Pi(c) magnetic pulsations: their relation to ionospheric currents

The association of the phase of the H and D components of the Pi(c) pulsations with the phase of the broadscale H component magnetic bays confirms that Pi(c) pulsations result from auroral electron precipitation induced conductivity enhancements of existing current systems. Statistically determined relationships between the time delays and phases of the H and D components of magnetic Pi(c) pulsations with respect to the optical pulsations are used to infer a delay between the E-region Hall and Pedersen current fluctuations associated with the pulsating electron fluxes. Theoretical modelling of an auroral pulsation patch, as per Oguti and Hayashi, is used to show that the polarization of the Pi(c) pulsations is controlled principally by the delay between the Hall and Pedersen currents and the direction of the background E-region electric field.     

Mechanisms for observed total electron content pulsations at mid latitudes

Total electron content variations in the Pc3–Pc4 range of frequencies of the order of 4 parts in 10⁴ have been reported in apparent correlation with simultaneous ground based magnetic pulsation observations. By means of a term-by-term analysis of the continuity equation for electrons, the plausibility of various mechanisms is investigated. The most likely explanation is in terms of localized increases in the electron density at F-region heights caused by the field-aligned (compressional) component of the pulsation magnetic field. The analysis predicts a tendency for the amplitude of the TEC pulsations to vary in antiphase with ground-based measurements of the north-south component of the pulsation field.     

Source movements associated with IPDP pulsations

Information on the temporal movement in the source of IPDP (intervals of pulsations of diminishing period) have been obtained by applying time delay location techniques to two events recorded at three stations in Southeast Australia. It is found that IPDP events propagate from coherent finite high latitude source regions to middle and low latitudes in the ionospheric duct. A westward drift in the source location in the early evening hours is observed as the IPDP frequency increases with time. This is attributed to the energization of ~50 keV substorm associated protons as they drift azimuthally and move to lower L-values under the influence of electric field convection.     

Connections between high- and middle-latitude pulsations

Pulsation data from the mid-latitude observatory Nagycenk have been compared with those of the auroral zone station Tromsø and of the high-latitude stations Hornsund and Ny Alesund. The comparison has shown a rather high correlation between the Pc3 pulsation activities at all sites, with an independent component at the highest latitudes. Mid-latitude Pc3 is also correlated with high-latitude Pc4 and Pc5. The results can be explained by two main types of (mid-latitude) pulsations occurring simultaneously or independently at different times. The first has constant periods up to the highest latitude studied and is thought to be of extramagnetospheric origin. Magnetospheric signals, however, have—at least in certain events—periods increasing with increasing latitude, up to the high-latitude stations.     

Day-time Pi pulsations at equatorial latitudes

Low latitude Pi2 pulsations are considered to be the best indicators of the onset of magnetospheric substornis (Rostoker and Olson, 1978; Saito, 1979) and are hitherto believed to be mainly night-time phenomena. It is seen from this study utilising the pulsation records from Choutuppal (geomagnetic: 7°.5, 149°.3 E)and Etaiyapuram (geomagnetic: –0°.6.147°.5 E)and the “Common Scale Magnetograms” from the Auroral Electrojet (AE) stations during January–April 1976, that Pi2s do appear even during day-time on many occasions at equatorial latitudes in simultaneity with the onset of magnetospheric substorms at AE stations located in the night hemisphere. It is also found that the day-time Pis, unlike the night-time Pi2s, show enhancement in their amplitudes of Hx component at Etaiyapuram, situated at the dipequalor as compared to those at Choutuppal, well away from it. The results thus not only show the appearance of Pi pulsations during daytime in the equatorial zone, but also bring out the possible influence of the equatorial electrojet on their amplitudes at the dip equator.     

Ionospheric sources of Pi(c) pulsations

Data collected at Macquarie Island (invariant latitude 64.5°S) shows average delays of 0.6 s and 0.2 s between D and H component Pi(c) pulsations, respectively, and the N₂⁺1NG (0,1) optical band pulsations. The dominant phase of the cross-correlations between the H component pulsations and the optical pulsations is consistent with the H component fluctuations being generated by increases in a westward electrojet. The D component fluctuations are consistent with either an increase in an equatorward Pedersen current or an increase in a field aligned current. The polarization of the Pi(c) pulsations may be explained in terms of the altitude of the respective currents.     

