Comparison of the open-closed field line boundary location inferred using IMAGE-FUV SI12 images and EISCAT radar observations

in Annales Geophysicae (2010), 28

We compare the location of the polar cap boundary (PCB) determined using two different techniques, and use them as proxies for the open-closed field line boundary (OCB). Electron temperatures from ... [more ▼]

We compare the location of the polar cap boundary (PCB) determined using two different techniques, and use them as proxies for the open-closed field line boundary (OCB). Electron temperatures from observations of the EISCAT radar facility are used to estimate the latitude of the PCB along the meridian of the EISCAT VHF beam. The second method utilizes global images of proton aurora obtained by the IMAGE satellite FUV SI12 instrument. These methods are applied to three different intervals. In two events, the agreement between the methods is good and the mean of the difference is within the resolution of the observations. In a third event, the PCB estimated from EISCAT data is located several degrees poleward of that obtained from the IMAGE FUV SI12 instrument. Comparison of the reconnection electric field estimated from the two methods shows that high-resolution measurements both in time and space are needed to capture the variations in reconnection electric field during substorm expansion. In addition to the two techniques introduced above to determine the PCB location, we also use a search for the location of the reversal of the east-west component of the equivalent current known as the magnetic convection reversal boundary (MCRB). The MCRB from the MIRACLE magnetometer chain mainly follows the motion of the polar cap boundary during different substorm phases, but differences arise near the Harang discontinuity. [less ▲]

Statistical properties of flux closure induced by solar wind dynamic pressure fronts

in Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics (2009), 114

We present a statistical study of flux closure intervals induced by solar wind dynamic pressure fronts. We consider that a dynamic pressure front reaches the Earth when a dayside subauroral proton flash ... [more ▼]

We present a statistical study of flux closure intervals induced by solar wind dynamic pressure fronts. We consider that a dynamic pressure front reaches the Earth when a dayside subauroral proton flash is observed in the SI2 channel of the IMAGE-FUV experiment. This pragmatic criterion selects both weak and strong pressure fronts. It is found that the preconditioning of the magnetosphere prior to the pressure pulse arrival mainly governs the magnetospheric response to a weak solar wind dynamic pressure front. This preconditioning includes the amount of open magnetic flux available in the magnetosphere prior to the pressure front arrival and the size of the magnetospheric cavity. However, in the case of a strong pressure pulse, the magnetospheric response is more sensitive to the solar wind properties characterizing the dynamic pressure front. The pressure jump is not the only one important, but also the variation of the solar wind velocity and IMF magnitude. In overall terms, we find that a strong dynamic pressure front is typically characterized by a dynamic pressure increase larger than Ë 2.8 nPa that takes place on timescales of the order of a few minutes. [less ▲]

Saturn's equinoctial auroras

in Geophysical Research Letters (2009), 36

We present the first images of Saturn's conjugate equinoctial auroras, obtained in early 2009 using the Hubble Space Telescope. We show that the radius of the northern auroral oval is similar to 1.5 ... [more ▼]

We present the first images of Saturn's conjugate equinoctial auroras, obtained in early 2009 using the Hubble Space Telescope. We show that the radius of the northern auroral oval is similar to 1.5 degrees smaller than the southern, indicating that Saturn's polar ionospheric magnetic field, measured for the first time in the ionosphere, is similar to 17% larger in the north than the south. Despite this, the total emitted UV power is on average similar to 17% larger in the north than the south, suggesting that field-aligned currents (FACs) are responsible for the emission. Finally, we show that individual auroral features can exhibit distinct hemispheric asymmetries. These observations will provide important context for Cassini observations as Saturn moves from southern to northern summer. Citation: Nichols, J. D., et al. (2009), Saturn's equinoctial auroras, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L24102, doi: 10.1029/2009GL041491. [less ▲]

Auroral current systems in Saturn's magnetosphere: comparison of theoretical models with Cassini and HST observations

in Annales Geophysicae [= ANGEO] (2008), 26(9), 2613-2630

The first simultaneous observations of fields and plasmas in Saturn's high-latitude magnetosphere and UV images of the conjugate auroral oval were obtained by the Cassini spacecraft and the Hubble Space ... [more ▼]

