Substorm simulation: Insight into the mechanisms of initial brightening

Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics

Volumn 120, Issue 9, 2015, Pages 7270-7288

  Ebihara, Y ^a   Tanaka, T ^b  

^a KYOTO UNIVERSITY   (Japan)

^b KYUSHU UNIVERSITY   (Japan)

Author keywords

expansion onset; field aligned current; initial brightening; magnetosphere ionosphere coupling; MHD simulation; substorm

Indexed keywords

EID: 84945435691     PISSN: 21699380     EISSN: 21699402     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1002/2015JA021516     Document Type: Article

References (88)

1. Aikio, A. T., T. Lakkala, A. Kozlovsky, and, P. J. S. Williams, (2002). Electric fields and currents of stable drifting auroral arcs in the evening sector, J. Geophys. Res., 107 (A12), 1424, doi: 10.1029/2001JA009172.
2. Akasofu, S.-I., (1964), The development of the auroral substorm, Planet. Space Sci., 12, 273-282.
3. Angelopoulos, V., C. F. Kennel, F. V. Coroniti, R. Pellat, M. G. Kivelson, R. J. Walker, C. T. Russell, W. Baumjohann, W. C. Feldman, and, J. T. Gosling, (1994), Statistical characteristics of bursty bulk flow events, J. Geophys. Res., 99 (A11), 21,257-21,280, doi: 10.1029/94JA01263.
4. Angelopoulos, V., et al., (2008), Tail reconnection triggering substorm onset, Science, 321, 931, doi: 10.1126/science.1160495.
5. Baumjohann, W., G. Paschmann, N. Sckopke, C. A. Cattell, and, C. W. Carlson, (1988), Average ion moments in the plasma sheet boundary layer, J. Geophys. Res., 93 (A10), 11,507-11,520, doi: 10.1029/JA093iA10p11507.
6. Birn, J., and, M. Hesse, (2005), Energy release and conversion by reconnection in the magnetotail, Ann. Geophys., 23, 3365-3373, doi: 10.5194/angeo-23-3365-2005.
7. Birn, J., and, M. Hesse, (2013), The substorm current wedge in MHD simulations, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics, 118, 3364-3376, doi: 10.1002/jgra.50187.
8. Birn, J., M. Hesse, G. Haerendel, W. Baumjohann, and, K. Shiokawa, (1999), Flow braking and the substorm current wedge, J. Geophys. Res., 104 (A9), 19,895-19,903, doi: 10.1029/1999JA900173.
9. Birn, J. M., J. Raeder, Y. L. Wang, R. A. Wolf, and, M. Hesse, (2004), On the propagation of bubbles in the magnetotail, Ann. Geophys., 22, 1773-1786.
10. Chen, C. X., and, R. A. Wolf, (1999), Theory of thin-filament motion in Earth's magnetotail and its application to bursty bulk flows, J. Geophys. Res., 104 (A7), 14,613-14,626, doi: 10.1029/1999JA900005.
11. Cheng, C. Z., and, A. T. Y. Lui, (1998), Kinetic ballooning instability for substorm onset and current disruption observed by AMPTE/CCE, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25 (21), 4091-4094, doi: 10.1029/1998GL900093.
12. Craven, J. D., L. A. Frank, and, S.-I. Akasofu, (1989), Propagation of a westward traveling surge and the development of persistent auroral features, J. Geophys. Res., 94 (A6), 6961-6967, doi: 10.1029/JA094iA06p06961.
13. de la Beaujardiere, O., R. Vondrak, and, M. Baron, (1977), Radar observations of electric fields and currents associated with auroral arcs, J. Geophys. Res., 82 (32), 5051-5062, doi: 10.1029/JA082i032p05051.
14. Deehr, C., and, D. Lummerzheim, (2001), Ground-based optical observations of hydrogen emission in the auroral substorm, J. Geophys. Res., 106 (A1), 33-44, doi: 10.1029/2000JA002010.