Electrodynamic response of the middle atmosphere to auroral pulsations

On the nights of 21 and 28 October 1987, two Nike Orion payloads (NASA 31.066 and 31.067) were launched from Andøya, Norway, as part of the MAC/EPSILON campaign, to study the effect of auroral energetics on the middle atmosphere. Each payload carried detectors to measure relativistic electrons from 0.1 to 1.0MeV in 12 differential energy channels, and bremsstrahlung X-rays from >5 to >80keV in 5 integral channels. In addition, instrumentation to measure bulk ion properties and electric fields was also carried by these and/or near simultaneous flights. Flight 31.066 was launched during the recovery phase of a moderate magnetic substorm, during relatively stable auroral conditions. Flight 31.067 was launched during highly active post-break-up conditions during which Pc 5 pulsations (> 150s period) were in progress. The energetic radiation of the first event was composed almost entirely of relativistic electrons below 200 keV with negligible contributions from bremsstrahlung X-rays, while the radiation of the second event was dominated by much softer electrons ( < 100 kcV), which produced high X-ray fluxes that exceeded the cosmic ray background as an ionizing source down to altitudes below 30 km. Simultaneous conductivity measurements during both events show consistency with the ionizing radiations, with the pulsation event producing free electrons down to 55 km. far below their expected altitude range during night-time. These comparisons are discussed to evaluate the impact of such events on the middle atmosphere.     

Theory of generation of ULF pulsations by ionospheric modification experiments

A model characterized by three regions is considered. A thin dynamo region is separated by a region of free space from a perfectly conducting earth below. Above, the dynamo region is bounded by a magnetosphere in which hydromagnetic waves in the fast and in the Alfvén mode can propagate. Two limited extensions of a previous theory that is valid for frequencies well below 1 Hz and that neglects the effect of currents flowing into the magnetosphere, are considered. First, the frequency dependence of the ionospheric current system is determined, neglecting currents flowing into the magnetosphere. Secondly, the effects of currents flowing into the magnetosphere are evaluated in the low frequency limit and the Alfvén wave fields excited in the magnetosphere in the equatorial plane are calculated.     

Ionospheric mechanism for the two maxima in the spatial distribution of Pc3 geomagnetic pulsations

A modelling of the spatial distribution of Pc3 geomagnetic pulsations on the Earth's surface is carried out. We propose that the main contribution to the PC3 amplitude is due to ionospheric currents fluctuating because of conductivity variations associated with the modulation of electron precipitations which occurs in the field of compressional waves coming, probably, from the solar wind. A coincidence of the two dayside maxima in Pc3 geomagnetic pulsation amplitude (at latitudes ~ 70° and 55–60°) with two maxima in electron precipitations is in favour of such a proposition.     

A study of pearl pulsations in the equatorial region of India

Pearl pulsations in the equatorial region, despite their relative paucity, are known to exhibit definite features in their diurnal, seasonal and annual occurrence patterns. In the present study, attempts are made to examine and bring out in detail some more aspects of these pulsations recorded at Choutuppal (Geomagnetic latitude: 7°28′N) over a period of nine years during 1967–1975. The mid-period (t) of pearls is found to bear a linear relation to the pearl repetition period (T) and is of the form T = 70t + 11.2. The periods of pearls are seen to be influenced by the average magnetic activity level prevailing during the preceding few days rather than that existing on the day of pearl occurrence. There is an increase in the mid-frequency of pearls that occurred succeeding a magnetic disturbance particularly when the disturbance persisted over some days. The amplitude ratio (H_x/H_y) averaged for each two-hourly interval is seen to attain a value of unity around local midnight and decrease towards the dawn and morning hours. From these results, namely the dependence of mid-frequency of pearls on the average magnetic activity (represented by (Σ Kp >) during the preceding few days and the occurrence of shorter period pearls even after a few days following a magnetic storm, it is suggested that the plasmapause takes much longer time to re-establish to the quiet time position. In the alternative, it may be visualized that possible presence of localized regions of high plasma density gradients inside the plasmasphere after the cessation of a storm might provide favourable conditions for the generation of shorter period pearls.     

Doppler shift pulsations on whistler mode signals from a VLF transmitter

Whistler mode signals from the NAA transmitter (24 kHz) received at Faraday, Antarctica are processed to obtain the Doppler shift at a much higher time resolution than has previously been possible. This has allowed the observation of pulsations of about 13 mHz frequency which are believed to be associated with hydromagnetic waves in the magnetosphere. The pulsations are observed separately on signals with a number of discrete group delay features that can be interpreted as individual whistler ducts. Using the measured pulsation phase over the array of ducts the phase velocity and wave normal direction of the hydromagnetic wave in the equatorial plane are estimated. The direction of propagation is consistent with a source on the dayside magnetopause.The association between whistler mode Doppler shifts and hydromagnetic waves has been reported before but not, as far as we are aware, using an experimental technique that allows measurements on individual ducts in order to determine the direction of propagation of the hydromagnetic wave.     

