Articles | Volume 42, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-117-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-117-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Regular paper
| 
25 Apr 2024
Regular paper |
| 25 Apr 2024
| 25 Apr 2024
Short large-amplitude magnetic structures (SLAMS) at Mercury observed by MESSENGER
Division of Space and Plasma Physics, School of Electric Engineering and Computer Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
Ferdinand Plaschke
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institut für Geophysik und Extraterrestrische Physik, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
Austin N. Glass
Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Jim M. Raines
Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Related authors
Adrian Pöppelwerth, Georg Glebe, Johannes Z. D. Mieth, Florian Koller, Tomas Karlsson, Zoltán Vörös, and Ferdinand Plaschke
Ann. Geophys., 42, 271–284, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-271-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-271-2024, 2024
Short summary
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In the magnetosheath, a near-Earth region of space, we observe increases in plasma velocity and density, so-called jets. As they propagate towards Earth, jets interact with the ambient plasma. We study this interaction with three spacecraft simultaneously to infer their sizes. While previous studies have investigated their size almost exclusively statistically, we demonstrate a new method of determining the sizes of individual jets.
Henriette Trollvik, Tomas Karlsson, and Savvas Raptis
Ann. Geophys., 41, 327–337, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-327-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-327-2023, 2023
Short summary
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The solar wind is in a plasma state and can exhibit a range of phenomena like waves and instabilities. One observed phenomenon in the solar wind is magnetic holes (MHs). They are localized depressions in the magnetic field. We studied the motion of MHs using the multispacecraft ESA Cluster mission. We derived their velocities in the solar wind frame and found that both linear and rotational MHs are convected with the solar wind.
Tomas Karlsson, Henriette Trollvik, Savvas Raptis, Hans Nilsson, and Hadi Madanian
Ann. Geophys., 40, 687–699, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-687-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-687-2022, 2022
Short summary
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Magnetic holes are curious localized dropouts of magnetic field strength in the solar wind (the flow of ionized gas continuously streaming out from the sun). In this paper we show that these magnetic holes can cross the bow shock (where the solar wind brake down to subsonic velocity) and enter the region close to Earth’s magnetosphere. These structures may therefore represent a new type of non-uniform solar wind–magnetosphere interaction.
Minna Palmroth, Savvas Raptis, Jonas Suni, Tomas Karlsson, Lucile Turc, Andreas Johlander, Urs Ganse, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Xochitl Blanco-Cano, Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, Markus Battarbee, Maxime Dubart, Maxime Grandin, Vertti Tarvus, and Adnane Osmane
Ann. Geophys., 39, 289–308, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-289-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-289-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Magnetosheath jets are high-velocity features within the Earth's turbulent magnetosheath, separating the Earth's magnetic domain from the solar wind. The characteristics of the jets are difficult to assess statistically as a function of their lifetime because normally spacecraft observe them only at one position within the magnetosheath. This study first confirms the accuracy of the model used, Vlasiator, by comparing it to MMS spacecraft, and then carries out the first jet lifetime statistics.
Martin Volwerk, David Mautner, Cyril Simon Wedlund, Charlotte Goetz, Ferdinand Plaschke, Tomas Karlsson, Daniel Schmid, Diana Rojas-Castillo, Owen W. Roberts, and Ali Varsani
Ann. Geophys., 39, 239–253, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-239-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-239-2021, 2021
Short summary
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The magnetic field in the solar wind is not constant but varies in direction and strength. One of these variations shows a strong local reduction of the magnetic field strength and is called a magnetic hole. These holes are usually an indication that there is, or has been, a temperature difference in the plasma of the solar wind, with the temperature along the magnetic field lower than perpendicular. The MMS spacecraft data have been used to study the characteristics of these holes near Earth.
