun, focusing on plasma and atmospheric processes. A grass-roots effort has been recently started toward establishing a European Heliophysics Community (https://www.heliophysics.eu/). This white paper outlines the motivation, priorities, and a future vision of Heliophysics in Europe.
Venla Koikkalainen, Maxime Grandin, Emilia Kilpua, Abiyot Workayehu, Ivan Zaitsev, Liisa Juusola, Shi Tao, Markku Alho, Lauri Pänkäläinen, Giulia Cozzani, Konstantinos Horaites, Jonas Suni, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Urs Ganse, and Minna Palmroth
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2265, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2265, 2025
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We use a numerical simulation to study phenomena that occur between the Earth’s dipolar magnetic field and the nightside of near-Earth space. We observe the formation of large-scale vortex flows with scales of several Earth radii. On the ionospheric grid of the simulation we find that the field-aligned currents formed in the simulation reflect the vortex flow in the transition region. The main finding is that the vortex flow is a result of a combination of flow dynamics and a plasma instability.
Venla Koikkalainen, Emilia Kilpua, Simon Good, and Adnane Osmane
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-106, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-106, 2025
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We study time series of solar wind large-scale structures (magnetic clouds, sheaths, slow and fast streams). These have profound importance for causing disturbances in the heliospheric conditions and driving space weather on Earth. The used techniques include methods deriving from information theory to determine entropy and complexity. We find that all of these techniques show stochastic fluctuations, but magnetic clouds stand out due to their coherent magnetic field
Emilia Kilpua, Simon Good, Juska Soljento, Domenico Trotta, Tia Bäcker, Julia Ruohotie, Jens Pomoell, Chaitanya Sishtla, and Rami Vainio
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3564, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3564, 2025
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Interplanetary shock waves are one of the major forms of heliospheric transient that can have a profound impact on solar wind plasma and magnetic field conditions and accelerate charged particles to high energies. This work performs an extensive statistical analysis to detail how some of the key solar wind turbulence parameters, critical for understanding particle acceleration, are modified at the interplanetary shocks waves.
Emilia K. J. Kilpua, Simon Good, Matti Ala-Lahti, Adnane Osmane, and Venla Koikkalainen
Ann. Geophys., 42, 163–177, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-163-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-163-2024, 2024
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The solar wind is organised into slow and fast streams, interaction regions, and transient structures originating from solar eruptions. Their internal characteristics are not well understood. A more comprehensive understanding of such features can give insight itno physical processes governing their formation and evolution. Using tools from information theory, we find that the solar wind shows universal turbulent properties on smaller scales, while on larger scales, clear differences arise.
Sanni Hoilijoki, Emilia Kilpua, Adnane Osmane, Lucile Turc, Mikko Savola, Veera Lipsanen, Harriet George, and Milla Kalliokoski
Ann. Geophys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-2024-3, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-2024-3, 2024
Revised manuscript under review for ANGEO
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Structures originating from the Sun, such as coronal mass ejections and high-speed streams, may impact the Earth's magnetosphere differently. The occurrence rate of these structures depends on the phase solar cycle. We use mutual information to study the change in the statistical dependence between solar wind and inner magnetosphere. We find that the non-linearity between solar wind and inner magnetosphere varies over the solar cycle and during different solar wind drivers.
Adnane Osmane, Mikko Savola, Emilia Kilpua, Hannu Koskinen, Joseph E. Borovsky, and Milla Kalliokoski
Ann. Geophys., 40, 37–53, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-37-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-37-2022, 2022
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It has long been known that particles get accelerated close to the speed of light in the near-Earth space environment. Research in the last decades has also clarified what processes and waves are responsible for the acceleration of particles. However, it is difficult to quantify the scale of the impact of various processes competing with one another. In this study we present a methodology to quantify the impact waves can have on energetic particles.
Ioannis A. Daglis, Loren C. Chang, Sergio Dasso, Nat Gopalswamy, Olga V. Khabarova, Emilia Kilpua, Ramon Lopez, Daniel Marsh, Katja Matthes, Dibyendu Nandy, Annika Seppälä, Kazuo Shiokawa, Rémi Thiéblemont, and Qiugang Zong
Ann. Geophys., 39, 1013–1035, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-1013-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-1013-2021, 2021
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We present a detailed account of the science programme PRESTO (PREdictability of the variable Solar–Terrestrial cOupling), covering the period 2020 to 2024. PRESTO was defined by a dedicated committee established by SCOSTEP (Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics). We review the current state of the art and discuss future studies required for the most effective development of solar–terrestrial physics.
