Study of nonthermal continuum patches : wave propagation and plasmapause study

Nonthermal continuum (NTC) radiation is believed to be emitted at the plasmapause and near the magnetic equator. We present a particular type of NTC radiation, referred to as NTC patch, which appears over a wide frequency range and within a relatively short time interval. NTC patches are observed in all magnetospheric plasma environments of the Cluster 2 orbit and are shown to represent a quarter of the NTC events observed in 2003. A statistical analysis of the frequency pattern performed on the 2003 Cluster 2 Waves of High frequency and Sounder for Probing of Electron Density by Relaxation data indicates that the NTC patches can be divided into two classes: Those with banded emission in frequency are only observed close to the source region and are thus termed "plasmaspheric," while the others, nonbanded, are termed "outer magnetospheric." In an event on 26 September 2003, we localize the sources positions and study the expected propagation of each NTC frequency beam of a plasmaspheric patch. From the observations, we show that the sources are located very close to the satellite and to each other at positions projected on the XY GSE plane. Using a ray tracing code, we demonstrate that, close to the source regions, the satellite observes all frequency rays at the same time which overlap in the spectrogram making up the plasmaspheric patch. After the satellite crossing, the rays follow diverging paths and cannot therefore be observed further out by the same satellite simultaneously. Plasmaspheric patches are thus specific signatures of close and distorted source regions

Statistical analysis of plasmaspheric plumes with Cluster/WHISPER observations

International audiencePlasmaspheric plumes have been routinely observed by the four Cluster spacecraft. This paper presents a statistical analysis of plumes observed during five years (from 1 February 2001 to 1 February 2006) based on four-point measurements of the plasmasphere (outside 4 Earth radii) as it is sampled by the spacecraft in a narrow local time sector before and after perigee. Plasmaspheric plumes can be identified from electron density profiles derived from the electron plasma frequency determined by the WHISPER wave sounder onboard Cluster. As the WHISPER instrument has a limited frequency range (2 - 80 kHz) only plumes with densities below 80 cm(-3) can be identified in this way. Their occurrence is studied as a function of several geomagnetic indices (K-p, am and D-st). Their transverse equatorial size, magnetic local time distribution, L position and density variation are discussed. Plasmaspheric plumes are observed mostly for moderate K-p and never for small D-st. They are found mainly in the afternoon and pre-midnight MLT sectors. Comparisons are also made between the density profiles of the plumes as they are crossed on the in- and outbound legs of the orbit, before and after perigee crossing, respectively

Statistical analysis of plasmaspheric plumes with Cluster/WHISPER observations

Plasmaspheric plumes have been routinely observed by the four Cluster spacecraft. This paper presents a statistical analysis of plumes observed during five years (from 1 February 2001 to 1 February 2006) based on four-point measurements of the plasmasphere (outside 4 Earth radii) as it is sampled by the spacecraft in a narrow local time sector before and after perigee. Plasmaspheric plumes can be identified from electron density profiles derived from the electron plasma frequency determined by the WHISPER wave sounder onboard Cluster. As the WHISPER instrument has a limited frequency range (2–80 kHz) only plumes with densities below 80 cm<sup>−3</sup> can be identified in this way. Their occurrence is studied as a function of several geomagnetic indices (<I>K<sub>p</sub></I>, <I>am</I> and <I>D<sub>st</sub></I>). Their transverse equatorial size, magnetic local time distribution, <I>L</I> position and density variation are discussed. Plasmaspheric plumes are observed mostly for moderate <I>K<sub>p</sub></I> and never for small <I>D<sub>st</sub></I>. They are found mainly in the afternoon and pre-midnight MLT sectors. Comparisons are also made between the density profiles of the plumes as they are crossed on the in- and outbound legs of the orbit, before and after perigee crossing, respectively

Wave emissions at half electron gyroharmonics in the equatorial plasmasphere region: CLUSTER observations and statistics

International audienceIntense (n 1/2) fce emissions are a common phenomenon observed in the terrestrial inner magnetosphere. One of their interests is their possible effect in the pitch angle scattering of plasmasheet keV-electron, leading to diffuse auroras. In this paper, we present CLUSTERs point of view about this topic, in the equatorial region of the plasmasphere, via a statistical study using 3 years of data. Spectral characteristics of these waves, which represent an important clue concerning their generation mechanism, are obtained using WHISPER data near perigee. Details on the wave spectral signature are shown in an event study, in particular their splitting in fine frequency bands. The orbit configuration of the four spacecraft offers a complete sampling on all MLT sectors. A higher occurrence rate of the emissions in the dawn sector and their confinement to the geomagnetic equator, pointed out in previous studies, are confirmed and described with additional details. The proximity of emission sites, both to the plasmapause layer and to the geomagnetic equator surface, seems to be of great importance in the behaviour of the (n 1/2) fce wave characteristics. Our study indicates for the first time, that both the intensity of (n 1/2) fce emissions, and the number of harmonic bands they cover, are increasing as the observation point is located further away outside from the plasmapause layer. Moreover, a study of the wave intensity in the first harmonic band (near 3/2 fce) shows higher amplitude for these emissions than previous published values, these emissions can play a role in the scattering of hot electrons. Finally, geomagnetic activity influence, studied via time series of the Dst index preceding observations, indicates that (n 1/2) fce emission events are observed at CLUSTER position under moderate geomagnetic activity conditions, no specific Dst time variation being required

Harmonic signatures of NTC waves observed by WHISPER instruments on board the Cluster mission: interpretations and questions

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The K-derived MLT sector geomagnetic indices

International audienceNew subauroral K-derived sector indices are proposed. They are based on the K local geomagnetic activity indices from the planetary am network stations, and their derivation scheme draws directly from that of am indices. Four Magnetic Local Time (MLT) sectors are considered, leading to four different K-derived MLT sector indices: the aσDawn (03-09 MLT), aσNoon (09-15 MLT), aσDusk (15-21 MLT), and aσMidnight (21-03 MLT) indices. They cover more than four solar cycles and, thus, allow robust statistical analysis. Statistical studies of the whole aσ data series and case studies for two geomagnetic storms are presented. These analyses clearly show that the four aσ have specific behaviors and that it is possible to get insight into both the statistical properties of the physical processes responsible for the observed geomagnetic activity and contribution to the dynamics of a given storm