Long-period geomagnetic pulsations as solar flare precursors

We compare long-period pulsations of the horizontal component of the geomagnetic field at intervals that precede extreme solar flares. To this end, we use the wavelet–skeleton technique to process the geomagnetic field disturbances recorded at magnetic stations over a wide geographical range. The synchronization times of wavelet–skeleton spectral distributions of long-period pulsations of geomagnetic oscillations over all magnetic stations are shown as normalized histograms. A few days before an intense solar flare, the histograms show extremes. This means that these extremes can be regarded as flare precursors. The same technique is used to analyze the parameters of near-Earth space. The histograms obtained in this case are free of the aforementioned extrema and, therefore, cannot point to an upcoming flare. The goal of this study is to construct a correlation–spectral method for the short-term prediction of solar flare activity.     

Global Pi3 geomagnetic pulsations as a response of large variations in the solar wind and IMF during the magnetic storm of August 5, 2011

Spatial-temporal and spectral features of ground geomagnetic pulsations in the frequency range of 1–5 mHz at the initial phase of a strong magnetic storm of the 24th cycle of solar activity (August 5–6, 2011, with a Dst-variation in the storm maximum of ?110 nT) are analyzed. Large opposite in sign amplitudes of variations in IMF parameters (from ?20 to +20 nT) at a high velocity of the solar wind (～650 km/s) accompanied by intense bursts in solar-wind density (up to ～50 cm^?3) were distinctive feature of interplanetary medium conditions causing the storm. Geomagnetic Pi3 pulsations global in longitude and latitude and in-phase in the middle and equatorial latitudes were found. The onset of pulsation generation was caused by a pulse of dynamic pressure of the solar wind (～20 nPa), i.e., by a considerable compression of the magnetosphere. The maximum (2–3 mHz) in the amplitude spectrum of near-equatorial pulsations coincided with the maximum of pulsations in the daytime polar cap. After the next jump of the dynamic pressure of the solar wind (～35 nPa), an additional maximum appeared in the pulsation spectrum in the frequency band of ～3.5–4.5 mHz. Global pulsations suddenly stopped after a sharp decrease in the solar-wind dynamic pressure and corresponding extension of the magnetosphere. The obtained results are compared with the time dynamics of the position and shape of the plasmapause.     

Daytime quasiperiodic geomagnetic pulsations during the recovery phase of the strong magnetic storm of May 15, 2005

Intense quasimonchromatic geomagnetic pulsations with a period of ～15 min, observed on the Earth’s surface in the near-noon sector at the beginning of the recovery phase of a very strong (Dst _min = ?260 nT) magnetic storm of May 15, 2005, are analyzed. The variations were registered at auroral latitudes only in the X field component, and wave activity shifted into the postnoon sector of the polar cap an hour later; in this case pulsations were observed in the X and Y field components. Within the magnetosphere the source of magnetic pulsations could be the surface waves on the magnetopause caused by the pulse of the solar wind magnetic pressure. Geomagnetic pulsations in the polar cap, observed in phase at different latitudes, could apparently reflect quasiperiodic variations in the NBZ system of field-aligned currents. Such variations can originate due to the series of pulsed reconnections in the postnoon outer cusp at large (～20 nT) positive B _z values and large (about ?40 nT) negative values of IMF B _x .     

暴时等离子体层顶密度不规则结构对SAR弧的调制

SAR弧的磁层源区对应环电流与等离子体层顶重叠区域, 而等离子体层顶常常观测到密度不规则结构.之前还没有暴时等离子体层顶密度不规则结构对SAR弧调制的观测报道.本文报道了地基成像和磁层、电离层卫星对2013年10月9日磁暴恢复相期间发生的SAR弧的联合观测事件.在SAR弧的磁层源区, Van Allen Probe B卫星观测到了密度不规则结构, 其中存在EMIC波、环电流离子分布和非线性电场结构.联合观测表明: 该区域中的环电流离子分布通过库伦碰撞产生的热流通量足以驱动SAR弧, 热流通量受到密度不规则结构的调制, 形成空间上的小尺度分布, 环电流离子中几keV的质子和几十keV的氧离子对这个过程起主导作用; 此外, 位于等离子体层顶密度不规则结构的低密度区的非线性结构电场引起的低能电子沉降可能是造成这次SAR弧非常明亮的原因.