Andrei Runov, Maxime Grandin, Minna Palmroth, Markus Battarbee, Urs Ganse, Heli Hietala, Sanni Hoilijoki, Emilia Kilpua, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Sergio Toledo-Redondo, Lucile Turc, and Drew Turner
Ann. Geophys., 39, 599–612, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-599-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-599-2021, 2021
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In collisionless systems like space plasma, particle velocity distributions contain fingerprints of ongoing physical processes. However, it is challenging to decode this information from observations. We used hybrid-Vlasov simulations to obtain ion velocity distribution functions at different locations and at different stages of the Earth's magnetosphere dynamics. The obtained distributions provide valuable examples that may be directly compared with observations by satellites in space.
Emilia K. J. Kilpua, Dominique Fontaine, Simon W. Good, Matti Ala-Lahti, Adnane Osmane, Erika Palmerio, Emiliya Yordanova, Clement Moissard, Lina Z. Hadid, and Miho Janvier
Ann. Geophys., 38, 999–1017, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-999-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-999-2020, 2020
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This paper studies magnetic field fluctuations in three turbulent sheath regions ahead of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) in the near-Earth solar wind. Our results show that fluctuation properties vary significantly in different parts of the sheath when compared to solar wind ahead. Turbulence in sheaths resembles that of the slow solar wind in the terrestrial magnetosheath, e.g. regarding compressibility and intermittency, and it often lacks Kolmogorov's spectral indices.
Harriet George, Emilia Kilpua, Adnane Osmane, Timo Asikainen, Milla M. H. Kalliokoski, Craig J. Rodger, Stepan Dubyagin, and Minna Palmroth
Ann. Geophys., 38, 931–951, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-931-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-931-2020, 2020
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We compared trapped outer radiation belt electron fluxes to high-latitude precipitating electron fluxes during two interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) with opposite magnetic cloud rotation. The electron response had many similarities and differences between the two events, indicating that different acceleration mechanisms acted. Van Allen Probe data were used for trapped electron flux measurements, and Polar Operational Environmental Satellites were used for precipitating flux data.
Milla M. H. Kalliokoski, Emilia K. J. Kilpua, Adnane Osmane, Drew L. Turner, Allison N. Jaynes, Lucile Turc, Harriet George, and Minna Palmroth
Ann. Geophys., 38, 683–701, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-683-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-683-2020, 2020
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We present a comprehensive statistical study of the response of the Earth's space environment in sheath regions prior to interplanetary coronal mass ejections. The inner magnetospheric wave activity is enhanced in sheath regions, and the sheaths cause significant changes to the outer radiation belt electron fluxes over short timescales. We also show that non-geoeffective sheaths can result in a significant response.
Emilia Kilpua, Liisa Juusola, Maxime Grandin, Antti Kero, Stepan Dubyagin, Noora Partamies, Adnane Osmane, Harriet George, Milla Kalliokoski, Tero Raita, Timo Asikainen, and Minna Palmroth
Ann. Geophys., 38, 557–574, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-557-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-557-2020, 2020
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Coronal mass ejection sheaths and ejecta are key drivers of significant space weather storms, and they cause dramatic changes in radiation belt electron fluxes. Differences in precipitation of high-energy electrons from the belts to the upper atmosphere are thus expected. We investigate here differences in sheath- and ejecta-induced precipitation using the Finnish riometer (relative ionospheric opacity meter) chain.
Ferdinand Plaschke, Maria Jernej, Heli Hietala, and Laura Vuorinen
Ann. Geophys., 38, 287–296, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-287-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-287-2020, 2020
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Jets of solar-wind plasma commonly hit the Earth's magnetosphere. Using data from the four Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft, we show statistically that within jets the magnetic field is more aligned with the plasma flow direction than outside of these jets. Our study confirms prior simulation results, but it also shows that the average effect is moderate. The jets' magnetic field is important with respect to their impact on space weather.
Laura Vuorinen, Heli Hietala, and Ferdinand Plaschke
Ann. Geophys., 37, 689–697, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-689-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-689-2019, 2019
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Before the solar wind encounters the Earth's magnetic field, it is first slowed down and deflected by the Earth's bow shock. We find that downstream of the bow shock regions where the shock normal and the solar wind magnetic field are almost parallel and the shock is more rippled, plasma jets with high earthward velocities are observed significantly more often than elsewhere downstream of the shock. Our results help us forecast the occurrence of these jets and their effects on Earth.