Markus Battarbee, Xóchitl Blanco-Cano, Lucile Turc, Primož Kajdič, Andreas Johlander, Vertti Tarvus, Stephen Fuselier, Karlheinz Trattner, Markku Alho, Thiago Brito, Urs Ganse, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, Tomas Karlsson, Savvas Raptis, Maxime Dubart, Maxime Grandin, Jonas Suni, and Minna Palmroth
Ann. Geophys., 38, 1081–1099, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-1081-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-1081-2020, 2020
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We investigate the dynamics of helium in the foreshock, a part of near-Earth space found upstream of the Earth's bow shock. We show how the second most common ion in interplanetary space reacts strongly to plasma waves found in the foreshock. Spacecraft observations and supercomputer simulations both give us a new understanding of the foreshock edge and how to interpret future observations.
Martin Volwerk, Charlotte Goetz, Ferdinand Plaschke, Tomas Karlsson, Daniel Heyner, and Brian Anderson
Ann. Geophys., 38, 51–60, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-51-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-51-2020, 2020
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The magnetic field that is carried by the solar wind slowly decreases in strength as it moves further from the Sun. However, there are sometimes localized decreases in the magnetic field strength, called magnetic holes. These are small structures where the magnetic field strength decreases to less than 50 % of the surroundings and the plasma density increases. This paper presents a statistical study of the behaviour of these holes between Mercury and Venus using MESSENGER data.
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
Short summary
Short summary
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.
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
Short summary
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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.
Elisabet Liljeblad and Tomas Karlsson
Ann. Geophys., 35, 879–884, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-879-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-879-2017, 2017
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MESSENGER magnetic field data from the magnetosphere of Mercury have been investigated to identify ultra-low-frequency (ULF) waves. ULF waves in the Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) wave frequency range are frequently observed in the magnetosphere. These ULF waves often have similar characteristics to previously identified, likely KH-driven ULF waves, indicating that ULF waves in a specific frequency band can be used as a detection tool for KH waves on Mercury.
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.
H. Gunell, G. Stenberg Wieser, M. Mella, R. Maggiolo, H. Nilsson, F. Darrouzet, M. Hamrin, T. Karlsson, N. Brenning, J. De Keyser, M. André, and I. Dandouras
Ann. Geophys., 32, 991–1009, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-991-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-991-2014, 2014
Niklas Grimmich, Adrian Pöppelwerth, Martin Owain Archer, David Gary Sibeck, Ferdinand Plaschke, Wenli Mo, Vicki Toy-Edens, Drew Lawson Turner, Hyangpyo Kim, and Rumi Nakamura
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2956, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2956, 2024
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The boundary of Earth's magnetic field, the magnetopause, deflects and reacts to the solar wind - the energetic particles emanating from the Sun. We find that certain types of solar wind favour the occurrence of deviations between the magnetopause locations observed by spacecraft and those predicted by models. In addition, the turbulent region in front of the magnetopause, the foreshock, has a large influence on the location of the magnetopause and thus on the accuracy of the model predictions.
Niklas Grimmich, Ferdinand Plaschke, Benjamin Grison, Fabio Prencipe, Christophe Philippe Escoubet, Martin Owain Archer, Ovidiu Dragos Constantinescu, Stein Haaland, Rumi Nakamura, David Gary Sibeck, Fabien Darrouzet, Mykhaylo Hayosh, and Romain Maggiolo
Ann. Geophys., 42, 371–394, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-371-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-371-2024, 2024
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In our study, we looked at the boundary between the Earth's magnetic field and the interplanetary magnetic field emitted by the Sun, called the magnetopause. While other studies focus on the magnetopause motion near Earth's Equator, we have studied it in polar regions. The motion of the magnetopause is faster towards the Earth than towards the Sun. We also found that the occurrence of unusual magnetopause locations is due to similar solar influences in the equatorial and polar regions.
Adrian Pöppelwerth, Georg Glebe, Johannes Z. D. Mieth, Florian Koller, Tomas Karlsson, Zoltán Vörös, and Ferdinand Plaschke
Ann. Geophys., 42, 271–284, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-271-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-42-271-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In the magnetosheath, a near-Earth region of space, we observe increases in plasma velocity and density, so-called jets. As they propagate towards Earth, jets interact with the ambient plasma. We study this interaction with three spacecraft simultaneously to infer their sizes. While previous studies have investigated their size almost exclusively statistically, we demonstrate a new method of determining the sizes of individual jets.
