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  • Copernicus  (20)
  • 2005-2009  (20)
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  • 1
    Publication Date: 2007-03-29
    Description: Based on magnetic field measurements from the satellite CHAMP, a detailed picture could be obtained of the upstream wave (UW) distribution in the topside ionosphere. The low, near-polar orbit of CHAMP, covering all local times, allows the global distribution of this type of pulsation to be revealed. The observations from space are compared to recordings of the ground-based MM100 meridional array covering the latitude range 66° to 42° in magnetic coordinates. UWs show up very clearly in the compressional component of the satellite magnetic field data, whereas on the ground, their signature is found in the H component, but it is mixed with oscillations from field line resonant pulsations. Here we first introduce a procedure for an automated detection of UW signatures, both in ground and space data. Then a statistical analysis is presented of UW pulsations recorded during a 132-day period, centred on the autumn 2001 equinox. Observations in the top-side ionosphere reveal a clear latitudinal distribution of the amplitudes. Largest signals are observed at the equator. Minima show up at about 40° latitude. The coherence between ground and satellite wave signatures is high over wide latitude and longitude ranges. We make suggestions about the entry mechanism of UWs from the foreshock region into the magnetosphere. The clear UW signature in satellite recordings between −60° and 60° latitude allows for detailed investigations of the dependence on solar wind conditions. We test the control of solar wind speed, interplanetary magnetic field strength and cone angle on UWs. For the first time, it is possible to derive details of the Doppler-shift effect by modifying the UW frequency from direct observations. The results reconcile foreshock wave generation predictions with near-Earth observations.
    Print ISSN: 0992-7689
    Electronic ISSN: 1432-0576
    Topics: Geosciences , Physics
    Published by Copernicus on behalf of European Geosciences Union.
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  • 2
    Publication Date: 2008-12-08
    Description: In this study, we investigate two global climatological data sets; the occurrence rate of Equatorial Spread-F (ESF), associated with equatorial plasma irregularities, at ~400 km altitude obtained from CHAMP observations, and the evening equatorial vertical plasma drift, vz, from ROCSAT-1 measurements. First, as retrieved for a solar flux level of F10.7=150, the longitudinal variation of the two independently derived quantities correlates between 84% and 93% in the seasons December solstice, equinox and June solstice. The highest correlation is found for the solstice seasons when vz is integrated over local time around the prereversal enhancement (PRE) and displaced 6° towards east. The integrated vz is a suitable estimate of the ionospheric height at the time just after the PRE and the 6° displacement is consistent with ESF eastward drift during 2 h which is assumed between creation and detection at satellite altitudes. Second, our analyses reveal a global threshold vz which is required to observe ESF at satellite altitudes. This threshold depends linearly on solar flux with correlations of 97%. Both results bring global evidence on the linear relations between ESF and the vertical plasma drift which have been proven only by local observations so far. This paper includes the first global map of the seasonal/longitudinal variation of the ESF occurrence rate over local time being valid for high solar flux years 2001–2004. The map reveals, e.g. a longitudinal dependence of the persistence of the plasma irregularities indicating that longitude dependent mechanisms other than the PRE determine the ESF lifetime.
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  • 3
    Publication Date: 2007-07-30
    Description: Bursts of very intense kilometer-scale field-aligned currents (KSFACs) are observed quite frequently by the CHAMP satellite when passing through the auroral region. In extreme cases estimated current densities exceed 3 mA/m². Typical scale sizes of these KSFACs are 1 km. The low-Earth, polar orbiting satellite CHAMP allows one to assess KSFACs down to scales of a couple of 100 m based on its high-precision magnetic field vector data sampled at 50 Hz. Using data from 5 years (2001–2005) details of these currents can be investigated. In our statistical study we find that most of the KSFAC bursts and the strongest events are encountered in the cusp/cleft region. Significantly fewer events are found on the nightside. The affected region is typically 15°–20° wide in latitude. There seems to be some dependence of the current intensity on the level of magnetic activity, Kp. On the other hand, no dependence has been found on sunspot number, the solar flux level, F10.7 or the solar zenith angle. The latitude, at which KSFAC bursts are encountered, expands equatorward with increasing Kp. This trend follows well the auroral oval expansion during enhanced magnetic activity. These KSFACs are generally accompanying large-scale FAC sheets, and they are predominantly associated with Region 1 currents. We propose an explanation of the KSFACs in terms of Alfvén waves trapped in a ionospheric resonator, which is initiated when the convection electric field or current strength surpasses a critical value. Many properties of such a resonator are in agreement with our KSFAC results.