15. Eastman, T. E., L. A. Frank, W. K. Peterson, and, W. Lennartsson, (1984), The plasma sheet boundary layer, J. Geophys. Res., 89 (A3), 1553-1572, doi: 10.1029/JA089iA03p01553.
16. Ebihara, Y., and, T. Tanaka, (2013), Fundamental properties of substorm time energetic electrons in the inner magnetosphere, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics, 118, 1589-1603, doi: 10.1002/jgra.50115.
17. Ebihara, Y., T. Tanaka, and, T. Kikuchi, (2014), Counter equatorial electrojet and overshielding after substorm onset: Global MHD simulation study, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics, 119, 7281-7296, doi: 10.1002/2014JA020065.
18. Elphinstone, R. D., et al., (1995), Observations in the vicinity of substorm onset: Implications for the substorm process, J. Geophys. Res., 100 (A5), 7937-7969, doi: 10.1029/94JA02938.
19. Fukuda, Y., M. Hirahara, K. Asamura, T. Sakanoi, Y. Miyoshi, T. Takada, A. Yamazaki, K. Seki, and, Y. Ebihara, (2014), Electron properties in inverted-V structures and their vicinities based on Reimei observations, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics, 119, 3650-3663, doi: 10.1002/2013JA018938.
20. Haerendel, G., (2010), Equatorward moving arcs and substorm onset, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A07212, doi: 10.1029/2009JA015117.
21. Hasegawa, A., and, T. Sato, (1979), Generation of field aligned current during substorm, in Dynamics of the Magnetosphere, edited by, S.-I. Akasofu, pp. 529-542, D. Reidel, Norwell, Mass.
22. Henderson, M. G., G. D. Reeves, and, J. S. Murphree, (1998), Are north-south structures an ionospheric manifestation of bursty bulk flows?, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25 (19), 3737, doi: 10.1029/98GL02692.
23. Heppner, J. P., (1972), The Harang discontinuity in auroral belt ionospheric currents, Geophys. Norv., 29, 105-120.
24. Iijima, T., and, T. A. Potemra, (1976), The amplitude distribution of field-aligned currents at northern high latitudes observed by Triad, J. Geophys. Res., 81 (13), 2165-2174, doi: 10.1029/JA081i013p02165.
25. Juusola, L., N. Østgaard, E. Tanskanen, N. Partamies, and, K. Snekvik, (2011), Earthward plasma sheet flows during substorm phases, J. Geophys. Res., 116, A10228, doi: 10.1029/2011JA016852.
26. Kadokura, A., A.-S. Yukimatu, M. Ejiri, T. Oguti, M. Pinnock, and, M. R. Hairston, (2002), Detailed analysis of a substorm event on 6 and 7 June 1989, 1, Growth phase evolution of nightside auroral activities and ionosheric convection toward expansion phase onset, J. Geophys. Res., 107 (A12), 1479, doi: 10.1029/2001JA009127.
27. Kamide, Y., W. Sun, and, S.-I. Akasofu, (1996), The average ionospheric electrodynamics for the different substorm phases, J. Geophys. Res., 101 (A1), 99-109, doi: 10.1029/95JA02990.
28. Kan, J. R., L. Zhu, and, S.-I. Akasofu, (1988), A theory of substorms: Onset and subsidence, J. Geophys. Res., 93 (A6), 5624-5640, doi: 10.1029/JA093iA06p05624.
29. Kauristie, K., V. A. Sergeev, M. Kubyshkina, T. I. Pulkkinen, V. Angelopoulos, T. Phan, R. P. Lin, and, J. A. Slavin, (2000), Ionospheric current signatures of transient plasma sheet flows, J. Geophys. Res., 105 (A5), 10,677-10,690, doi: 10.1029/1999JA900487.