Antti Lakka, Tuija I. Pulkkinen, Andrew P. Dimmock, Emilia Kilpua, Matti Ala-Lahti, Ilja Honkonen, Minna Palmroth, and Osku Raukunen
Ann. Geophys., 37, 561–579, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-561-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-561-2019, 2019
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We study how the Earth's space environment responds to two different amplitude interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) events that occurred in 2012 and 2014 by using the GUMICS-4 global MHD model. We examine local and large-scale dynamics of the Earth's space environment and compare simulation results to in situ data. It is shown that during moderate driving simulation agrees well with the measurements; however, GMHD results should be interpreted cautiously during strong driving.
Liisa Juusola, Sanni Hoilijoki, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Urs Ganse, Riku Jarvinen, Markus Battarbee, Emilia Kilpua, Lucile Turc, and Minna Palmroth
Ann. Geophys., 36, 1183–1199, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1183-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1183-2018, 2018
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The solar wind interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field, forming a magnetosphere. On the night side solar wind stretches the magnetosphere into a long tail. A process called magnetic reconnection opens the magnetic field lines and reconnects them, accelerating particles to high energies. We study this in the magnetotail using a numerical simulation model of the Earth’s magnetosphere. We study the motion of the points where field lines reconnect and the fast flows driven by this process.
Minna Palmroth, Heli Hietala, Ferdinand Plaschke, Martin Archer, Tomas Karlsson, Xóchitl Blanco-Cano, David Sibeck, Primož Kajdič, Urs Ganse, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Markus Battarbee, and Lucile Turc
Ann. Geophys., 36, 1171–1182, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1171-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1171-2018, 2018
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Magnetosheath jets are high-velocity plasma structures that are commonly observed within the Earth's magnetosheath. Previously, they have mainly been investigated with spacecraft observations, which do not allow us to infer their spatial sizes, temporal evolution, or origin. This paper shows for the first time their dimensions, evolution, and origins within a simulation whose dimensions are directly comparable to the Earth's magnetosphere. The results are compared to previous observations.
Xochitl Blanco-Cano, Markus Battarbee, Lucile Turc, Andrew P. Dimmock, Emilia K. J. Kilpua, Sanni Hoilijoki, Urs Ganse, David G. Sibeck, Paul A. Cassak, Robert C. Fear, Riku Jarvinen, Liisa Juusola, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Rami Vainio, and Minna Palmroth
Ann. Geophys., 36, 1081–1097, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1081-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1081-2018, 2018
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We use the Vlasiator code to study the characteristics of transient structures that exist in the Earth's foreshock, i.e. upstream of the bow shock. The structures are cavitons and spontaneous hot flow anomalies (SHFAs). These transients can interact with the bow shock. We study the changes the shock suffers via this interaction. We also investigate ion distributions associated with the cavitons and SHFAs. A very important result is that the arrival of multiple SHFAs results in shock erosion.
Matti M. Ala-Lahti, Emilia K. J. Kilpua, Andrew P. Dimmock, Adnane Osmane, Tuija Pulkkinen, and Jan Souček
Ann. Geophys., 36, 793–808, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-793-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-793-2018, 2018
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We present a comprehensive statistical analysis of mirror mode waves and the properties of their plasma surroundings in sheath regions driven by interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) to deepen our understanding of these geo-effective plasma environments. The results imply that mirror modes are common structures in ICME sheaths and occur almost exclusively as dip-like structures and in mirror stable stable plasma.
Ferdinand Plaschke and Heli Hietala
Ann. Geophys., 36, 695–703, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-695-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-695-2018, 2018
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Fast jets of solar wind particles drive through a slower environment in the magnetosheath, located sunward of the region dominated by the Earth’s magnetic field. THEMIS multi-spacecraft observations show that jets push ambient particles out of their way. These particles flow around the faster jets into the jets’ wake. Thereby, jets stir the magnetosheath, changing the properties of this key region whose particles and magnetic fields can directly interact with the Earth’s magnetic field.
Tomas Karlsson, Ferdinand Plaschke, Heli Hietala, Martin Archer, Xóchitl Blanco-Cano, Primož Kajdič, Per-Arne Lindqvist, Göran Marklund, and Daniel J. Gershman
Ann. Geophys., 36, 655–677, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-655-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-655-2018, 2018
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We have studied fast plasma jets outside of Earth’s magnetic environment. Such jets are small-scale structures with a limited lifetime, which may be important in determining the properties of the near-Earth space environment, due to their concentrated kinetic energy. We have used data from the NASA Magnetospheric MultiScale (MMS) satellites to study their properties in detail, to understand how these jets are formed. We have found evidence that there are at least two different types of jets.
