Alfven Wave Generation by means of High Orbital Injection of Barium Cloud in Magnetosphere

An analysis of the Alfven wave generation associated with the barium vapor release at altitudes ~ 5.2 Earth's radii (ER) in the magnetosphere is presented. Such injections were executed in G-8 and G-10 experiments of the Combined Radiation and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) mission. It is shown that the generation of Alfven waves is possible during the total time of plasma expansion. The maximum intensity of these waves corresponds to the time of complete retardation of the diamagnetic cavity created by the expansion of plasma cloud. The Alfven wave exhibits a form of an impulse with an effective frequency ~ 0.03-0.05 Hz. Due to the background conditions and wave frequency, the wave mainly oscillates along the geomagnetic field between the mirror reflection points situated at ~ 0.7 ER. The wave amplitude is sufficient to the generation of plasma instabilities and longitudinal electric field, and to an increase in the longitudinal energy of electrons to ~ 1 keV. These processes are the most probable for altitudes ~ 1 ER. The auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) at frequencies ~ 100 kHz is associated with these accelerated electrons. The acceleration of electrons and AKR can be observed almost continuously during the first minute and then from time to time with pauses about 35-40 s till 6-8 min after the release. The betatron acceleration of electrons at the recovery of the geomagnetic field is also discussed. This mechanism could be responsible for the acceleration of electrons resulting in the aurorae and ultra short radio wave storm at frequencies 50-300 MHz observed at the 8-10th min after the release.Comment: Presented at COSPAR 200

Dependence of the Annual Asymmetry in NmF2 on Geomagnetic Latitude and Solar Activity

Abstract: The properties of the annual asymmetry in the electron density of the F2-layer maximum NmF2 at noon are analyzed based on the global empirical model of the F2-layer critical frequency median (SDMF2 model). As a characteristic of this asymmetry, we used the R index, i.e., the January/July ratio of the total (at a given and geomagnetically conjugate points) NmF2 density at noon averaged over all longitudes. It was found that the R index decreases with increasing solar activity at low geomagnetic latitudes (Φ < 31°–33°). At higher latitudes, the R index increases with an increase in solar activity. During low solar activity, the main R maximum is located at latitude Φ = 22°–24°. During high solar activity, this R maximum is located at Φ = 64°–66°. At latitude Φ = 22°–24° in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, the longitudinal average NmF2 density in January is higher than that in July for any level of solar activity. At Φ = 64°–66°, an increase in R with increasing solar activity is mainly caused by a January increase in NmF2 in the Northern Hemisphere. The global (average over all latitudes) R index increases with increasing solar activity. Additional analysis showed that the global R index decreases with increasing solar activity in the IRI model both with URSI option and, even more so, with CCIR option. This appears to be due to the limited amount of experimental data on the obtainment of the CCIR and URSI coefficients, especially over the oceans

Dependence of the F2-layer critical frequency median at midlatitudes on geomagnetic activity

We put forward a method of separating the geomagnetic activity contribution to the F2-layer critical frequency median, foF2med, at middle latitudes. It is based on the analysis of foF2, which is the ratio foF2med/foF2q in percent, where foF2q is the F2-layer critical frequency for quiet conditions. The quantities foF2q and foF2 depend on solar and geomagnetic activity respectively. These dependences are taken into account using indices F12 (annual average solar radio emission flux at 10.7 cm) and Apm (monthly average Ap index), thus facilitating the use of this method for forecasting foF2med. With this method, from Slough station (51.5° N, 0.6° W) data for midday and midnight for 1954 to 1995 we have found that at midnight the foF2 dependence on Apm is significant at the 95 % confidence level for equinoxes and summer. For midday, this dependence is less pronounced and is significant only from April to July. At equinoxes and summer, an Apm increase causes a foF2 decrease. For midnight, this feature is more pronounced than for midday. This regularity is also valid for annual average Apm and foF2