Articles | Volume 35, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-721-2017
© 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-35-721-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Regular paper
| 
12 Jun 2017
Regular paper |
| 12 Jun 2017
Atmospheric loss from the dayside open polar region and its dependence on geomagnetic activity: implications for atmospheric escape on evolutionary timescales
Division of Space Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Kiruna, Sweden
Audrey Schillings
Division of Space Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Kiruna, Sweden
Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, Sweden
Hans Nilsson
Division of Space Technology, Luleå University of Technology, Kiruna, Sweden
Swedish Institute of Space Physics, 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
Iannis Dandouras
CNRS, Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, Toulouse, France
University of Toulouse, UPS-OMP, IRAP, Toulouse, France
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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.
Patrik Krcelic, Stein Haaland, Lukas Maes, Rikard Slapak, and Audrey Schillings
Ann. Geophys., 38, 491–505, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-491-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-491-2020, 2020
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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.
Masatoshi Yamauchi and Rikard Slapak
Ann. Geophys., 36, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1-2018, 2018
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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.
Audrey Schillings, Hans Nilsson, Rikard Slapak, Masatoshi Yamauchi, and Lars-Göran Westerberg
Ann. Geophys., 35, 1341–1352, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-1341-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-1341-2017, 2017
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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.
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
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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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Masatoshi Yamauchi and Urban Brändström
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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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Ann. Geophys., 40, 687–699, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-687-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-687-2022, 2022
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Charlotte Goetz, Herbert Gunell, Fredrik Johansson, Kristie LLera, Hans Nilsson, Karl-Heinz Glassmeier, and Matthew G. G. T. Taylor
Ann. Geophys., 39, 379–396, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-379-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-379-2021, 2021
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Boundaries in the plasma around comet 67P separate regions with different properties. Many have been identified, including a new boundary called an infant bow shock. Here, we investigate how the plasma and fields behave at this boundary and where it can be found. The main result is that the infant bow shock occurs at intermediate activity and intermediate distances to the comet. Most plasma parameters behave as expected; however, some inconsistencies indicate that the boundary is non-stationary.
Minna Palmroth, Maxime Grandin, Theodoros Sarris, Eelco Doornbos, Stelios Tourgaidis, Anita Aikio, Stephan Buchert, Mark A. Clilverd, Iannis Dandouras, Roderick Heelis, Alex Hoffmann, Nickolay Ivchenko, Guram Kervalishvili, David J. Knudsen, Anna Kotova, Han-Li Liu, David M. Malaspina, Günther March, Aurélie Marchaudon, Octav Marghitu, Tomoko Matsuo, Wojciech J. Miloch, Therese Moretto-Jørgensen, Dimitris Mpaloukidis, Nils Olsen, Konstantinos Papadakis, Robert Pfaff, Panagiotis Pirnaris, Christian Siemes, Claudia Stolle, Jonas Suni, Jose van den IJssel, Pekka T. Verronen, Pieter Visser, and Masatoshi Yamauchi
Ann. Geophys., 39, 189–237, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-189-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-189-2021, 2021
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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.
Herbert Gunell, Charlotte Goetz, Elias Odelstad, Arnaud Beth, Maria Hamrin, Pierre Henri, Fredrik L. Johansson, Hans Nilsson, and Gabriella Stenberg Wieser
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
Ann. Geophys., 38, 1159–1170, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-1159-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-1159-2020, 2020
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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
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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.
Theodoros E. Sarris, Elsayed R. Talaat, Minna Palmroth, Iannis Dandouras, Errico Armandillo, Guram Kervalishvili, Stephan Buchert, Stylianos Tourgaidis, David M. Malaspina, Allison N. Jaynes, Nikolaos Paschalidis, John Sample, Jasper Halekas, Eelco Doornbos, Vaios Lappas, Therese Moretto Jørgensen, Claudia Stolle, Mark Clilverd, Qian Wu, Ingmar Sandberg, Panagiotis Pirnaris, and Anita Aikio
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Daedalus aims to measure the largely unexplored area between Eart's atmosphere and space, the Earth's
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Patrik Krcelic, Stein Haaland, Lukas Maes, Rikard Slapak, and Audrey Schillings
Ann. Geophys., 38, 491–505, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-491-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-491-2020, 2020
Short summary
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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.