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  • 4
    Publication Date: 2009-07-07
    Description: Field-aligned currents (FACs) generate magnetic deflections perpendicular to the ambient Earth magnetic field. We investigate the characteristics of FACs associated with equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) as deduced from magnetic field measurements by the CHAMP satellite. Meridional magnetic deflections inside EPBs show a clear hemispheric anti-symmetry for events observed before 21:00 LT: inward in the Northern Hemisphere and outward in the Southern Hemisphere. When an eastward electric field is assumed the magnetic signature signifies a Poynting flux directed downward along the magnetic field lines. This means that FACs are driven by a high-altitude equatorial source. Such a scheme cannot be drawn as strictly from our observations after 22:00 LT, possibly because of a westward turning of the electric field inside EPBs and/or a decay of EPBs later at night. The perpendicular magnetic deflection is tilted by 40° from the magnetic meridional plane in westward direction, which implies that the depleted volume of EPBs, as well as the FAC structure, is tilted westward by 40° above the magnetic equator. The peak-to-peak amplitude of the FAC density is found to range typically between 0.1–0.5 μA/m2. The field-aligned sheet current density and the diamagnetic current strength show no correlation.
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  • 5
    Publication Date: 2009-07-03
    Description: The accelerometer onboard CHAMP enables us to derive the thermospheric zonal wind at orbit altitudes (~400 km). Numerous equatorial overflights (~45 250) are used to investigate the influence of nonmigrating tides on the thermospheric zonal wind. In a previous study a so called "wave-4" longitudinally signal observed in the satellite frame was identified in the zonal wind residuals during equinox. Using four years of data (2002–2005), we determine the annual variation of this prominent feature which is strongest during the months of July through October and has a smaller second maximum during March/April. Due to the large data set we were able to separate the observed wavenumbers into the tidal components. Thereby, we can identify the eastward propagating diurnal tide with zonal wavenumber s=3 (DE3) as the prime cause for the observed wave-4 pattern in the zonal wind. Analyzing the zonal wind along the geographic and the dip equator revealed that the largest amplitudes of DE3 are found along the dip equator. Besides DE3 we present the full spectrum of nonmigrating tides in the upper thermosphere.
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  • 6
    Publication Date: 2009-05-06
    Description: We have studied the dependence of the thermospheric mass density at equatorial latitudes on the influence of various drivers. This statistical study is based on CHAMP accelerometer measurements. Our aim is to delineate the influences of the different contributions. For the isolation of the effects we make use of a dedicated data selection procedure and/or removal of disturbing effects. In a first step all readings are normalised to an altitude of 400 km. For the investigation of the solar influences only magnetically quiet days (Ap≤15) are considered. The dependence on solar flux can well be described by a linear relation within the flux range F10.7=80–240. The slope is twice as steep on the day side as on the night side. The air density exhibits clear annual and semi-annual variations with maxima at the equinoxes and a pronounced minimum around June solstice. The thermosphere maintains during quiet days a day to night mass density ratio very close to 2, which is independent of solar flux level or season. The magnetospheric input causing thermospheric density enhancement can well be parameterised by the am activity index. The low latitude density responds with a delay to changes of the index by about 3 h on the dayside and 4–5 h on the night side. The magnetospheric forcing causes an additive contribution to the quiet-time density, which is linearly correlated with the am index. The slopes of density increases are the same on the day and night sides. We present quantitative expressions for all the dependences. Our results suggest that all the studied forcing terms can be treated as linear combinations of the respective contribution.