30. Keiling, A., et al., (2009), Substorm current wedge driven by plasma flow vortices: THEMIS observations, J. Geophys. Res., 114, A00C22, doi: 10.1029/2009JA014114.
31. Kepko, L., R. L. McPherron, O. Amm, S. Apatenkov, W. Baumjohann, J. Birn, M. Lester, R. Nakamura, T. I. Pulkkinen, and, V. Sergeev, (2014), Substorm current wedge revisited, Space Sci. Rev., 190, 1-46, doi: 10.1007/s11214-014-0124-9.
32. Koskinen, H. E. J., R. E. Lopez, R. J. Pellinen, T. I. Pulkkinen, D. N. Baker, and, T. Bösinger, (1993), Pseudobreakup and substorm growth phase in the ionosphere and magnetosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 98 (A4), 5801-5813, doi: 10.1029/92JA02482.
33. Liou, K., P. T. Newell, D. G. Sibeck, C.-I. Meng, M. Brittnacher, and, G. Parks, (2001), Observation of IMF and seasonal effects in the location of auroral substorm onset, J. Geophys. Res., 106 (A4), 5799-5810, doi: 10.1029/2000JA003001.
34. Lopez, R. E., and, A. T. Y. Lui, (1990), A multisatellite case study of the expansion of a substorm current wedge in the near-Earth magnetotail, J. Geophys. Res., 95 (A6), 8009-8017, doi: 10.1029/JA095iA06p08009.
35. Lui, A. T. Y., (1996), Current disruption in the Earth's magnetosphere: Observations and models, J. Geophys. Res., 101 (A6), 13,067-13,088, doi: 10.1029/96JA00079.
36. Lui, A. T. Y., and, J. R. Burrows, (1978), On the location of auroral arcs near substorm onsets, J. Geophys. Res., 83 (A7), 3342-3348, doi: 10.1029/JA083iA07p03342.
37. Lui, A. T. Y., E. W. Jr.Hones , F. Yasuhara, S.-I. Akasofu, and, S. J. Bame, (1977), Magnetotail plasma flow during plasma sheet expansions: VELA 5 and 6 and IMP 6 observations, J. Geophys. Res., 82 (7), 1235-1243, doi: 10.1029/JA082i007p01235.
38. Lui, A. T. Y., A. Mankofsky, C.-L. Chang, K. Papadopoulos, and, C. S. Wu, (1990), A current disruption mechanism in the neutral sheet: A possible trigger for substorm expansions, Geophys. Res. Lett., 17 (6), 745-748, doi: 10.1029/GL017i006p00745.
39. Lyatsky, W., L. L. Cogger, B. Jackel, A. M. Hamza, W. J. Hughes, D. Murr, and, O. Rasmussen, (2001), Substorm development as observed by Interball UV imager and 2-D magnetic array, J. Atmos. Sol. Terr. Phys., 63, 1609-1621, doi: 10.1016/S1364-6826(01)00045-1.
40. Lyons, L. R., T. Nagai, G. T. Blanchard, J. C. Samson, T. Yamamoto, T. Mukai, A. Nishida, and, S. Kokubun, (1999), Association between Geotail plasma flows and auroral poleward boundary intensifications observed by CANOPUS photometers, J. Geophys. Res., 104 (A3), 4485-4500, doi: 10.1029/1998JA900140.
41. Lyons, L. R., Y. Nishimura, X. Xing, A. Runov, V. Angelopoulos, E. Donovan, and, T. Kikuchi, (2012), Coupling of dipolarization front flow bursts to substorm expansion phase phenomena within the magnetosphere and ionosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 117, A02212, doi: 10.1029/2011JA017265.
42. Marghitu, O., T. Karlsson, B. Klecker, G. Haerendel, and, J. McFadden, (2009), Auroral arc and oval electrodynamics in the Harang region, J. Geophys. Res., 114, A03214, doi: 10.1029/2008JA013630.
43. Marklund, G., I. Sandahl, and, H. Opgenoorth, (1982), A study of the dynamics of a discrete auroral arc, Planet. Space Sci., 30, 179-197.
