Energetic particle parallel diffusion in a cascading wave turbulence in the foreshock region

International audienceWe study parallel (field-aligned) diffusion of energetic particles in the upstream of the bow shock with test particle simulations. We assume parallel shock geometry of the bow shock, and that MHD wave turbulence convected by the solar wind toward the shock is purely transverse in one-dimensional system with a constant background magnetic field. We use three turbulence models: a homogeneous turbulence, a regular cascade from a large scale to smaller scales, and an inverse cascade from a small scale to larger scales. For the homogeneous model the particle motions along the average field are Brownian motions due to random and isotropic scattering across 90 degree pitch angle. On the other hand, for the two cascade models particle motion is non-Brownian due to coherent and anisotropic pitch angle scattering for finite time scale. The mean free path ?|| calculated by the ensemble average of these particle motions exhibits dependence on the distance from the shock. It also depends on the parameters such as the thermal velocity of the particles, solar wind flow velocity, and a wave turbulence model. For the inverse cascade model, the dependence of ?|| at the shock on the thermal energy is consistent with the hybrid simulation done by Giacalone (2004), but the spatial dependence of ?|| is inconsistent with it

Plasma-beam instabilities in cometary ionospheres

It is shown that the interaction between the solar wind flux and the cometary ionosphere leads to the excitation of ion sound, whistler, electron-cyclotron, low hybrid, and magnetohydrodynamic waves. We investigated the frequency spectrum and found linear-increasing increments and lengths of excited waves

Model for vortex turbulence with discontinuities in the solar wind

International audienceA model of vortex with embedded discontinuities in plasma flow is developed in the framework of ideal MHD in a low b plasma. Vortex structures are considered as a result of 2-D evolution of nonlinear shear Alfvén waves in the heliosphere. Physical properties of the solutions and vector fields are analyzed and the observational aspects of the model are discussed. The ratio of normal components to the discontinuity Br /Vr can be close to -2. The alignment between velocity and magnetic field vectors takes place. Spacecraft crossing such vortices will typically observe a pair of discontinuities, but with dissimilar properties. Occurrence rate for different discontinuity types is estimated and agrees with observations in high-speed solar wind stream. Discontinuity crossing provides a backward rotation of magnetic field vector and can be observed as part of a backward arc. The Ulysses magnetometer data obtained in the fast solar wind are compared with the results of theoretical modelling

Oxygen ion uplift and satellite drag effects during the 30 October 2003 daytime superfountain event

International audienceThe prompt penetration of interplanetary electric fields (IEFs) to the dayside low-latitude ionosphere during the first ~2 h of a superstorm is estimated and applied to a modified NRL SAMI2 code for the 30 October 2003 event. In our simulations, the dayside ionospheric O+ is convected to higher altitudes (~600 km) and higher latitudes (~±25° to 30°), forming highly displaced equatorial ionospheric anomaly (EIA) peaks. This feature plus others are consistent with previously published CHAMP electron (TEC) measurements and with the dayside superfountain model. The rapid upward motion of the O+ ions causes neutral oxygen (O) uplift due to ion-neutral drag. It is estimated that above ~400 km altitude the O densities within the displaced EIAs can be increased substantially over quiet time values. The latter feature will cause increased drag for low-altitude satellites. This newly predicted phenomenon is expected to be typical for superstorm/IEF events

Using the Path Code for Modeling Gradual SEP Events in the Inner Heliosphere

We model a gradual solar energetic particle (SEP) event that occurred on 2001 September 29, and was possibly caused by a coronal mass ejection related shock. A computer code PATH (particle acceleration and transport in the heliosphere) was tuned to simulate this event. The model includes local particle injection at an evolving quasi-parallel shock, first-order Fermi acceleration at the shock, and self-consistent excitation of MHD waves to enhance particle scattering, particle trapping, and escape from the shock complex, and transport in the inner heliosphere up to several AU. The shock and solar wind boundary conditions are derived from Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) observations at 1 AU, which are then extrapolated to 0.1 AU. Modeled time-dependent spectra for energetic protons, iron, and oxygen ions are compared with ULEIS and SIS measurements onboard ACE, and with GOES-8 data. The use of the PATH code to model gradual SEP events superimposed on a pre-event background from previous SEPs is discussed