The first simultaneous observations of fields and plasmas in Saturn's high-latitude magnetosphere and UV images of the conjugate auroral oval were obtained by the Cassini spacecraft and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in January 2007. These data have shown that the southern auroral oval near noon maps to the dayside cusp boundary between open and closed field lines, associated with a major layer of upward-directed field-aligned current (Bunce et al., 2008). The results thus support earlier theoretical discussion and quantitative modelling of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling at Saturn (Cowley et al., 2004), that suggests the oval is produced by electron acceleration in the field-aligned current layer required by rotational flow shear between strongly sub-corotating flow on open field lines and near-corotating flow on closed field lines. Here we quantitatively compare these modelling results (the 'CBO' model) with the Cassini-HST data set. The comparison shows good qualitative agreement between model and data, the principal difference being that the model currents are too small by factors of about five, as determined from the magnetic perturbations observed by Cassini. This is suggested to be principally indicative of a more highly conducting summer southern ionosphere than was assumed in the CBO model. A revised model is therefore proposed in which the height-integrated ionospheric Pedersen conductivity is increased by a factor of four from 1 to 4 mho, together with more minor adjustments to the co-latitude of the boundary, the flow shear across it, the width of the current layer, and the properties of the source electrons. It is shown that the revised model agrees well with the combined Cassini-HST data, requiring downward acceleration of outer magnetosphere electrons through a similar to 10 kV potential in the current layer at the open-closed field line boundary to produce an auroral oval of similar to 1 degrees width with UV emission intensities of a few tens of kR. [less ▲]

Oscillation of Saturn's southern auroral oval

in Journal of Geophysical Research (2008), 113(A11),

Near-planetary-period oscillations in the Cassini plasma and magnetic field data have been observed throughout Saturn's magnetosphere despite the fact that Saturn's internal magnetic field is apparently ... [more ▼]

Near-planetary-period oscillations in the Cassini plasma and magnetic field data have been observed throughout Saturn's magnetosphere despite the fact that Saturn's internal magnetic field is apparently highly axisymmetric. In addition, the period of the Saturn kilometric radiation has been shown to vary over time. In this paper we present results from the recent Hubble Space Telescope observations of Saturn's southern ultraviolet auroral emission. We show that the center of the auroral oval oscillates with period 10.76 h +/- 0.15 h for both January 2007 and February 2008, i.e., close to the periods determined for oscillations in other magnetospheric phenomena. The motion of the oval center is described for 2007 by an ellipse with semimajor axis similar to 1.4 degrees +/- 0.3 degrees oriented toward similar to 09-21 h LT, eccentricity similar to 0.93, and center offset from the spin axis by similar to 1.8 degrees toward similar to 04 h LT. For 2008 the oscillation is consistent with an ellipse with semimajor axis similar to 2.2 degrees +/- 0.3 degrees oriented toward similar to 09-21 h LT, eccentricity similar to 0.99, and a center offset from the spin axis by similar to 2.2 degrees toward similar to 03 h LT. The motion of the auroral oval is thus highly elliptical in both cases, and the major oscillation axis is oriented toward prenoon/premidnight. This result places an independent constraint on the magnitude of the planet's dipole tilt and may also indicate the presence of an external current system that imposes an asymmetry in the ionospheric field modulated close to the planetary period. [less ▲]

A statistical analysis of the location and width of Saturn's aurora, and implications for magnetospheric dynamics

Conference (2006, September)

We present the results of a statistical analysis of the location of commonly-occurring auroral features in Saturn's southern polar ionosphere. Using a magnetospheric model, modified for Saturn from a data ... [more ▼]

We present the results of a statistical analysis of the location of commonly-occurring auroral features in Saturn's southern polar ionosphere. Using a magnetospheric model, modified for Saturn from a data-based terrestrial model (Tsyganenko, 1996), we estimate the region in the equatorial plane of the outer magnetosphere that maps to the observed aurora. We then discuss the possible magnetospheric processes that may cause these auroral emissions. [less ▲]

Open flux estimates in Saturn's magnetosphere during the January 2004 Cassini-HST campaign, and implications for reconnection rates

Conference (2005, August 07)