44. McPherron, R. L., C. T. Russell, and, M. P. Aubry, (1973), Satellite studies of magnetospheric substorms on August 15, 1968: 9. Phenomenological model for substorms, J. Geophys. Res., 78 (16), 3131-3149, doi: 10.1029/JA078i016p03131.
45. Mende, S. B., C. W. Carlson, H. U. Frey, L. M. Peticolas, and, N. Østgaard, (2003), FAST and IMAGE-FUV observations of a substorm onset, J. Geophys. Res., 108 (A9), 1344, doi: 10.1029/2002JA009787.
46. Miyashita, Y., S. Machida, T. Mukai, Y. Saito, K. Tsuruda, H. Hayakawa, and, P. R. Sutcliffe, (2000), A statistical study of variations in the near and middistant magnetotail associated with substorm onsets: GEOTAIL observations, J. Geophys. Res., 105 (A7), 15,913-15,930, doi: 10.1029/1999JA000392.
47. Moriguchi, T., A. Nakamizo, T. Tanaka, T. Obara, and, H. Shimazu, (2008), Current systems in the Jovian magnetosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 113, A05204, doi: 10.1029/2007JA012751.
48. Nagai, T., (1982), Observed magnetic substorm signatures at synchronous altitude, J. Geophys. Res., 87 (A6), 4405-4417, doi: 10.1029/JA087iA06p04405.
49. Nagai, T., M. Fujimoto, Y. Saito, S. Machida, T. Terasawa, R. Nakamura, T. Yamamoto, T. Mukai, A. Nishida, and, S. Kokubun, (1998), Structure and dynamics of magnetic reconnection for substorm onsets with Geotail observations, J. Geophys. Res., 103 (A3), 4419-4440, doi: 10.1029/97JA02190.
50. Nakamura, R., T. Oguti, T. Yamamoto, and, S. Kokubun, (1993), Equatorward and poleward expansion of the auroras during auroral substorm, J. Geophys. Res., 98 (A4), 5743-5759, doi: 10.1029/92JA02230.
51. Nakamura, R., D. N. Baker, T. Yamamoto, R. D. Belian, E. A. Bering III, J. R. Benbrook, and, J. R. Theall, (1994), Particle and field signatures during pseudobreakup and major expansion onset, J. Geophys. Res., 99 (A1), 207-221, doi: 10.1029/93JA02207.
52. Nakamura, R., W. Baumjohann, R. Schödel, M. Brittnacher, V. A. Sergeev, M. Kubyshkina, T. Mukai, and, K. Liou, (2001), Earthward flow bursts, auroral streamers, and small expansions, J. Geophys. Res., 106 (A6), 10,791-10,802, doi: 10.1029/2000JA000306.
53. Nakamura, R., et al., (2014), Low-altitude electron acceleration due to multiple flow bursts in the magnetotail, Geophys. Res. Lett., 41, 777-784, doi: 10.1002/2013GL058982.
54. Nielsen, E., and, R. A. Greenwald, (1979), Electron flow and visual aurora at the Harang discontinuity, J. Geophys. Res., 84 (A8), 4189-4199, doi: 10.1029/JA084iA08p04189.
55. Nishida, A., and, N. Nagayama, (1973), Synoptic survey for the neutral line in the magnetotail during the substorm expansion phase, J. Geophys. Res., 78 (19), 3782-3798, doi: 10.1029/JA078i019p03782.
56. Ohtani, S., (1998), Earthward expansion of tail current disruption: Dual-satellite study, J. Geophys. Res., 103 (A4), 6815-6825, doi: 10.1029/98JA00013.
57. Partamies, N., O. Amm, K. Kauristie, T. I. Pulkkinen, and, E. Tanskanen, (2003), A pseudo-breakup observation: Localized current wedge across the postmidnight auroral oval, J. Geophys. Res., 108 (A1), 1020, doi: 10.1029/2002JA009276.
58. Paschmann, G., S. Haaland, and, R. Treumann, (Eds.) (2002), Auroral Plasma Physics, Kluwer Acad., Boston, Mass.
