Solar and lunar daily geomagnetic variations and their equivalent current systems observed by Swarm

This paper describes solar and lunar daily variations of the geomagnetic field over low- and mid-latitude regions, using vector magnetometer data from Swarm satellites at altitudes of ∼500 km during the solar minimum years of 2017–2020. The average solar variation of the geomagnetic field is within the range of ±14 nT, while the lunar variation is within ±2 nT. The latter is comparable to the ocean tidal field. A spherical harmonic analysis is performed on the solar and lunar variations to evaluate their internal and external equivalent current systems. The results show that both the solar and lunar variations are mainly of internal origin, which can be attributed to combined effects of ionospheric dynamo currents and induced underground currents. Global patterns of the internal solar and lunar current systems are consistent with the corresponding external current systems previously reported based on ground observations. The Swarm external currents are mainly in the meridional direction, and are likely associated with interhemispheric field-aligned currents. Both the internal and external current systems depend on the season and longitude

Sq and EEJ—A Review on the Daily Variation of the Geomagnetic Field Caused by Ionospheric Dynamo Currents

A record of the geomagnetic field on the ground sometimes shows smooth daily variations on the order of a few tens of nano teslas. These daily variations, commonly known as Sq, are caused by electric currents of several μA/m^2 flowing on the sunlit side of the E-region ionosphere at about 90–150 km heights. We review advances in our understanding of the geomagnetic daily variation and its source ionospheric currents during the past 75 years. Observations and existing theories are first outlined as background knowledge for the non-specialist. Data analysis methods, such as spherical harmonic analysis, are then described in detail. Various aspects of the geomagnetic daily variation are discussed and interpreted using these results. Finally, remaining issues are highlighted to provide possible directions for future work

Non-equilibrium behavior of the magnetization in the helimagnetic phases of the rare earth alloys R_{1-x}Y_{x} (R = Gd, Tb, Dy)

We have performed DC and AC magnetization measurements for the rare-earth magnetic alloy systems Gd_{0.62}Y_{0.38}, Tb_{0.86}Y_{0.14}, and Dy_{0.97}Y_{0.03}. These materials commonly exhibit a proper helical magnetic structure, and ferromagnetic structure at lower temperatures.In all of these materials, a difference between zero-field-cooled (ZFC) magnetization and field-cooled (FC) magnetization and a hysteresis loop in the M-H curve have been observed in the helimagnetic phases. The non-equilibrium behavior is possibly caused by a common nature, e. g., chiral domain structures. In addition to the above behavior, strong non-linearity of the magnetization and slow spin dynamics have been observed around the N'eel temperature only in Gd$_{0.62}$Y$_{0.38}$. The spin-glass like behavior observed in Gd_{0.62}Y_{0.38} could be related to a novel glassy state such as a helical-glass state.Comment: 7pages 4 figures, 20th International Conference on Magnetism (ICM2015

The equatorial electrojet during geomagnetic storms and substorms

The climatology of the equatorial electrojet during periods of enhanced geomagnetic activity is examined using long-term records of ground-based magnetometers in the Indian and Peruvian regions. Equatorial electrojet perturbations due to geomagnetic storms and substorms are evaluated using the disturbance storm time (Dst) index and auroral electrojet (AE) index, respectively. The response of the equatorial electrojet to rapid changes in the AE index indicates effects of both prompt penetration electric field and disturbance dynamo electric field, consistent with previous studies based on F region equatorial vertical plasma drift measurements at Jicamarca. The average response of the equatorial electrojet to geomagnetic storms (Dst<−50 nT) reveals persistent disturbances during the recovery phase, which can last for approximately 24 h after the Dst index reaches its minimum value. This “after-storm” effect is found to depend on the magnitude of the storm, solar EUV activity, season, and longitude

A theory of ionospheric response to upward-propagating tides:electrodynamic effects and tidal mixing effects