Masatoshi Yamauchi
Ann. Geophys., 37, 1197–1222, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-1197-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-1197-2019, 2019
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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.
Xinhua Wei, Chunlin Cai, Henri Rème, Iannis Dandouras, and George Parks
Ann. Geophys. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-2018-124, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-2018-124, 2018
Revised manuscript not accepted
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Observations of flapping current sheet in the magnetotail are presented to reveal their intrinsic excitation mechanism induced by alternating north-south asymmetric ion populations in the sheet center. The results suggest that nonadiabatic ions play a substantial role to determine current sheet dynamics, both its bulk mechanical instability and current profiles.
Masatoshi Yamauchi and Rikard Slapak
Ann. Geophys., 36, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-36-1-2018, 2018
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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.
Audrey Schillings, Hans Nilsson, Rikard Slapak, Masatoshi Yamauchi, and Lars-Göran Westerberg
Ann. Geophys., 35, 1341–1352, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-1341-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-1341-2017, 2017
Short summary
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.
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.
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.
N. Y. Ganushkina, M. W. Liemohn, S. Dubyagin, I. A. Daglis, I. Dandouras, D. L. De Zeeuw, Y. Ebihara, R. Ilie, R. Katus, M. Kubyshkina, S. E. Milan, S. Ohtani, N. Ostgaard, J. P. Reistad, P. Tenfjord, F. Toffoletto, S. Zaharia, and O. Amariutei
Ann. Geophys., 33, 1369–1402, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-1369-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-1369-2015, 2015
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A number of current systems exist in the Earth's magnetosphere. It is very difficult to identify local measurements as belonging to a specific current system. Therefore, there are different definitions of supposedly the same current, leading to unnecessary controversy. This study presents a robust collection of these definitions of current systems in geospace, particularly in the near-Earth nightside magnetosphere, as viewed from a variety of observational and computational analysis techniques.
E. Lee, G. K. Parks, S. Y. Fu, M. Fillingim, Y. B. Cui, J. Hong, I. Dandouras, and H. Rème
Ann. Geophys., 33, 1263–1269, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-1263-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-1263-2015, 2015
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.
G. K. Parks, E. Lee, S. Y. Fu, M. Fillingim, I. Dandouras, Y. B. Cui, J. Hong, and H. Rème
Ann. Geophys., 33, 333–344, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-333-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-33-333-2015, 2015
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Ions from Earth's ionosphere continually escape into space. This article examines ions escaping the auroral oval, a region in the polar region of Earth where auroras occur. Previous works have shown that ionospheric ions escape during active auroras, and more as the intensity of the aurora increases. In contrast, we have examined times of no auroras and find that ions are still escaping the auroral ionosphere. These escaping ions are an important source of auroral ions in the magnetosphere.
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.
A. Varsani, C. J. Owen, A. N. Fazakerley, C. Forsyth, A. P. Walsh, M. André, I. Dandouras, and C. M. Carr
Ann. Geophys., 32, 1093–1117, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-1093-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-1093-2014, 2014
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
A. Blagau, I. Dandouras, A. Barthe, S. Brunato, G. Facskó, and V. Constantinescu
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 3, 49–58, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-3-49-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-3-49-2014, 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
P. Kajdič, X. Blanco-Cano, N. Omidi, K. Meziane, C. T. Russell, J.-A. Sauvaud, I. Dandouras, and B. Lavraud
Ann. Geophys., 31, 2163–2178, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-2163-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-2163-2013, 2013
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
I. Dandouras
Ann. Geophys., 31, 1143–1153, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1143-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1143-2013, 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
C. P. Escoubet, J. Berchem, K. J. Trattner, F. Pitout, R. Richard, M. G. G. T. Taylor, J. Soucek, B. Grison, H. Laakso, A. Masson, M. Dunlop, I. Dandouras, H. Reme, A. Fazakerley, and P. Daly
Ann. Geophys., 31, 713–723, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-713-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-713-2013, 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
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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.
In this study, we have used Cluster satellite data to quantify the ionospheric oxygen ion (O+)...
