Magnetospheric Signatures of STEVE: Implications for the Magnetospheric Energy Source and Interhemispheric Conjugacy

Abstract

We present three STEVE (strong thermal emission velocity enhancement) events in conjunction with Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions (THEMIS) in the magnetosphere and Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) and Swarm in the ionosphere, for determining equatorial and interhemispheric signatures of the STEVE purple/mauve arc and picket fence. Both types of STEVE emissions are associated with subauroral ion drifts (SAID), electron heating, and plasma waves. The magnetosphere observations show structured electrons and flows and waves (likely kinetic Alfven, magnetosonic, or lower‐hybrid waves) just outside the plasmasphere. Interestingly, the event with the picket fence had a >~1 keV electron structure detached from the electron plasma sheet, upward field‐aligned currents (FACs), and ultraviolet emissions in the conjugate hemisphere, while the event with only the mauve arc did not have precipitation or ultraviolet emission. We suggest that the electron precipitation drives the picket fence, and heating drives the mauve as thermal emission.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jun 04, 2019
Source ID
10.1029/2019gl082460

Entities

People

  • Bea Gallardo-Lacourt
  • D. J. Knudsen
  • Eric Donovan
  • Evgeny Mishin
  • R. Raybell
  • Vassilis Angelopoulos
  • Ying Zou
  • Yukitoshi Nishimura

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Air Force Research Laboratory
  • Boston University
  • Canadian Space Agency
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • National Science Foundation
  • University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
  • University of Calgary

Tags

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster