Articles | Volume 35, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-1341-2017
© Author(s) 2017. 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-35-1341-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Regular paper
| 
15 Dec 2017
Regular paper |
| 15 Dec 2017
Relative outflow enhancements during major geomagnetic storms – Cluster observations
Audrey Schillings
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, Sweden
Division of Space Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Kiruna, Sweden
Hans Nilsson
Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, Sweden
Division of Space Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Kiruna, Sweden
Rikard Slapak
Division of Space Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Kiruna, Sweden
Masatoshi Yamauchi
Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, Sweden
Lars-Göran Westerberg
Division of Fluid and Experimental Mechanics, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
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Audrey Schillings, Herbert Gunell, Hans Nilsson, Alexandre De Spiegeleer, Yusuke Ebihara, Lars G. Westerberg, Masatoshi Yamauchi, and Rikard Slapak
Ann. Geophys., 38, 645–656, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-645-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-645-2020, 2020
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The Earth's atmosphere is constantly losing molecules and charged particles, amongst them oxygen ions or O+. Quantifying this loss provides information about the evolution of the atmosphere on geological timescales. In this study, we investigate the final destination of O+ observed with Cluster satellites in a high-altitude magnetospheric region (plasma mantle) by tracing the particles forward in time using simulations. We find that approximately 98 % of O+ escapes the Earth's magnetosphere.
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Ann. Geophys., 35, 869–877, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-869-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-869-2017, 2017
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The ion total transports in the near-Earth plasma sheet have been investigated and quantified. Specifically, the net O+ transport is about 1024 s−1 in the earthward direction, which is 1 order of magnitude smaller than the typical O+ ionospheric outflows, strongly indicating that most outflow will eventually escape, leading to significant atmospheric loss. The study also shows that low-velocity flows (< 100 km s−1) dominate the mass transport in the near-Earth plasma sheet.
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In this study, we have used Cluster satellite data to quantify the ionospheric oxygen ion (O+) escape into the solar wind and its dependence on geomagnetic activity. During times of high activity, the escape may be 2 orders of magnitude higher than under quiet conditions, strongly suggesting that the escape rate was much higher when the Sun was young. The results are important for future studies regarding atmospheric loss over geological timescales.
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Potential users of all-sky aurora images even include power companies, tourists, and aurora enthusiasts. However, these potential users are normally not familiar with interpreting these images. To make them comprehensive for more users, we developed an automatic evaluation system of auroral activity level. The method involves two steps: first making a simple set of numbers that describes the auroral activity and then further simplifying them into several levels (Level 6 is an auroral explosion).
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This is a review paper that summarises the current understanding of the lower thermosphere–ionosphere (LTI) in terms of measurements and modelling. The LTI is the transition region between space and the atmosphere and as such of tremendous importance to both the domains of space and atmosphere. The paper also serves as the background for European Space Agency Earth Explorer 10 candidate mission Daedalus.
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Ann. Geophys., 39, 53–68, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-53-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-53-2021, 2021
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When the magnetised solar wind meets the plasma surrounding a comet, the magnetic field is enhanced in front of the comet, and the field lines are draped around it. This happens because electric currents are induced in the plasma. When these currents flow through the plasma, they can generate waves. In this article we present observations of ion acoustic waves, which is a kind of sound wave in the plasma, detected by instruments on the Rosetta spacecraft near comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.
Masatoshi Yamauchi, Magnar G. Johnsen, Carl-Fredrik Enell, Anders Tjulin, Anna Willer, and Dmitry A. Sormakov
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The paper reports a new finding on space weather effects at around 70–75 ° geographic latitudes. We found that X flares cause an unexpectedly strong ionospheric current driven by solar flares. The effect is as large as a substorm that is known to cause strong auroras and may enhance ongoing substorms. However, it has been overlooked in the past due to the narrow latitudinal range at high latitudes. Since severe magnetic storms often occur with X flares, this may cause geomagnetic hazards.
Audrey Schillings, Herbert Gunell, Hans Nilsson, Alexandre De Spiegeleer, Yusuke Ebihara, Lars G. Westerberg, Masatoshi Yamauchi, and Rikard Slapak
Ann. Geophys., 38, 645–656, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-645-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-645-2020, 2020
Short summary
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The Earth's atmosphere is constantly losing molecules and charged particles, amongst them oxygen ions or O+. Quantifying this loss provides information about the evolution of the atmosphere on geological timescales. In this study, we investigate the final destination of O+ observed with Cluster satellites in a high-altitude magnetospheric region (plasma mantle) by tracing the particles forward in time using simulations. We find that approximately 98 % of O+ escapes the Earth's magnetosphere.
Patrik Krcelic, Stein Haaland, Lukas Maes, Rikard Slapak, and Audrey Schillings
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In this paper we have used Cluster EDI data in combination with the CODIF cusp dataset from Slapak et al. (2017) to obtain parallel and convection velocities for oxygen ions; 69 % of total oxygen outflow from the high-altitude cusps escapes the magnetosphere on average; 50 % escapes tailward beyond the distant X-line. The oxygen capture-versus-escape ratio is highly dependent on geomagnetic conditions. During active conditions, the majority of oxygen outflow is convected to the plasma sheet.
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Terrestrial ion transport and total escape are synthesized, with stress on the high-latitude polar region and the inner magnetosphere where Custer significantly improved knowledge. After estimating the outflow flux and destinations, complicated ion dynamics in the inner magnetosphere was classified and summarized, through which more than half the O+ is finally lost to space. Together with direct escapes, total O+ escape is high enough to influence the evolution of the biosphere.
Masatoshi Yamauchi and Rikard Slapak
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Extraction of the solar wind kinetic energy (∆K) by mass loading of escaping O+ is modelled in the exterior cusp and plasma mantle of the Earth. We found ∆K proportional to mass flux of escaping ions and square of solar wind velocity, but independent to the other parameters. The amount is sufficient to power the cusp field-aligned currents, further enhancing ion escape through Joule heating of the ionospheric ions, completing positive feedback to enhance escape with geomagnetic activities.
Rikard Slapak, Maria Hamrin, Timo Pitkänen, Masatoshi Yamauchi, Hans Nilsson, Tomas Karlsson, and Audrey Schillings
Ann. Geophys., 35, 869–877, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-869-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-869-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The ion total transports in the near-Earth plasma sheet have been investigated and quantified. Specifically, the net O+ transport is about 1024 s−1 in the earthward direction, which is 1 order of magnitude smaller than the typical O+ ionospheric outflows, strongly indicating that most outflow will eventually escape, leading to significant atmospheric loss. The study also shows that low-velocity flows (< 100 km s−1) dominate the mass transport in the near-Earth plasma sheet.
Rikard Slapak, Audrey Schillings, Hans Nilsson, Masatoshi Yamauchi, Lars-Göran Westerberg, and Iannis Dandouras
Ann. Geophys., 35, 721–731, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-721-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-721-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we have used Cluster satellite data to quantify the ionospheric oxygen ion (O+) escape into the solar wind and its dependence on geomagnetic activity. During times of high activity, the escape may be 2 orders of magnitude higher than under quiet conditions, strongly suggesting that the escape rate was much higher when the Sun was young. The results are important for future studies regarding atmospheric loss over geological timescales.
M. Volwerk, I. Richter, B. Tsurutani, C. Götz, K. Altwegg, T. Broiles, J. Burch, C. Carr, E. Cupido, M. Delva, M. Dósa, N. J. T. Edberg, A. Eriksson, P. Henri, C. Koenders, J.-P. Lebreton, K. E. Mandt, H. Nilsson, A. Opitz, M. Rubin, K. Schwingenschuh, G. Stenberg Wieser, K. Szegö, C. Vallat, X. Vallieres, and K.-H. Glassmeier
Ann. Geophys., 34, 1–15, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-1-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-1-2016, 2016
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The solar wind magnetic field drapes around the active nucleus of comet 67P/CG, creating a magnetosphere. The solar wind density increases and with that the pressure, which compresses the magnetosphere, increasing the magnetic field strength near Rosetta. The higher solar wind density also creates more ionization through collisions with the gas from the comet. The new ions are picked-up by the magnetic field and generate mirror-mode waves, creating low-field high-density "bottles" near 67P/CG.