The atmospheric tide at ionospheric heights is composed of those locally generated and those propagated from below. The role of the latter in producing the variability of the daytime ionosphere is examined using the National Center for Atmospheric Research Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model. The impact of upward-propagating tides is evaluated by running simulations with and without tidal forcing at the lower boundary (approximately 96 km), which imitates the effect of tides from below. When migrating diurnal and semidiurnal tides at the lower boundary is switched on, the intensity of E region currents and the upward velocity of the equatorial F region vertical plasma drift rapidly increase. The low-latitude ionospheric total electron content (TEC) first increases, then gradually decreases to below the initial level. The initial increase in the low-latitude TEC is caused by an enhanced equatorial plasma fountain while the subsequent decrease is due to changes in the neutral composition, which are characterized by a global-scale reduction in the mass mixing ratio of atomic oxygen O1. The results of further numerical experiments indicate that the mean meridional circulation induced by dissipating tides in the lower thermosphere is mainly responsible for the O1 reduction; it acts like an additional turbulent eddy and produces a “mixing effect” that enhances net downward transport and loss of O1. It is stressed that both electrodynamic effects and mixing effects of upward-propagating tides can be important in producing the variability of ionospheric plasma density. Since the two mechanisms act in different ways on different time scales, the response of the actual ionosphere to highly variable upward-propagating tides is expected to be complex

Analysis of the Brownian Motion by Elementary School Students

To stimulate the intellectual curiosity of elementary school students, we conducted a workshop in distance education aimed at exploring the microscopic world inside a cell. In this workshop, elementary school students motivated to learn more on the subject of science analyzed movies of the Brownian motion of micrometer-sized particles suspended in water, using an open-source software, Tracker. These students then performed two-dimensional(2D)-random walk experiments using a dice game sheet to examine the physical mechanism of Brownian motion. After the workshop, we conducted a questionnaire-based survey. Many participants answered that the contents were difficult but interesting, suggesting that our workshop was very efficient to stimulate the curiosity of motivated students.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, the following article has been submitted to The Physics Teache

Average field-aligned ion velocity over the EISCAT radars

Long-term measurements by the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) radars at Tromsø (69.6° N, 19.2° E) and Svalbard (78.2° N, 16.0° E) are used to determine the climatology of the field-aligned ion velocity in the F-region ionosphere (175–475 km) at high latitudes. The average ion velocity is calculated at various altitudes and times of day. The magnitude of the average field-aligned ion velocity is on the order of 10 m/s, similar to previous results at middle and low latitudes. The results obtained for the two radars are in good agreement. During daytime the direction of the average field-aligned ion velocity changes from downward to upward around 350 km, while during nighttime it is upward at all heights. The reversal height of the daytime field-aligned ion velocity depends on solar activity. It is elevated by more than 100 km during high solar flux periods compared to low solar flux periods. The Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIE-GCM) reproduces the main features of the field-aligned ion velocity climatology. The simulation results suggest that the plasma pressure gradient force and gravity force play a dominant role for the daytime field-aligned ion motion. The height pattern of the field-aligned ion velocity tends to be preserved in different solar activity conditions at constant pressure surfaces, but not at constant altitudes, which explains the observed dependence on solar activity. During nighttime, the effect of the neutral wind dominates the field-aligned ion velocity

Day-to-day variability of midlatitude ionospheric currents due to magnetospheric and lower atmospheric forcing

As known from previous studies on the solar quiet (Sq) variation of the geomagnetic field, the strength and pattern of ionospheric dynamo currents change significantly from day to day. The present study investigates the relative importance of two sources that contribute to the day-to-day variability of the ionospheric currents at middle and low latitudes. One is high-latitude electric fields that are caused by magnetospheric convection, and the other is atmospheric waves from the lower atmosphere. Global ionospheric current systems, commonly known as Sq current systems, are simulated using the National Center for Atmospheric Research thermosphere-ionosphere-mesosphere-electrodynamics general circulation model. Simulations are run for 1–30 April 2010 with a constant solar energy input but with various combinations of high-latitude forcing and lower atmospheric forcing. The model well reproduces geomagnetic perturbations on the ground, when both forcings are taken into account. The contribution of high-latitude forcing to the total Sq current intensity (Jtotal) is generally smaller than the contribution of wave forcing from below 30 km, except during active periods (Kp≥4), when Jtotal is enhanced due to the leakage of high-latitude electric fields to lower latitudes. It is found that the penetration electric field drives ionospheric currents at middle and low latitudes not only on the dayside but also on the nightside, which has an appreciable effect on the Dst index. It is also found that quiet time day-to-day variability in Jtotal is dominated by symmetric-mode migrating diurnal and semidiurnal tidal winds at 45–60° latitude at ∼110 km