     

Pc3 geomagnetic pulsations at near-equatorial latitudes at the initial phase of the magnetic storm of April 5, 2010

An analysis of sampled 1-s observational data on geomagnetic pulsations within the Pc3 range on the INTERMAGNET network of near-equatorial and low-latitude observatories spaced over longitude during the initial phase of a moderate magnetic storm (April 5–7, 2010) was carried out for the first time. The obtained results were compared with magnetic observations at the low-latitude Chambon-la-Foret (CLF) and subauroral Kerguelen (PAF) observatories, as well as with observations at six Australian observatories located at low and middle latitudes. Two time intervals were studied in detail: the sudden commencement (SC) of the storm and the onset of the great global substorm. In the first interval, maximal amplitudes of near-equatorial pulsations were observed in the near-noon sector; in the second interval, in the near-midnight sector. The dynamics of the spectral structure of Pc3 pulsations in the considered events was shown to be different in spite of the fact that in both cases an amplification of waves was observed in two close spectral bands of the Pc3 spectrum: ～20–30 and ～30–40 mHz. The considered Pc3 pulsations were characterized by very small azimuthal wavenumbers (0.5 and less). Possible generation mechanisms for the observed Pc3 pulsations are discussed.     

Properties of daytime long-period pulsations during magnetospheric storm commencement

Long-period geomagnetic pulsations during the SSC of July 14, 2012, are studied. The prenoon longitudinal sector (09:20–11:30) MLT, from the boundaries of which pulsations propagate azimuthally onto the dawn and dusk sides with an opposite polarization direction and increased amplitude, has been distinguished. The position of this sector relative to noon (a shift to the dawn side) depends on the front azimuthal inclination. It has been found that the polarization direction reverses in going from low (<30°) to middle/subauroral (≥50°) latitudes on the entire dayside. The geomagnetic pulsations mainly fluctuate near the f₁ = 2.9 and f₂ = 4.4 mHz frequencies. Fluctuations with frequency f₁, which coincide with the fluctuation frequency of the IMF х component, predominate at the polar cap latitudes (the open field line region) in the form of rapidly attenuating impulses and at low latitudes with a much smaller amplitude. Fluctuations with frequency f₂ are globally registered at all latitudes in the dayside sector below the magnetopause projection as a train of several fluctuations. It is assumed that fluctuations with frequency f₁ penetrate from the solar wind, and fluctuations with frequency f₂ are radial magnetopause oscillations.     

Frequency-direction analysis of geomagnetic pulsations

Summary Using the method of two-component spectral analysis of planar oscillation events by means of computer processing of A-t records, a series of about 100 samples of geomagnetic beating-type pulsations pc3 was treated. The quantitative data obtained on the internal structure of the pulsations (frequency spectra and polarization characteristics) were treated statistically. The pattern of the daily variations of the frequencies and amplitudes of the fundamental amplitude-dominating frequency components of the pulsations and the daily variations of the polarization characteristics of these components, the ellipticity of the polarization ellipses, the directions of the main axes of these ellipses and the sense of rotation of the disturbance vector along the ellipses were obtained.A part of the results was reported at the XVth General Assembly of the IUGG, Moscow, August 1971.     

Frequency-direction analysis of geomagnetic pulsations

Summary A new method is presented of computer processing of amplitude-time records. The method is based on a two-component spectral analysis, suitable for investigating a planar stationary oscillatory event. The method is applied to the study of the fine structure of short-period geomagnetic pulsations. Apart from a semi-quantitative representation of the directional distribution of the pulsation event in the plane of oscillation, the proposed method enables one to obtain quantitative information on the frequency components, representing the pulsation — the distribution of the overall energy in the spectrum of the pulsation, the ellipticity of the polarization ellipses, the orientation of the major axes of the ellipses, and the sense of rotation of the disturbance vector.     

