ORBi: Radioti Aikaterini - Bifurcations of the main auroral ring at Saturn: ionospheric signatures of consecutive reconnection events at the magnetopause

Reference : Bifurcations of the main auroral ring at Saturn: ionospheric signatures of consecutive r...


	Document type :	Scientific journals : Article
	Discipline(s) :	Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences : Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
	To cite this reference:	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/98719

Title :	Bifurcations of the main auroral ring at Saturn: ionospheric signatures of consecutive reconnection events at the magnetopause
Language :	English
Author, co-author :	Radioti, Aikaterini [Université de Liège - ULg > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP) >]
	Grodent, Denis [Université de Liège - ULg > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP) >]
	Gérard, Jean-Claude [Université de Liège - ULg > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP) >]
	Milan, S. E. [ > > ]
	Bonfond, Bertrand [Université de Liège - ULg > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP) >]
	Gustin, Jacques [Université de Liège - ULg > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP) >]
	Pryor, W. [ > > ]
Publication date :	2011
Journal title :	Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
Publisher :	American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Volume :	116
Pages :	A11209
Peer reviewed :	Yes (verified by ORBi)
Audience :	International
ISSN :	0148-0227
City :	Washington
Country :	DC
Abstract :	[en] This work reports for the first time on bifurcations of the main auroral ring at Saturn observed with the UVIS instrument onboard Cassini. The observation sequence starts with an intensification on the main oval, close to noon, which is possibly associated with dayside reconnection. Consecutive bifurcations appear with the onset of dayside reconnection, between 11 and 18 magnetic local time, while the area poleward of the main emission expands to lower latitudes. The bifurcations depart with time from the main ring of emission, which is related to the open-closed field line boundary. The augmentation of the area poleward of the main emission following its expansion is balanced by the area occupied by the bifurcations, suggesting that these auroral features represent the amount of newly open flux and could be related to consecutive reconnection events at the flank of the magnetopause. The observations show that the open flux along the sequence increases when bifurcations appear. Magnetopause reconnection can lead to significant augmentation of the open flux within a couple of days and each reconnection event opens ∼10% of the flux contained within the polar cap. Additionally, the observations imply an overall length of the reconnection line of ∼4 hours of local time and suggest that dayside reconnection at Saturn can occur at several positions on the magnetopause consecutively or simultaneously.
Target :	Researchers ; Professionals ; Students
Permalink :	http://hdl.handle.net/2268/98719
DOI :	10.1029/2011JA016661

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