Leonard Schulz, Karl-Heinz Glassmeier, Ferdinand Plaschke, Simon Toepfer, and Uwe Motschmann
Ann. Geophys., 41, 449–463, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-449-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-449-2023, 2023
Short summary
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The upper detection limit in reciprocal space, the spatial Nyquist limit, is derived for arbitrary spatial dimensions for the wave telescope analysis technique. This is important as future space plasma missions will incorporate larger numbers of spacecraft (>4). Our findings are a key element in planning the spatial distribution of future multi-point spacecraft missions. The wave telescope is a multi-dimensional power spectrum estimator; hence, this can be applied to other fields of research.
Henriette Trollvik, Tomas Karlsson, and Savvas Raptis
Ann. Geophys., 41, 327–337, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-327-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-41-327-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The solar wind is in a plasma state and can exhibit a range of phenomena like waves and instabilities. One observed phenomenon in the solar wind is magnetic holes (MHs). They are localized depressions in the magnetic field. We studied the motion of MHs using the multispacecraft ESA Cluster mission. We derived their velocities in the solar wind frame and found that both linear and rotational MHs are convected with the solar wind.
Tomas Karlsson, Henriette Trollvik, Savvas Raptis, Hans Nilsson, and Hadi Madanian
Ann. Geophys., 40, 687–699, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-687-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-687-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Magnetic holes are curious localized dropouts of magnetic field strength in the solar wind (the flow of ionized gas continuously streaming out from the sun). In this paper we show that these magnetic holes can cross the bow shock (where the solar wind brake down to subsonic velocity) and enter the region close to Earth’s magnetosphere. These structures may therefore represent a new type of non-uniform solar wind–magnetosphere interaction.
Martin Volwerk, Beatriz Sánchez-Cano, Daniel Heyner, Sae Aizawa, Nicolas André, Ali Varsani, Johannes Mieth, Stefano Orsini, Wolfgang Baumjohann, David Fischer, Yoshifumi Futaana, Richard Harrison, Harald Jeszenszky, Iwai Kazumasa, Gunter Laky, Herbert Lichtenegger, Anna Milillo, Yoshizumi Miyoshi, Rumi Nakamura, Ferdinand Plaschke, Ingo Richter, Sebastián Rojas Mata, Yoshifumi Saito, Daniel Schmid, Daikou Shiota, and Cyril Simon Wedlund
Ann. Geophys., 39, 811–831, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-811-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-811-2021, 2021
Short summary
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On 15 October 2020, BepiColombo used Venus as a gravity assist to change its orbit to reach Mercury in late 2021. During this passage of Venus, the spacecraft entered into Venus's magnetotail at a distance of 70 Venus radii from the planet. We have studied the magnetic field and plasma data and find that Venus's magnetotail is highly active. This is caused by strong activity in the solar wind, where just before the flyby a coronal mass ejection interacted with the magnetophere of Venus.
Daniel Schmid, Yasuhito Narita, Ferdinand Plaschke, Martin Volwerk, Rumi Nakamura, and Wolfgang Baumjohann
Ann. Geophys., 39, 563–570, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-563-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-563-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In this work we present the first analytical magnetosheath plasma flow model for the space environment around Mercury. The proposed model is relatively simple to implement and provides the possibility to trace the flow lines inside the Hermean magnetosheath. It can help to determine the the local plasma conditions of a spacecraft in the magnetosheath exclusively on the basis of the upstream solar wind parameters.
Minna Palmroth, Savvas Raptis, Jonas Suni, Tomas Karlsson, Lucile Turc, Andreas Johlander, Urs Ganse, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Xochitl Blanco-Cano, Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, Markus Battarbee, Maxime Dubart, Maxime Grandin, Vertti Tarvus, and Adnane Osmane
Ann. Geophys., 39, 289–308, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-289-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-289-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Magnetosheath jets are high-velocity features within the Earth's turbulent magnetosheath, separating the Earth's magnetic domain from the solar wind. The characteristics of the jets are difficult to assess statistically as a function of their lifetime because normally spacecraft observe them only at one position within the magnetosheath. This study first confirms the accuracy of the model used, Vlasiator, by comparing it to MMS spacecraft, and then carries out the first jet lifetime statistics.