Statistical characteristics of total electron content intensifications on global ionospheric maps

Global ionospheric total electron content (TEC) maps exhibit TEC intensifications and depletions of various sizes and shapes. Characterizing key features on TEC maps and understanding their dynamic coupling with external drivers can significantly benefit space weather forecasting. However, comprehensive analysis of ionospheric structuring over decades of TEC maps is currently lacking due to large data volume. We develop feature extraction software based on image processing techniques to extract TEC intensification regions, that is, contiguous regions with sufficiently elevated TEC values than surrounding areas, from global TEC maps. Applying the software to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Global Ionospheric Map data, we generate a TEC intensification data set for years 2003–2022 and carry out a statistical study on the number and strength of TEC intensifications. We find that the majority of the TEC maps (about 86%) are characterized with one or two intensification(s), while the rest of the TEC maps have three or more intensifications. Both the number and strength of TEC intensifications exhibit semi-annual variation that peaks near equinoxes and dips near solstices, as well as an annual asymmetry with larger values around December solstice compared to June solstice. The number and strength of intensifications increase with enhanced solar extreme-violet irradiance. The strength of intensifications also increases with elevated geomagnetic activity, but the number of intensifications does not. In addition, the number of intensifications is not correlated with the strength of intensifications

Modeling of Ionospheric Responses to Atmospheric Acoustic and Gravity Waves Driven by the 2015 Nepal M w 7.8 Gorkha Earthquake

Near- and far-field ionospheric responses to atmospheric acoustic and gravity waves (AGWs) generated by surface displacements during the 2015 Nepal 7.8 Gorkha earthquake are simulated. Realistic surface displacements driven by the earthquake are calculated in three-dimensional forward seismic waves propagation simulation, based on kinematic slip model. They are used to excite AGWs at ground level in the direct numerical simulation of three-dimensional nonlinear compressible Navier-Stokes equations with neutral atmosphere model, which is coupled with a two-dimensional nonlinear multifluid electrodynamic ionospheric model. The importance of incorporating earthquake rupture kinematics for the simulation of realistic coseismic ionospheric disturbances (CIDs) is demonstrated and the possibility of describing faulting mechanisms and surface deformations based on ionospheric observations is discussed in details. Simulation results at the near-epicentral region are comparable with total electron content (TEC) observations in periods ( 3.3 and 6-10 min for acoustic and gravity waves, respectively), propagation velocities ( 0.92 km/s for acoustic waves) and amplitudes (up to 2 TECu). Simulated far-field CIDs correspond to long-period ( 4 mHz) Rayleigh waves (RWs), propagating with the same phase velocity of 4 km/s. The characteristics of modeled RW-related ionospheric disturbances differ from previously-reported observations based on TEC data; possible reasons for these differences are discussed

Detecting ionospheric TEC perturbations caused by natural hazards using a global network of GPS receivers: The Tohoku case study

Recent advances in GPS data processing have demonstrated that ground-based GPS receivers are capable of detecting ionospheric TEC perturbations caused by surface-generated Rayleigh, acoustic and gravity waves. There have been a number of publications discussing TEC perturbations immediately following the M 9.0 Tohoku earthquake in Japan on March 11, 2011. Most investigators have focused on the ionospheric responses up to a few hours following the earthquake and tsunami. In our research, in addition to March 11, 2011 we investigate global ionospheric TEC perturbations a day before and after the event. We also compare indices of geomagnetic activity on all three days with perturbations in TEC, revealing strong geomagnetic storm conditions that are also apparent in processed GEONET TEC observations. In addition to the traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs)produced by the earthquake and tsunami, we also detect “regular” TIDs across Japan about 5 hours following the Tohoku event, concluding these are likely due to geomagnetic activity. The variety of observed TEC perturbations are consistent with tsunami-generated gravity waves, auroral activity, regular TIDs and equatorial fluctuations induced by increased geomagnetic activity. We demonstrate our capabilities to monitor TEC fluctuations using JPL’s real-time Global Assimilative Ionospheric Model (GAIM) system. We show that a real-time global TEC monitoring network is able to detect the acoustic and gravity waves generated by the earthquake and tsunami. With additional real-time stations deployed, this new capability has the potential to provide real-time monitoring of TEC perturbations that could potentially serve as a plug-in to enhance existing early warning systems