Browse Articles
Generation Mechanism and Beaming of Jovian nKOM From 3D Numerical Modeling of Juno/Waves Observations
-  5 April 2024
Key Points
-
We developed a 3D modeling method to test the generation mechanism and beaming of plasma emissions from Jupiter's inner magnetosphere
-
Narrowband kilometric radiation (nKOM) occurrence distribution is reproduced with plasma emissions at fpe beamed anti-parallel to the density gradient
-
nKOM is compatible with O-mode at high latitudes and X-mode at low latitudes, from radio sources distributed near the centrifugal equator
The Third Plasma Density Peak at Poleward of EIA Crest: Swarm and ICON Observations
-  4 April 2024
Key Points
-
Third-peak structure at poleward of equatorial ionization anomaly has been frequently observed by Swarm satellites, showing significant dependences on the local time and season
-
Prominent longitudinal dependence of third-peak indicates zonal wind contributes also to the occurrence of the third peak, in addition to meridional wind
-
Observation from ionospheric connection explorer shows that the plasma drift caused by neutral wind plays also a role in causing the third-peak structure
Signatures of Dipolarizing Flux Bundles in the Nightside Auroral Zone
-  4 April 2024
Key Points
-
Geomagnetic disturbances observed in ground magnetometer data can coincide with dipolarizing flux bundles observed by THEMIS spacecraft
-
Coincident isolated premidnight GMDs and DFBs are strongly associated with high solar wind velocity but not with geomagnetic storms
-
Isolated premidnight DFBs generated under these conditions trigger only highly localized and transient upward currents and auroras
Mass Estimation From Simultaneous Optical and Radar Meteor Observations
-  4 April 2024
Key Points
-
Radar and photometric masses are calculated for a set of meteors observed simultaneously by MAARSY and optical cameras
-
Generally good agreement between the radar and photometric masses, with the exception of the largest events
-
Spread in results is correlated with meteoroid velocity
Statistical Analysis of Low‐Latitude Boundary of Polar‐Type Medium‐Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances Observed by a 630‐nm Airglow Imager at Nyrölä, Finland
-  3 April 2024
Key Points
-
We statistically analyzed medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) observed at subauroral latitudes at Nyrölä, Finland
-
Most MSTIDs are the polar-type MSTIDs whose motion changes associated with auroral brightening and/or magnetic field disturbances
-
The low-latitude boundary of these MSTIDs was at ∼61°N latitude, indicating disconnection between high- and mid-latitude MSTIDs
Tracking the Subsolar Bow Shock and Magnetopause: Applying the Magnetosheath Velocity Gradient Method
-  2 April 2024
Key Points
-
The velocity gradient method distinguishes between intervals when the subsolar bow shock and magnetopause move slowly or rapidly
-
The velocity gradient method confirms the locations of the bow shock and magnetopause predicted by global magnetohydrodynamic simulations
-
During quiet intervals, the amplitude of bow shock and magnetopause motion diminishes to less than 0.5 RE
Identifying the Onset Location of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs) and Its Relationship With the Background Ionospheric Conditions
-  2 April 2024
Key Points
-
The simultaneous observation of EPBs using three radars and C/NOFS satellite over Indian and Southeast Asian longitudes
-
The onset longitude of quasi-periodic EPBs were estimated over 60° longitude span using radar and satellite observations
-
The onset longitudes of quasi-periodic EPBs were associated with periodic wave structures in the E × B drift and elevated F layer
Automatically Sketching Auroral Skeleton Structure in All‐Sky Image for Measuring Aurora Arcs
-  1 April 2024
Key Points
-
We propose an artificial intelligence method to automatically sketch auroral skeleton structures in all-sky images
-
Without accurate auroral skeleton annotations, we train a weakly supervised model to detect auroral skeleton structures
-
As a two-dimensional information complement to the keogram, a more complete picture of auroral activity is obtained
Forward Modeling of 3‐D Ion Properties in Jupiter’s Magnetosphere Using Juno/JADE‐I Data
-  1 April 2024
Key Points
-
Using Juno/JADE-I SPECIES and TOF datasets we derive ion composition, density, temperature, flow velocity and direction
-
The method provides 3-D properties of plasma to explore spatial and temporal variabilities in Jupiter’s magnetosphere
-
The method determines the 3-D bulk flows vector accurately with small uncertainties
Quasi‐5‐Day Oscillations During Arctic Major Sudden Stratospheric Warmings From 2005 to 2021
-  1 April 2024
Key Points
-
Quasi-5-day oscillations (Q5DOs) are commonly enhanced during eight major sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events
-
Westward and eastward propagating Q5DOs can be simultaneously enhanced during major SSWs
-
The enhanced wave-2 Q5DOs are highly associated with the split-type SSWs
There are no results at this time
More articlesNRLMSISE‐00 empirical model of the atmosphere: Statistical comparisons and scientific issues
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  SIA 15-1-SIA 15-16
-  24 December 2002
What is a geomagnetic storm?