Martin Volwerk, David Mautner, Cyril Simon Wedlund, Charlotte Goetz, Ferdinand Plaschke, Tomas Karlsson, Daniel Schmid, Diana Rojas-Castillo, Owen W. Roberts, and Ali Varsani
Ann. Geophys., 39, 239–253, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-239-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-239-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The magnetic field in the solar wind is not constant but varies in direction and strength. One of these variations shows a strong local reduction of the magnetic field strength and is called a magnetic hole. These holes are usually an indication that there is, or has been, a temperature difference in the plasma of the solar wind, with the temperature along the magnetic field lower than perpendicular. The MMS spacecraft data have been used to study the characteristics of these holes near Earth.
Yasuhito Narita, Ferdinand Plaschke, Werner Magnes, David Fischer, and Daniel Schmid
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 10, 13–24, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-10-13-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-10-13-2021, 2021
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The systematic error of calibrated fluxgate magnetometer data is studied for a spinning spacecraft. The major error comes from the offset uncertainty when the ambient magnetic field is low, while the error represents the combination of non-orthogonality, misalignment to spacecraft reference direction, and gain when the ambient field is high. The results are useful in developing future high-precision magnetometers and an error estimate in scientific studies using magnetometer data.
Ovidiu Dragoş Constantinescu, Hans-Ulrich Auster, Magda Delva, Olaf Hillenmaier, Werner Magnes, and Ferdinand Plaschke
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 9, 451–469, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-9-451-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-9-451-2020, 2020
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We propose a gradiometer-based technique for cleaning multi-sensor magnetic field data acquired on board spacecraft. The technique takes advantage on the fact that the maximum-variance direction of many AC disturbances on board spacecraft does not change over time. We apply the proposed technique to the SOSMAG instrument on board GeoKompsat-2A. We analyse the performance and limitations of the technique and discuss in detail how various disturbances are removed.
Markus Battarbee, Xóchitl Blanco-Cano, Lucile Turc, Primož Kajdič, Andreas Johlander, Vertti Tarvus, Stephen Fuselier, Karlheinz Trattner, Markku Alho, Thiago Brito, Urs Ganse, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, Tomas Karlsson, Savvas Raptis, Maxime Dubart, Maxime Grandin, Jonas Suni, and Minna Palmroth
Ann. Geophys., 38, 1081–1099, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-1081-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-1081-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the dynamics of helium in the foreshock, a part of near-Earth space found upstream of the Earth's bow shock. We show how the second most common ion in interplanetary space reacts strongly to plasma waves found in the foreshock. Spacecraft observations and supercomputer simulations both give us a new understanding of the foreshock edge and how to interpret future observations.
Daniel Schmid, Ferdinand Plaschke, Yasuhito Narita, Daniel Heyner, Johannes Z. D. Mieth, Brian J. Anderson, Martin Volwerk, Ayako Matsuoka, and Wolfgang Baumjohann
Ann. Geophys., 38, 823–832, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-823-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-823-2020, 2020
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Recently, the two-spacecraft mission BepiColombo was launched to explore Mercury. To measure the magnetic field precisely, in-flight calibration of the magnetometer offset is needed. Usually, the offset is evaluated from magnetic field observations in the solar wind. Since one of the spacecraft will remain within Mercury's magnetic environment, we examine an alternative calibration method. We show that this method is applicable and may be a valuable tool to determine the offset accurately.
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.
Martin Volwerk, Charlotte Goetz, Ferdinand Plaschke, Tomas Karlsson, Daniel Heyner, and Brian Anderson
Ann. Geophys., 38, 51–60, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-51-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-51-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The magnetic field that is carried by the solar wind slowly decreases in strength as it moves further from the Sun. However, there are sometimes localized decreases in the magnetic field strength, called magnetic holes. These are small structures where the magnetic field strength decreases to less than 50 % of the surroundings and the plasma density increases. This paper presents a statistical study of the behaviour of these holes between Mercury and Venus using MESSENGER data.