Penetration of Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations to unusually low latitudes during the recovery phase of a superstrong magnetic storm of October 31, 2003

Based on the data of the ground observations, the global distributions of the Pc5 geomagnetic pulsation amplitudes during the recovery phase of the superstorm of October 31, 2003, have been mapped, and an unusually deep penetration of these pulsations into the inner magnetosphere has been found out. Thus, two more zones with identical dynamic spectra and oscillation amplitudes from the polar to equatorial latitudes have been detected in the postnoon sector simultaneously with morning classical Pc5 pulsations in the narrow (～63°–68° CGM) latitudinal band extended along longitude. The higher-latitude zone as if continues the morning band, and the lower-latitude zone is characterized by the maximal intensity at latitudes of ～50°–57° CGM. The oscillation amplitudes are of the same order of magnitude in both zones. The zones are spatially separated by a very narrow latitudinal amplitude minimum and by a change in the phase and sense of rotation of the wave polarization vector. The pulsation spectra in the morning and daytime sectors are different, which indicates that the nature of the morning and postnoon oscillations is different.     

Long-period geomagnetic pulsations in the quasi-conjugate arctic and antarctic regions during the magnetic storm of April 16–17, 1999

Based on the observations in six pairs of almost conjugate high-latitude stations in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, the spectral and spatial-temporal structures of long-period geomagnetic pulsations (f = 2–5 mHz) during the magnetic storm of April 16–17, 1999, which is characterized by a high (up to 20 nPa) solar wind dynamic pressure, have been studied. It has been indicated that the magnetic storm sudden commencement is accompanied by a symmetrical excitation of np pulsations near the dayside polar cusps with close amplitudes. Under the conditions when IMF B _z > 0 and B _y < 0, strong magnetic field variations with the periods longer than 15–20 min were observed only in the northern polar cap. When IMF B _z and B _y became close to zero, geomagnetic pulsation bursts in both hemispheres were registered simultaneously but differed in the spectral composition and spatial distribution. In the Northern Hemisphere, pulsations were as a rule observed in a more extensive latitude region than in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, the oscillation amplitude maximum was observed at higher latitudes than in the Southern Hemisphere. The pulsation amplitude at geomagnetic latitude lower than 74° was larger in the Arctic Regions than in the Antarctic Regions. This can be explained by sharply different geographic longitudes in the polar cap and latitudes in the auroral zone, which results in a different ionospheric conductivity affecting the amplitude of geomagnetic pulsations.     

Three-component spectral analysis of geomagnetic pulsations

nua m¶rt; nma aaua a, umua m nma, m n¶rt;um umau nuau un nmam. m¶rt; annua aaum nauu Pi2 u Pc3 u amu u u ¶rt;. ¶rt;a ma m ¶rt; nmam nuau aamumu u u auum m aum amumu.     

Generation of ULF geomagnetic pulsations during early stage of earthquake preparation

A new mechanism of generation of ULF geomagnetic pulsations near the Earth’s surface near the future earthquake epicenter is proposed. The mechanism is connected with the migration of fluid and gases during the active phase of the earthquake preparation. The motion of fluid and gases is accompanied by the formation of cracks and fast filling of them by fluid and gases. The variation of electrical conductivity in the layer induces the impulsive electric current. The magnetic field due to this current can be registered on the Earth’s surface. The corresponding equations for magnetic field perturbations caused by non-stationary conductivity are derived. The amplitude and temporal characteristics of the magnetic impulses are estimated.     

The pulsation activity of a geomagnetic storm

um mam aau ¶rt; a¶rt;uaum nau mu m¶rt; a aum u a ¶rt;u uma.     

Variations in the ULF index of geomagnetic pulsations during strong magnetic storms

The level of wave geomagnetic activity in the morning, afternoon, and nighttime sectors during strong magnetic storms with Dst varying from ?100 to ?150 nT has been statistically studied based on a new ULF wave index. It has been found out that the intensity of geomagnetic pulsations at frequencies of 2–7 mHz during the magnetic storm initial phase is maximal in the morning and nighttime sectors at polar and auroral latitudes, respectively. During the magnetic storm main phase, wave activity is maximal in the morning sector of the auroral zone, and the pulsation intensity in the nighttime sector is twice as low as in the morning sector. It has been indicated that geomagnetic pulsations excited after substorms mainly contribute to a morning wave disturbance during the magnetic storm main phase. During the storm recovery phase, wave activity develops in the morning and nighttime sectors of the auroral zone; in this case nighttime activity is also observed in the subauroral zone.     