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  5771-5792
-  1 April 1994
Solar wind spatial scales in and comparisons of hourly Wind and ACE plasma and magnetic field data
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  16 February 2005
The SuperMAG data processing technique
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  14 September 2012
Key Points
- A weak residual ring current is always present
- Automated baseline determination technique
- Determination of local magnetic coordinate system
Collision frequency of artificial satellites: The creation of a debris belt
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  2637-2646
-  1 June 1978
Modeling the dynamics of the inner magnetosphere during strong geomagnetic storms
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  15 March 2005
Evaluation of SuperMAG auroral electrojet indices as indicators of substorms and auroral power
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  14 December 2011
Key Points
- AL(100) can accurately determine substorm onsets
- AL(100) works substantially better than AL(12)
- Recurrent substorms do not favor wave aurora
Magnetic loop behind an interplanetary shock: Voyager, Helios, and IMP 8 observations
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  6673-6684
-  1 August 1981
The ionospheric disturbance dynamo
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  1669-1686
-  1 April 1980
Magnetopause location under extreme solar wind conditions
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  17691-17700
-  1 August 1998
Effect of the altitudinal variation of the gravitational acceleration on the thermosphere simulation
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  4 September 2008
Magnetic Reconnection in the Space Sciences: Past, Present, and Future
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  15 December 2019
Key Points
- Magnetic reconnection is a key energy conversion and transport process in plasmas
- There has been recent, considerable, research progress understanding how reconnection works
- Many exciting research challenges await, while we can reap the benefits of our new understanding
Plain Language Summary
In space, huge amounts of energy are released explosively by a mysterious mechanism: magnetic reconnection. Reconnection can abruptly convert energy stored in magnetic fields to energy in charged particles, and power such diverse phenomena as solar and stellar flares, magnetic storms and aurorae in near-Earth space, and major disruptions in magnetically confined fusion devices. It is behind many of the dangerous effects associated with space weather, including damage to satellites, endangering astronauts, and impacting the power grid and pipelines. Understanding reconnection enables us to quantitatively describe and predict these magnetic explosions. Therefore, magnetic reconnection has been at the forefront of scientific interest for many years, and will be for many more. Measuring reconnection is incredibly difficult. However, recently scientists have been able to peek into its machinery. Combining measurements from NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale mission with supercomputer modeling, scientists have now been able to analyze the inner workings of this elusive mechanism. Even though open questions remain, this new understanding has broad implications. Here, we describe magnetic reconnection, where it plays a role, its impacts on society, and what we now know about it. We point to future research challenges, including implications and the utility of our recently developed knowledge.
Earth's Van Allen Radiation Belts: From Discovery to the Van Allen Probes Era
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  8319-8351
-  23 November 2019
Key Points
- A brief historical background on the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts and their response to solar activity is introduced
- Recent advances in understanding mechanisms responsible for radiation belt electron acceleration, transport, and loss are reviewed
- Outstanding challenges for developing future radiation belt models are summarized
Plain Language Summary
Discovery of the Earth's Van Allen radiation belts by instruments flown on Explorer 1 in 1958 was the first major discovery of the Space Age. The dynamic properties of trapped outer zone electrons and the outer boundary of the inner zone proton population, along with source populations, have recently been studied in great detail by instruments on National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Van Allen Probes spacecraft, as well as other data sources like operational spacecraft designed for navigation and terrestrial weather forecasting. The vulnerability of the myriad of spacecraft that is strongly affected by space weather disruptions, as compared to 1958, has motivated the radiation belt community to develop essential improved models for forecasting the space environment we will inhabit in the 21st century and evaluate its impacts on our technological society. In this paper, we provide a review on historical background and recent advances in understanding and modeling acceleration, transport, and loss processes of energetic particles in the Earth's Van Allen radiation belts, followed by outstanding challenges for developing future radiation belt models. The findings on the fundamental physics of the Van Allen radiation belts potentially provide insights into understanding energetic particle dynamics at other magnetized planets in the solar system, exoplanets throughout the universe, as well as in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. Given the potential Space Weather impact of radiation belt variability on technological systems, these new radiation belt models are expected to play a critical role in our technological society in the future much as meteorological models do today.