59. Rostoker, G., A. Vallance Jones, R. L. Gattinger, C. D. Anger, and, J. S. Murphree, (1987), The development of the substorm expansive phase: The "eye" of the substorm, Geophys. Res. Lett., 14 (4), 399-402, doi: 10.1029/GL014i004p00399.
60. Saito, M. H., Y. Miyashita, M. Fujimoto, K. Liou, Y. Saito, and, J. B. Sigwarth, (2010), Stepwise feature of aurora during substorm expansion compared with the near-Earth tail dipolarization: Possible types of substorm dynamics, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A02207, doi: 10.1029/2009JA014572.
61. Samson, J. C., L. R. Lyons, P. T. Newell, F. Creutzberg, and, B. Xu, (1992), Proton aurora and substorm intensifications, Geophys. Res. Lett., 9 (21), 2167-2170, doi: 10.1029/92GL02184.
62. Sato, T., and, T. Iijima, (1979), Primary sources of large-scale Birkeland currents, Space Sci. Rev., 24, 347-366.
63. Sergeev, V., et al., (2008), Study of near-Earth reconnection events with Cluster and Double Star, J. Geophys. Res., 113, A07S36, doi: 10.1029/2007JA012902.
64. Sergeev, V. A., and, A. G. Yahnin, (1979), The features of auroral bulge expansion, Planet. Space Sci., 27, 1429-1440.
65. Sergeev, V. A., V. Angelopoulos, J. T. Gosling, C. A. Cattell, and, C. T. Russell, (1996), Detection of localized, plasma-depleted flux tubes or bubbles in the midtail plasma sheet, J. Geophys. Res., 101 (A5), 10,817-10,826, doi: 10.1029/96JA00460.
66. Sergeev, V. A., K. Liou, C.-I. Meng, P. T. Newell, M. Brittnacher, G. Parks, and, G. D. Reeves, (1999), Development of auroral streamers in association with impulsive injections to the inner magnetotail, Geophys. Res. Lett., 26 (3), 417-420, doi: 10.1029/1998GL900311.
67. Sergeev, V. A., et al., (2000), Multiple-spacecraft observation of a narrow transient plasma jet in the Earth's plasma sheet, Geophys. Res. Lett., 27 (6), 851-854, doi: 10.1029/1999GL010729.
68. Sergeev, V. A., K. Liou, P. T. Newell, S.-I. Ohtani, M. R. Hairston, and, F. Rich, (2004), Auroral streamers: Characteristics of associated precipitation, convection and field-aligned currents, Ann. Geophys., 22, 537-548.
69. Shi, Y., E. Zesta, L. R. Lyons, J. Yang, A. Boudouridis, Y. S. Ge, J. M. Ruohoniemi, and, S. Mende, (2012), Two-dimensional ionospheric flow pattern associated with auroral streamers, J. Geophys. Res., 117, A02208, doi: 10.1029/2011JA017110.
70. Shiokawa, K., W. Baumjohann, and, G. Haerendel, (1997), Braking of high-speed flows in the near-Earth tail, J. Geophys. Res., 24 (10), 1179-1082, doi: 10.1029/97GL01062.
71. Shiokawa, K., G. Haerendel, and, W. Baumjohann, (1998), Azimuthal pressure gradient as driving force of substorm currents, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25 (7), 959-962, doi: 10.1029/98GL00540.
72. Song, Y., and, R. L. Lysak, (2001a), Towards a new paradigm: From a quasi-steady description to a dynamical description of the magnetosphere, Space Sci. Rev., 95, 273-292.
73. Song, Y., and, R. L. Lysak, (2001b), The physics in the auroral dynamo regions and auroral particle acceleration, Phys. Chem. Earth, 26, 33.
74. Stenbaek-Nielsen, H. C., T. J. Hallinan, D. L. Osborne, J. Kimball, C. Chaston, J. McFadden, G. Delory, M. Temerin, and, C. W. Carlson, (1998), Aircraft observations conjugate to FAST: Auroral arc thicknesses, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25 (12), 2073-2076, doi: 10.1029/98GL01058.