Ferdinand Plaschke
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 8, 285–291, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-8-285-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-8-285-2019, 2019
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Measuring the magnetic field onboard spacecraft requires regular in-flight calibration activities. Among those, determining the output of magnetometers under vanishing ambient magnetic fields, the so-called magnetometer offsets, is essential. Typically, characteristic rotations in solar wind magnetic fields are used to obtain these offsets. This paper addresses the question of how many solar wind data are needed to reach certain accuracy levels in offset determination.
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.
Ferdinand Plaschke, Hans-Ulrich Auster, David Fischer, Karl-Heinz Fornaçon, Werner Magnes, Ingo Richter, Dragos Constantinescu, and Yasuhito Narita
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 8, 63–76, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-8-63-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-8-63-2019, 2019
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Raw output of spacecraft magnetometers has to be converted into meaningful units and coordinate systems before it is usable for scientific applications. This conversion is defined by 12 calibration parameters, 8 of which are more easily determined in flight if the spacecraft is spinning. We present theory and advanced algorithms to determine these eight parameters. They take into account the physical magnetometer and spacecraft behavior, making them superior to previously published algorithms.
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
Short summary
Short summary
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.
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.
Sudong Xiao, Tielong Zhang, Guoqiang Wang, Martin Volwerk, Yasong Ge, Daniel Schmid, Rumi Nakamura, Wolfgang Baumjohann, and Ferdinand Plaschke
Ann. Geophys., 35, 1015–1022, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-1015-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-1015-2017, 2017
Elisabet Liljeblad and Tomas Karlsson
Ann. Geophys., 35, 879–884, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-879-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-879-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
MESSENGER magnetic field data from the magnetosphere of Mercury have been investigated to identify ultra-low-frequency (ULF) waves. ULF waves in the Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) wave frequency range are frequently observed in the magnetosphere. These ULF waves often have similar characteristics to previously identified, likely KH-driven ULF waves, indicating that ULF waves in a specific frequency band can be used as a detection tool for KH waves on Mercury.
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.
Dennis Frühauff, Ferdinand Plaschke, and Karl-Heinz Glassmeier
Ann. Geophys., 35, 117–121, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-117-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-35-117-2017, 2017
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Vector magnetic field instruments mounted on spacecraft require precise in-flight calibration of the offsets of all three axes, i.e., the output in vanishing ambient field. While calibration of the spin plane offsets is trivial, we apply a new technique for determining the spin axis offset, not relying on solar wind data but on magnetosheath encounters. This technique is successfully applied to the satellites of the THEMIS mission to update the calibration parameters of the complete mission.
Martin Volwerk, Daniel Schmid, Bruce T. Tsurutani, Magda Delva, Ferdinand Plaschke, Yasuhito Narita, Tielong Zhang, and Karl-Heinz Glassmeier
Ann. Geophys., 34, 1099–1108, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-1099-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-1099-2016, 2016
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The behaviour of mirror mode waves in Venus's magnetosheath is investigated for solar minimum and maximum conditions. It is shown that the total observational rate of these waves does not change much; however, the distribution over the magnetosheath is significantly different, as well as the growth and decay of the waves during these different solar activity conditions.
David Fischer, Werner Magnes, Christian Hagen, Ivan Dors, Mark W. Chutter, Jerry Needell, Roy B. Torbert, Olivier Le Contel, Robert J. Strangeway, Gernot Kubin, Aris Valavanoglou, Ferdinand Plaschke, Rumi Nakamura, Laurent Mirioni, Christopher T. Russell, Hannes K. Leinweber, Kenneth R. Bromund, Guan Le, Lawrence Kepko, Brian J. Anderson, James A. Slavin, and Wolfgang Baumjohann
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 5, 521–530, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-5-521-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-5-521-2016, 2016
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This paper describes frequency and timing calibration, modeling and data processing and calibration for MMS magnetometers, resulting in a merged search choil and fluxgate data product.