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  • 7
    Publication Date: 2006-03-07
    Description: The evening of 30 October 2003 was subject to a major storm main phase. For this time, we combine large-scale electron content maps from GPS imaging with time series of electron density and temperature of two EISCAT radars in Tromsø and Svalbard and the Sondrestrom radar, for observing the north polar ionosphere. The GPS assimilations resulted in the image of the electron content trace of an anti-sunward polar Tongue Of Ionisation (TOI) consecutively to 20:00 UT. In combination with the radar observations we concluded that the TOI persisted during the whole period of continuous southward IMF Bz until about 22:40 UT while its largest extension toward the nightside auroral region was found between 21:00-22:00 UT. A typical F region electron temperature of ~2000 K and the plasma velocity of ~800 ms-1 support its convective origin from the dayside mid-latitudes. Due to the structured appearance of the electron content distribution and the radar electron density time series we believe that discrete plasma patches formed inside the anti-sunward drift pattern. After two large oscillations of the IMF Bz the nightside plasma density was observed to re-enhance after 23:00 UT along a longitudinal band below 70 N. Coinciding electron temperatures of ~2000 K suggest again the convective nature of the plasma, while a modified convection pattern is expected.
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  • 8
    Publication Date: 2008-09-18
    Description: Based on a comprehensive catalogue with more than 4000 magnetospheric substorm entries from the years 2000–2005, the spatial distribution of the substorm-related magnetic signatures at mid and low latitudes around local midnight was investigated. Superposed epoch analysis of a larger number of recent observatory data from mid and low latitudes revealed a field strength increase that is consistent with the results of earlier studies. For the first time, the magnetic signature of the substorm current wedge formation is studied also in near-Earth satellite data from CHAMP. The average maximal deflection measured on board the satellite is smaller by a factor of 2 than that determined from ground observations. The recurrence frequency of substorms as well as the amplitude of their magnetic signature depends strongly on the prevailing magnetic activity. The observed average substorm-related magnetic field signatures cannot be described adequately by a simple current wedge model. A satisfactory agreement between model results and observations at satellite height and on ground can be achieved only if the current reconfiguration scenario combines four elements: (1) the gradual decrease of the tail lobe field, (2) the re-routing of a part of the cross-tail current through the ionosphere, (3) eastward ionospheric currents at low and mid latitudes driven by Region-2 field-aligned currents, and (4) a partial ring current connected to these Region-2 FACs.
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  • 9
    Publication Date: 2009-12-08
    Description: Using CHAMP magnetic field data we study the behaviour of the geomagnetic field during two mid latitude eclipses on 21 June 2001 and 22 September 2006. The possible influence of the eclipses on different ionospheric current systems, as seen in the magnetic field measured by CHAMP, is discussed. It is expected that the blocking of solar radiation during an eclipse causes a reduction of the ionospheric conductivity and therefore has an effect on the different current systems. We address in particular the effects of the eclipses on the inter-hemispheric field-aligned currents and on the Sq current system. The two events studied occur under different seasonal conditions, e.g. June solstice and September equinox, therefore quite different aspects can be investigated. We find that the eclipses might affect the direction and intensity of the inter-hemispheric currents and possibly influence the direction of zonal winds, therefore changing the direction of the prevailing F-region dynamo currents. The eclipse in the Southern Hemisphere during September equinox caused inter-hemispheric currents similar to those observed in northern summer. Reverse inter-hemispheric currents were recorded after the end of the eclipse. A large variety of atypical currents was observed during the June event. Most of them might be related to a reversed F-region dynamo in the morning sector and an enhanced conductivity difference between the hemispheres. The eclipse in the south seems to enhance the June solstice conditions considerably.
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  • 10
    Publication Date: 2009-05-04
    Description: We have studied 41 Sudden Commencements (SC) using simultaneous magnetic field data from the CHAMP satellite and ground stations of the years 2000–2007. They are all night time events, since the influence of ionospheric currents on the SC is supposed to be minimal at night. This is confirmed by our study for geomagnetic latitudes below ±40°. We further found that the onset times of the SC signature at satellite altitude and on the ground are the same within an uncertainty of 10 s and that the slopes of the corresponding magnetic field variation are very similar. For magnetic latitudes poleward of ±40° the amplitude of SCs increases both at the satellite and on ground, probably a consequence of field-aligned currents. CHAMP sometimes records small-scale magnetic variations different from the ground, which can be explained by local ionospheric currents. We also studied the relationship between the SC amplitude seen by CHAMP and the corresponding abrupt solar wind dynamic pressure change, using ACE data. Our results are compared with earlier studies using ground-based data and with theoretical expectations. It turns out that the induction effect in the Earth is quite small at low latitudes. Another important result is that the magnetic signature near the Earth is over-proportionally reduced for weak SC events. A discussion of accuracy and the uncertainty of our results completes the paper.
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