75. Tanaka, T., (1994), Finite volume TVD scheme on an unstructured grid system for three-dimensional MHD simulation of inhomogeneous systems including strong background potential fields, J. Comput. Phys., 111, 381, doi: 10.1006/jcph.1994.1071.
76. Tanaka, T., (2007), Magnetosphere-ionosphere convection as a compound system, Space Sci. Rev., 133, 1-72, doi: 10.1007/s11214-007-9168-4.
77. Tanaka, T., A. Nakamizo, A. Yoshikawa, S. Fujita, H. Shinagawa, H. Shimazu, T. Kikuchi, and, K. K. Hashimoto, (2010), Substorm convection and current system deduced from the global simulation, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A05220, doi: 10.1029/2009JA014676.
78. Untiedt, J., and, W. Baumjohann, (1993), Studies of polar current systems using the IMS Scandinavian magnetometer array, Space Sci. Rev., 63, 245-390, doi: 10.1007/BF00750770.
79. Vasyliunas, V. M., (1984), Fundamentals of current description, in Magnetospheric Currents, edited by, T. A. Potemra, AGU, Washington, D. C. doi: 10.1029/GM028p0063.
80. Weygand, J. M., R. L. McPherron, H. Frey, O. Amm, K. Kauristie, A. T. Viljanen, and, A. Koistinen, (2008), Relation of substorm onset to Harang discontinuity, J. Geophys. Res., 113, A04213, doi: 10.1029/2007JA012537.
81. Xing, X., L. R. Lyons, Y. Nishimura, V. Angelopoulos, E. Donovan, E. Spanswick, J. Liang, D. Larson, C. Carlson, and, U. Auster, (2011), Near-Earth plasma sheet azimuthal pressure gradient and associated auroral development soon before substorm onset, J. Geophys. Res., 116, A07204, doi: 10.1029/2011JA016539.
82. Yago, K., K. Shiokawa, K. Yumoto, D. G. Baishev, S. I. Solovyev, and, F. J. Rich, (2007), Simultaneous DMSP, all-sky camera, and IMAGE FUV observations of the brightening arc at a substorm pseudo-breakup, Earth Planets Space, 59, 45.
83. Yao, Y., Y. Ebihara, and, T. Tanaka, (2015), Sudden pressure enhancement and tailward retreat in the near-earth plasma sheet: THEMIS observation and MHD simulation, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics, 120, 201-211, doi: 10.1002/2014JA020482.
84. Yao, Z. H., et al., (2012), Mechanism of substorm current wedge formation: THEMIS observations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L13102, doi: 10.1029/2012GL052055.
85. Zesta, E., L. R. Lyons, and, E. Donovan, (2000), The auroral signature of Earthward flow burst observed in the magnetotail, Geophys. Res. Lett., 27 (20), 3241-3244, doi: 10.1029/2000GL000027.
86. Zesta, E., E. Donovan, L. Lyons, G. Enno, J. S. Murphree, and, L. Cogger, (2002), Two-dimensional structure of auroral poleward boundary intensifications, J. Geophys. Res., 107 (A11), 1350, doi: 10.1029/2001JA000260.
87. Zesta, E., L. Lyons, C.-P. Wang, E. Donovan, H. Frey, and, T. Nagai, (2006), Auroral poleward boundary intensifications (PBIs): Their two-dimensional structure and associated dynamics in the plasma sheet, J. Geophys. Res., 111, A05201, doi: 10.1029/2004JA010640.
88. Zou, S., L. R. Lyons, C.-P. Wang, A. Boudouridis, J. M. Ruohoniemi, P. C. Anderson, P. L. Dyson, and, J. C. Devlin, (2009), On the coupling between the Harang reversal evolution and substorm dynamics: A synthesis of SuperDARN, DMSP, and IMAGE observations, J. Geophys. Res., 114, A01205, doi: 10.1029/2008JA013449.