Ferdinand Plaschke and Yasuhito Narita
Ann. Geophys., 34, 759–766, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-759-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-34-759-2016, 2016
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Spacecraft-mounted magnetic field instruments (magnetometers) need to be routinely calibrated. This involves determining the magnetometer outputs in vanishing ambient magnetic fields, the so-called offsets. We introduce and test a new method to determine these offsets with high accuracy, the mirror mode method, which is complementary to existing methods. The mirror mode method should be highly beneficial to current and future magnetic field observations near Earth, other planets, and comets.
H. Gunell, G. Stenberg Wieser, M. Mella, R. Maggiolo, H. Nilsson, F. Darrouzet, M. Hamrin, T. Karlsson, N. Brenning, J. De Keyser, M. André, and I. Dandouras
Ann. Geophys., 32, 991–1009, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-991-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-991-2014, 2014
D. Schmid, M. Volwerk, F. Plaschke, Z. Vörös, T. L. Zhang, W. Baumjohann, and Y. Narita
Ann. Geophys., 32, 651–657, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-651-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-32-651-2014, 2014
R. Nakamura, F. Plaschke, R. Teubenbacher, L. Giner, W. Baumjohann, W. Magnes, M. Steller, R. B. Torbert, H. Vaith, M. Chutter, K.-H. Fornaçon, K.-H. Glassmeier, and C. Carr
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 3, 1–11, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-3-1-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-3-1-2014, 2014
F. Plaschke, H. Hietala, and V. Angelopoulos
Ann. Geophys., 31, 1877–1889, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1877-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-1877-2013, 2013
C. Nabert, K.-H. Glassmeier, and F. Plaschke
Ann. Geophys., 31, 419–437, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-419-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-31-419-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Subject: Magnetosphere & space plasma physics | Keywords: Bow shock and foreshock
Fine structure and motion of the bow shock and particle energisation mechanisms inferred from Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations
Foreshock cavitons and spontaneous hot flow anomalies: a statistical study with a global hybrid-Vlasov simulation
Evidence of the nonstationarity of the terrestrial bow shock from multi-spacecraft observations: methodology, results, and quantitative comparison with particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations
A deep insight into the ion foreshock with the help of test particle two-dimensional simulations
Helium in the Earth's foreshock: a global Vlasiator survey
Non-locality of Earth's quasi-parallel bow shock: injection of thermal protons in a hybrid-Vlasov simulation
Low-frequency magnetic variations at the high-β Earth bow shock
Comment on “Cavitons and spontaneous hot flow anomalies in a hybrid-Vlasov global magnetospheric simulation” by Blanco-Cano et al. (2018)
Reflection of the strahl within the foot of the Earth's bow shock
Cavitons and spontaneous hot flow anomalies in a hybrid-Vlasov global magnetospheric simulation
Krzysztof Stasiewicz and Zbigniew Kłos
Ann. Geophys., 40, 315–325, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-315-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-40-315-2022, 2022
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The acceleration, or energisation, of particles is a common and fundamental process throughout the universe. This study presents new observations of the acceleration of protons by waves at the bow shock upstream of the Earth, where the solar wind first encounters Earth’s magnetic field. The results are important, because they provide insight into acceleration processes that can create high-energy particles both near the Earth and at other astrophysical systems.
Vertti Tarvus, Lucile Turc, Markus Battarbee, Jonas Suni, Xóchitl Blanco-Cano, Urs Ganse, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Markku Alho, Maxime Dubart, Maxime Grandin, Andreas Johlander, Konstantinos Papadakis, and Minna Palmroth
Ann. Geophys., 39, 911–928, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-911-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-911-2021, 2021
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We use simulations of Earth's magnetosphere and study the formation of transient wave structures in the region where the solar wind first interacts with the magnetosphere. These transients move earthward and play a part in the solar wind–magnetosphere interaction. We show that the transients are a common feature and their properties are altered as they move earthward, including an increase in temperature, decrease in solar wind speed and an alteration in their propagation properties.
Christian Mazelle and Bertrand Lembège
Ann. Geophys., 39, 571–598, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-571-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-39-571-2021, 2021
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Nonstationarity of the quasi-perpendicular terrestrial bow shock is analyzed from magnetic field measurements, comparison with 2D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, and a careful and accurate methodology in the data processing. The results show evidence of a strong variability of the microstructures of the shock front (foot and ramp), confirming the importance of dissipative effects. These results indicate that these features can be signatures of the shock front self-reformation.
