Simultaneous Mesoscale Polar Cusp Field-Aligned Currents Measured on Mid- and Low-Altitude Satellites

Dong, X. -c.1,2; Dunlop, M. W.2,3,4; Xiao, C.5; Wei, D.6; Wang, T. -y.1; Zhao, J. -s.7

2023-01-16

10.1029/2022GL102460

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS   Impact Factor & Quartile

0094-8276

1944-8007

Using a conjunction of Cluster in the mid-altitude dayside magnetosphere and Swarm in the low-altitude ionosphere, we show, by employing multi-spacecraft analysis, that matched, strong magnetic perturbations and the corresponding mesoscale field-aligned current (FAC) structures are measured in the high latitude polar cusp region during the 7 October 2015 storm. Two pairs of opposite (positive/negative) FACs are observed by both Cluster and Swarm, which may relate to pulsed magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause. Furthermore, the current intensity of these matched FACs decreases from high to low latitude, consistent with the time elapsed since reconnection. Corresponding geomagnetic disturbances are also observed by ground stations. Our observations provide direct evidence for the coupling of mesoscale FACs between the magnetosphere, ionosphere and ground in the polar cusp region, where the signatures are driven in this case by conditions suitable for inducing reconnection.

field-aligned current M-I coupling cusp pulsed magnetic reconnection multi-spacecraft storm

SCI

English

NI Journal Papers

Others

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Highlight Topic SWIGS["NE/P016863/1","NE/W003309/1"] ; STFC[ST/M001083/1] ; NSFC["41821003","42174208"]

Geology

Geosciences, Multidisciplinary

WOS:000916264900004

AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION

GEOSCIENCES

Web of Science

1.Yunnan Univ, Dept Geophys, Kunming, Peoples R China
2.RAL Space, STFC, Oxford, England
3.Beihang Univ, Sch Space & Environm, Beijing, Peoples R China
4.Minist Ind & Informat Technol, Key Lab Space Environm Monitoring & Informat Proc, Beijing, Peoples R China
5.Shandong Univ, Inst Space Sci, Shandong Prov Key Lab Opt Astron & Solar Terr Envi, Weihai, Peoples R China
6.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Earth & Space Sci, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
7.Chinese Acad Sci, Key Lab Planetary Sci, Purple Mt Observ, Nanjing, Peoples R China

Dong, X. -c.,Dunlop, M. W.,Xiao, C.,et al. Simultaneous Mesoscale Polar Cusp Field-Aligned Currents Measured on Mid- and Low-Altitude Satellites[J]. GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS,2023,50(1).

Dong, X. -c.,Dunlop, M. W.,Xiao, C.,Wei, D.,Wang, T. -y.,&Zhao, J. -s..(2023).Simultaneous Mesoscale Polar Cusp Field-Aligned Currents Measured on Mid- and Low-Altitude Satellites.GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS,50(1).

Dong, X. -c.,et al."Simultaneous Mesoscale Polar Cusp Field-Aligned Currents Measured on Mid- and Low-Altitude Satellites".GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS 50.1(2023).