基于经验正交分析法的暴时热层大气密度时空分布规律

本文选取2002—2006年期间的36个强磁暴为研究对象,对CHAMP卫星加速度仪反演的实测大气密度进行经验正交分解,研究暴时热层大气密度的纬度分布特征,以及大气密度与ap指数、Dst指数的关系.结果表明,大气密度的纬度分布与季节相关,夏季半球的密度大于冬季半球,春秋季节南北半球的大气密度几乎对称分布;春秋季节白天大气密度在低纬地区呈现出赤道密度异常结构,在中高纬地区密度随纬度增加而减小,夜间则呈现抛物线的形状,赤道附近密度值最小.大气密度的纬度分布特征在若干天内具有良好的稳定性,发生时间相近的磁暴事件,纬度分布曲线非常相似,并且暴前与暴时的纬度分布变化不大.相关性分析表明,大气密度滞后ap指数2~6 h,相对Dst指数平均提前0~1 h,对磁暴的响应速度在日照区比在阴影区快,大气密度与ap指数、Dst指数具有较好的相关性.     

Precipitation of energetic electrons and Pi3 geomagnetic pulsations at polar latitudes

Precipitation of electrons with energies of 0.3–1.5 MeV has been analyzed based on the CORONAL-F satellite data at polar latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere on December 13, 2003. The instants of electron precipitation have been compared with the ground-based observations of geomagnetic disturbances and auroras near the satellite orbit projection. It has been indicated that precipitation of energetic electrons in the high-latitude nightside sector is accompanied by the simultaneous development of bay-like magnetic field disturbances on the Earth’s surface and the appearance of riometer absorption bursts and Pi3 geomagnetic pulsations, and auroras.     

Analysis of latitudinal distribution of Pi2 geomagnetic pulsations using the generalized variance method

The spatial dynamics of bursts of geomagnetic Pi2-type pulsations during a typical event of a magnetospheric substorm (April 13, 2010) drifting to the pole was investigated using the method of generalized variance characterizing the integral time increment of the total horizontal amplitude of the wave at a given point in the selected time interval. The digital data of Scandinavian profile observations from IMAGE magnetometers with 10-second sampling and data of the INTERMAGNET project observations at the equatorial, middle-latitude and subauroral latitudes with a 1-second sampling were used in the analysis. It was shown that Pi2 pulsation bursts in a frequency band of 8–20 mHz appear simultaneously on a global scale: from the polar to equatorial latitudes with maximum amplitudes at latitudes of the maximum intensity of the auroral electrojet and with a maximum amplitude of geomagnetic pulsations Pi3 within a band of 1.5–6 mHz. The first (left-polarized) intensive Pi2 burst appeared at auroral latitudes several minutes after breakup, while the second (right-polarized) burst occurred 15 min after breakup but at higher (polar) latitudes where the substorm had displaced by that time. The direction of wave-polarization vector rotation was opposite for auroral and subauroral latitudes, but it was identical at the equator and in the subauroral zone. The pulsation amplitude at the equator was maximal in the night sector.     

Effects of geomagnetic storm on GPS ionospheric scintillations at Sanya

The effects of geomagnetic storm on GPS ionospheric scintillations are studied here using GPS scintillation data recorded at Sanya (18.3°N, 109.5°E; geomagnetic: 7.6°N, 180.8°E), the southmost station in the Chinese longitude region. GPS scintillation/TEC and DMSP data are utilized to show the development of irregularities during the period year 2005 (solar minimum). Statistical analysis of K planetary index (Kp) and amplitude scintillation index (S4) indicates that most storms of the year did not trigger the scintillation occurrence at Sanya. However, cases of scintillation occurring during moderate and strong storm (Dst<−100) periods show clearly that the development of irregularities producing scintillations can be triggered by geomagnetic storms during the low scintillation occurrence season. The effects (trigger or not trigger/inhibit) depend on the maximum dDst/dt determined local time sector, and can be explained by the response of the equatorial vertical drift velocities to magnetospheric and ionospheric disturbance electric fields. For station Sanya, the maximum dDst/dt determined local time is near the noon (or post-midnight) sector for most storms of the year 2005, which inhibited (or did not trigger) the post-sunset (or post-midnight) scintillation occurrence and then led to the phenomena that the statistical results presented.