Philippe Savoini and Bertrand Lembège
Ann. Geophys., 38, 1217–1235, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-1217-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-1217-2020, 2020
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Numerical simulations have been used to investigate some acceleration mechanisms in order to explain the origin of the energized back-streaming ions observed at the Earth's bow shock. This paper used test particles in two different configurations with self-consistent and fixed shock front profiles. The comparison of these two configurations allows us to analyze, in detail, the impact of the shock front nonstationarity and the role of the built-up electric field in the acceleration process.
Markus Battarbee, Xóchitl Blanco-Cano, Lucile Turc, Primož Kajdič, Andreas Johlander, Vertti Tarvus, Stephen Fuselier, Karlheinz Trattner, Markku Alho, Thiago Brito, Urs Ganse, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, Tomas Karlsson, Savvas Raptis, Maxime Dubart, Maxime Grandin, Jonas Suni, and Minna Palmroth
Ann. Geophys., 38, 1081–1099, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-1081-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-1081-2020, 2020
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We investigate the dynamics of helium in the foreshock, a part of near-Earth space found upstream of the Earth's bow shock. We show how the second most common ion in interplanetary space reacts strongly to plasma waves found in the foreshock. Spacecraft observations and supercomputer simulations both give us a new understanding of the foreshock edge and how to interpret future observations.
Markus Battarbee, Urs Ganse, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Lucile Turc, Thiago Brito, Maxime Grandin, Tuomas Koskela, and Minna Palmroth
Ann. Geophys., 38, 625–643, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-625-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-625-2020, 2020
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The structure and medium-scale dynamics of Earth's bow shock and how charged solar wind particles are reflected by it are studied in order to better understand space weather effects. We use advanced supercomputer simulations to model the shock and reflected ions. We find that the thickness of the shock depends on solar wind conditions but also has small-scale variations. Charged particle reflection is shown to be non-localized. Magnetic fields are important for ion reflection.
Anatoli A. Petrukovich, Olga M. Chugunova, and Pavel I. Shustov
Ann. Geophys., 37, 877–889, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-877-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-877-2019, 2019
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Earth's bow shock in solar wind with high thermal and low magnetic pressure is a rare phenomenon. However, such an object is ubiquitous in astrophysical plasmas.
We surveyed statistics of such shock observations since 1995. About 100 crossings were initially identified. In this report 22 crossings from the Cluster project were studied using multipoint analysis, which allowed for the determination of the spatial scales of the shock transition and of the dominant magnetic variations
Gábor Facskó
Ann. Geophys., 37, 763–764, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-763-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-763-2019, 2019
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Blanco-Cano et al. (2018) intended to find a type of transient event in the solar wind before the terrestrial bow shock using a special type of simulation. However, the simulation results cannot reproduce the main features of the event. Based on the remarks described below, I am sure that the features in the simulations are not those types of events. The Vlasiator code simulated proto-SHFAs.
Christopher A. Gurgiolo, Melvyn L. Goldstein, and Adolfo Viñas
Ann. Geophys., 37, 243–261, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-243-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-37-243-2019, 2019
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The reflection of solar wind electrons at the bow shock helps define the physical properties of the foreshock, the region where the interplanetary magnetic field directly connects to the bow shock. We report that the strahl, the field-aligned component of the electron solar wind distribution, appears to be nearly fully reflected at the bow shock and that the reflection occurs in the foot of the shock, implying that mirroring is not the primary cause of the electron reflection.
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.
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Short summary
The solar wind interacts with the planets in the solar system and creates a supersonic shock in front of them. The upstream region of this shock contains many complicated phenomena. One such phenomenon is small-scale structures of strong magnetic fields (SLAMS). These SLAMS have been observed at Earth and are important in determining the properties of space around the planet. Until now, SLAMS have not been observed at Mercury, but we show for the first time that SLAMS also exist there.
The solar wind interacts with the planets in the solar system and creates a supersonic shock in...