I. Richter, C. Koenders, H.-U. Auster, D. Frühauff, C. Götz, P. Heinisch, C. Perschke, U. Motschmann, B. Stoll, K. Altwegg, J. Burch, C. Carr, E. Cupido, A. Eriksson, P. Henri, R. Goldstein, J.-P. Lebreton, P. Mokashi, Z. Nemeth, H. Nilsson, M. Rubin, K. Szegö, B. T. Tsurutani, C. Vallat, M. Volwerk, and K.-H. Glassmeier
Ann. Geophys., 33, 1031–1036, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-1031-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-1031-2015, 2015
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We present a first report on magnetic field measurements made in the coma of comet 67P/C-G in its low-activity state. The plasma environment is dominated by quasi-coherent, large-amplitude, compressional magnetic field oscillations around 40mHz, differing from the observations at strongly active comets where waves at the cometary ion gyro-frequencies are the main feature. We propose a cross-field current instability associated with the newborn cometary ions as a possible source mechanism.
R. Slapak, H. Nilsson, L. G. Westerberg, and R. Larsson
Ann. Geophys., 33, 301–307, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-301-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-301-2015, 2015
T. Pitkänen, M. Hamrin, P. Norqvist, T. Karlsson, H. Nilsson, A. Kullen, S. M. Imber, and S. E. Milan
Ann. Geophys., 33, 245–255, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-245-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-245-2015, 2015
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An azimuthal velocity shear with a reversal within an earthward magnetotail fast flow is studied using Cluster observations. In addition, ionospheric SuperDARN data and different magnetospheric models (T96 and TF04) are utilized when interpreting the Cluster observations. Untwisting of twisted tail B field lines is a good candidate to explain the observations.
I. A. Barghouthi, H. Nilsson, and S. H. Ghithan
Ann. Geophys., 32, 1043–1057, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-1043-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-1043-2014, 2014
K. Axelsson, T. Sergienko, H. Nilsson, U. Brändström, K. Asamura, and T. Sakanoi
Ann. Geophys., 32, 499–506, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-499-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-499-2014, 2014
M. Yamauchi, Y. Ebihara, H. Nilsson, and I. Dandouras
Ann. Geophys., 32, 83–90, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-83-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-83-2014, 2014
M. Yamauchi, I. Dandouras, H. Rème, R. Lundin, and L. M. Kistler
Ann. Geophys., 31, 1569–1578, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1569-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1569-2013, 2013
R. Slapak, H. Nilsson, and L. G. Westerberg
Ann. Geophys., 31, 1005–1010, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1005-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1005-2013, 2013
S. Kirkwood, E. Belova, P. Dalin, M. Mihalikova, D. Mikhaylova, D. Murtagh, H. Nilsson, K. Satheesan, J. Urban, and I. Wolf
Ann. Geophys., 31, 333–347, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-333-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-333-2013, 2013
K. Axelsson, T. Sergienko, H. Nilsson, U. Brändström, Y. Ebihara, K. Asamura, and M. Hirahara
Ann. Geophys., 30, 1693–1701, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-30-1693-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-30-1693-2012, 2012
Short summary
The Earth's atmosphere is constantly losing ions and in particular oxygen ions. This phenomenon is important to understand the atmospheric evolution on a large timescale. In this study, the O+ outflow is estimated during six extreme geomagnetic storms using the European Cluster mission data. These estimations are compared with average magnetospheric conditions and show that during those six extreme storms, the O+ outflow is approximately 2 orders of magnitude higher.
The Earth's atmosphere is constantly losing ions and in particular oxygen ions. This phenomenon...