NRLMSISE‐00 empirical model of the atmosphere: Statistical comparisons and scientific issues
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  SIA 15-1-SIA 15-16
-  24 December 2002
High-resolution global storm index: Dst versus SYM-H
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  17 February 2006
Persistence of the Gleissberg 88‐year solar cycle over the last ∼12,000 years: Evidence from cosmogenic isotopes
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  SSH 1-1-SSH 1-15
-  3 January 2003
Atmospheric Escape Processes and Planetary Atmospheric Evolution
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  7 June 2020
Key Points
- The different escape processes at planets and exoplanets are reviewed along with their mathematical formulation
- The major parameters for each escape processes are described; some escape processes negligible in the solar system may be major source at exoplanets, or for the early solar system
- A magnetic field should not be a priori considered as a protection for the atmosphere
Plain Language Summary
In addition to having the right surface temperature, a planet needs an atmosphere to keep surface liquid water stable. Although many planets have been found that may lie in the right temperature range, the existence of an atmosphere is not guaranteed. In particular, for planets that are kept warm by being close to dim stars, there are a number of ways that the star may remove a planetary atmosphere. These atmospheric escape processes depend on the behavior of the star as well as the nature of the planet, including the presence of a planetary magnetic field. Under certain conditions, a magnetic field can protect a planet's atmosphere from the loss due to the direct impact of the stellar wind, but it may actually enhance total atmospheric loss by connecting to the highly variable magnetic field of the stellar wind. These enhancements happen especially for planets close to dim stars. We review the complete range of atmospheric loss processes driven by interaction between a planet and a star to aid in the identification of planets that are both the correct temperature for liquid water and that have a chance of maintaining an atmosphere over long periods of time.
Resolution of a Few Problems in the Application of Quasilinear Theory to Calculating Diffusion Coefficients in Heliophysics
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  19 September 2023
Key Points
-
Quasilinear theory from the 1960s unphysically allows diffusion coefficients to depend on wave azimuthal angle due to a notation problem
-
When the precise k-vector distribution is known, the transformation of variables in 1970s theory is incorrect, limiting its applicability
-
Correcting the two problems produces diffusion coefficients that can differ from the old values by orders of magnitude in some cases
Plain Language Summary
Electrons can become trapped in the near-Earth space environment and stay trapped for days to years, damaging sensitive electronics on space assets. The flux of relativistic electrons varies over time due to source and loss processes, some of which are due to interactions with electromagnetic waves. When the wave amplitudes are small, the effect of the waves on electrons can be modeled as a diffusion equation, with the diffusion coefficients proportional to the wave power. The theory currently used to compute diffusion coefficients was developed in the 1960s using a coordinate system based on all three components of the wave propagation direction. The theory was adapted to a coordinate system that uses the wave frequency and wave normal angle, and has been used for 50 years in a variety of heliophysics models. It is shown for the first time here that the transformation of the coordinate system is inappropriate when the precise distribution of wave k-vectors is available, and the correct transformation is derived. The newly computed diffusion coefficients can be orders of magnitude different than the old coefficients, potentially implying large differences in the predicted time scales over which the source and loss processes will occur for some situations.
Is the Dst Index Sufficient to Define All Geospace Storms?
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  11,543-11,547
-  16 October 2017
Key Points
- Different storms have different mixes of ring current strength, radiation-belt enhancement, plasma sheet temperature, auroral currents, etc
- The Dst index is a poor identifier of high-speed-stream-driven storms and of other types of geospace storms
- A call is made to the space physics community to refine the definitions of storms and to develop criteria to identify them
The Space Environment of Io and Europa
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
-  26 March 2020
Key Points
- Io and Europa substantially impact the Jovian magnetosphere while interactions of plasma with moons affects their surfaces and atmospheres
- Ten components are described, including neutrals, thermal plasma, and energetic particles, spanning from Jupiter to interplanetary medium
- Current understanding of the systems and processes are reviewed with a summary of outstanding questions