Polarization characteristics and phase differences of Pi2 pulsations at conjugate stations

Spectral analysis was carried out on Pi2 pulsations occurring simultaneously at the conjugate stations St Anthony, Newfoundland and Halley Bay, Antarctica during the second half of 1976. For the strongest lines in each spectrum, the ellipticities and azimuths of the horizontal polarization ellipses at the two stations were approximately equal and opposite in sign generally consistent with the stations being conjugate, but there was noticeable scatter. When the differences in phase of the components between the stations were examined, they were found to be about 10° for the H-component and about 170° for the D (consistent with concept of an odd-mode oscillation of the field line) until about middle-late October. After this time, larger variations in the phase differences and decrease in coherence between the stations occurred and it is suggested that is a result of the presence of an ionosphere E-layer at Halley Bay throughout the night during Southern summer.     

The phase relationships of the ionospheric signatures of Pc1 geomagnetic pulsations

In this study we consider the phase relationships between the oscillations of various ionospheric signatures associated with Pcl geomagnetic pulsations. Investigations using a simple analytical method and a numerical model, which has proved successful when applied to longer period pulsations, both suggest that Doppler velocity oscillations should be predominantly in anti-phase with oscillations of the rates of change of group range and echo amplitude. However, observations indicate that the Doppler velocity oscillations are in quadrature with the other two types of oscillations. Possible causes for this discrepancy are suggested.     

A multistation study of long period geomagnetic pulsations at cusp and boundary layer latitudes

The characteristics of 1–20 mHz (Pc5) geomagnetic pulsations recorded during the daytime on the ground at cusp and boundary layer latitudes have been examined. On quiet and moderately disturbed days the major spectral contributions are due to three different mechanisms. Sustained oscillations whose properties are consistent with the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability at the low latitude boundary layer are the dominant mechanism at −70 to −75 geomagnetic latitude. Transient irregular pulsations are frequently seen at single stations at the foot of polar cap and boundary layer field lines. Occasionally similar transients occur essentially simultaneously at widely spaced stations accompanied by absorption spikes on riometer records. The latter signals are most likely due to solar wind pressure pulses on the magnetopause. At cusp latitudes the major spectral contribution arises from sustained irregular pulsations centred on magnetic noon. Although their occurrence is related to the proximity of the cusp's particle signature, it may be more appropriate to discuss these signals in terms of fluctuations in boundary layer or mantle currents.     

Role of the plasmapause and ionosphere in the generation and propagation of pearl pulsations

The source of Pc 1 (pearl) pulsations observed in the course of the local morning hours on 7 December 1977 has been determined by the amplitude and group delay methods. The frequency of pulsations exhibit the typical diurnal variation with the maximum frequency during dawn hours. The source location of pearls during every 1-h interval is compared with the position of the plasmapause inferred from the GEOS I measurements and from previous statistical analysis. It is shown that the source of high-frequency pulsations (f > 1 Hz) is well inside the plasmapause whereas low-frequency pulsations (f < 1 Hz) occur near the plasmapause. The source of pulsations is displaced to higher L-values in the course of the local morning hours and this displacement is associated with the decrease of the frequency of pulsations. The source displacement is much more pronounced than the simultaneous movement of the plasmapause position. These observations imply that the model of the Pc1 generation which locates the source only at the plasmapause has serious shortcomings. A model is discussed which takes into account the generation of Pc1 pulsations also well inside the plasmapause and the properties of the waveguide propagation of waves in the ionspheric duct.     

Morphology of low-frequency waves in the solar wind and their relation to ground pulsations

Three classes of low frequency waves (period range 20–80 s) were identified using data from the UCLA fluxgate magnetometer experiment on board the ISEE 2 spacecraft. These are continuous pulsations similar in type to Pc 3, band-limited oscillations distinguished by mixed period fluctuations, and relatively isolated wave bundles. The waves were preferentially observed when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) direction was sunward and were most common when the cone angle, i.e. the angle between IMF and the Sun-Earth line (θ_xb) was often between 15° and 45°. Their frequency is proportional to the IMF magnitude.Comparison between the waves observed on board the ISEE 2 spacecraft and the Pc 3–4 recorded simultaneously at a mid-latitude ground station, Oulu (L = 4.5), showed that similarity of spectra of the waves in the spacecraft and on the ground was very rare and that correspondence between the events in space and on the ground was extremely low.     

Comparison of one year of data on geomagnetic pulsations at geostationary orbit and at a low latitude ground station

In spite of several satellite-ground comparisons of pulsation data, many questions remain open for future investigation. This paper reports on a comparison of the satellite ATS 6 and Nagycenk data (L ∼ 1.9) on pulsation occurrence, activity, period and switches. This low latitude ground station sees a lot of activity which is less evident at L ∼ 6.6, i.e. these pulsations are due to amplification in the inner magnetosphere. The ATS harmonic structure is shown to have little influence on the ground activity. The inner magnetospheric amplification is changing and is influenced by solar wind velocity. The switches confirm that a large part of the two pulsation activities are of different origin, supposedly at least partly from a Kelvin-Helmholtz source at L ∼ 6.6 and from the upstream source at L ∼ 1.9.