Minna Palmroth, Sanni Hoilijoki, Liisa Juusola, Tuija I. Pulkkinen, Heli Hietala, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Urs Ganse, Sebastian von Alfthan, Rami Vainio, and Michael Hesse
Ann. Geophys., 35, 1269–1274, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-1269-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-1269-2017, 2017
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Much like solar flares, substorms occurring within the Earth's magnetic domain are explosive events that cause vivid auroral displays. A decades-long debate exists to explain the substorm onset. We devise a simulation encompassing the entire near-Earth space and demonstrate that detailed modelling of magnetic reconnection explains the central substorm observations. Our results help to understand the unpredictable substorm process, which will significantly improve space weather forecasts.
Yann Pfau-Kempf, Heli Hietala, Steve E. Milan, Liisa Juusola, Sanni Hoilijoki, Urs Ganse, Sebastian von Alfthan, and Minna Palmroth
Ann. Geophys., 34, 943–959, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-943-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-943-2016, 2016
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We have simulated the interaction of the solar wind – the charged particles and magnetic fields emitted by the Sun into space – with the magnetic field of the Earth. The solar wind flows supersonically and creates a shock when it encounters the obstacle formed by the geomagnetic field. We have identified a new chain of events which causes phenomena in the downstream region to eventually cause perturbations at the shock and even upstream. This is confirmed by ground and satellite observations.
Erika Palmerio, Emilia K. J. Kilpua, and Neel P. Savani
Ann. Geophys., 34, 313–322, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-313-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-313-2016, 2016
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Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are giant clouds of plasma and magnetic field that erupt from the Sun and travel though the solar wind. They can cause interplanetary shocks in the vicinity of Earth. We show in our paper that the region that follows CME-driven shocks, known as sheath region, can obtain a planar configuration of the magnetic field lines (planar magnetic structure, PMS) due to the compression resulting from the shock itself or from the draping of the magnetic field ahead of the CME.
M. Myllys, E. Kilpua, and T. Pulkkinen
Ann. Geophys., 33, 845–855, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-845-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-845-2015, 2015
I. I. Vogiatzis, A. Isavnin, Q.-G. Zong, E. T. Sarris, S. W. Lu, and A. M. Tian
Ann. Geophys., 33, 63–74, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-63-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-63-2015, 2015
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Magnetospheric substorms are one of the most important phenomena occurring in planetary magnetotails, dynamically reconfiguring the near- planet space environment. They encompass various fundamental processes of plasma acceleration and transport in the magnetosphere/ionosphere. The key features of the paper are a new magnetospheric substorm model, a new explanation about the origin of dipolarization fronts (DFs), and a new explanation for energetic ion acceleration/injection in front of DFs.
K. Andréeová, L. Juusola, E. K. J. Kilpua, and H. E. J. Koskinen
Ann. Geophys., 32, 1293–1302, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-1293-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-1293-2014, 2014
L. Turc, D. Fontaine, P. Savoini, and E. K. J. Kilpua
Ann. Geophys., 32, 1247–1261, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-1247-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-1247-2014, 2014
L. Turc, D. Fontaine, P. Savoini, and E. K. J. Kilpua
Ann. Geophys., 32, 157–173, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-157-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-157-2014, 2014
D. Pokhotelov, S. von Alfthan, Y. Kempf, R. Vainio, H. E. J. Koskinen, and M. Palmroth
Ann. Geophys., 31, 2207–2212, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-2207-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-2207-2013, 2013
E. K. J. Kilpua, H. Hietala, H. E. J. Koskinen, D. Fontaine, and L. Turc
Ann. Geophys., 31, 1559–1567, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1559-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1559-2013, 2013
E. K. J. Kilpua, A. Isavnin, A. Vourlidas, H. E. J. Koskinen, and L. Rodriguez
Ann. Geophys., 31, 1251–1265, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1251-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1251-2013, 2013
L. Turc, D. Fontaine, P. Savoini, H. Hietala, and E. K. J. Kilpua
Ann. Geophys., 31, 1011–1019, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1011-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1011-2013, 2013
A. Kestilä, T. Tikka, P. Peitso, J. Rantanen, A. Näsilä, K. Nordling, H. Saari, R. Vainio, P. Janhunen, J. Praks, and M. Hallikainen
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 2, 121–130, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-2-121-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-2-121-2013, 2013
