Investigating Instability Mechanisms and Their Impacts on the Coupled Solar Wind-Magnetosphere Ionosphere (SW-M-I) System
Abstract
The various instability mechanisms [such as Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H), Rayleigh-Taylor (R-T), interchange] are closely related and significantly impact the coupled solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere (SW-M-I) system. Important members of this coupled system include the hot zone along with the various subauroral flows known as Sub-Auroral Ion Drifts (SAID), Sub-Auroral Polarization Streams (SAPS), SAPS wave structures (SAPSWS), Abnormal SAID (ASAID), and Double-peak SAID (DSAID). During this project, we conducted a series of detailed studies documented in journal articles. Based on M-I conjugate observations, we analyzed (i) the fast-time development of the various newly-formed subauroral flows observed during the various magnetic local time (MLT) hours of interest by invoking the novel short-circuiting theory, (ii) the hot zone and its structuring by the reflected K-H waves generated by the SW-driven K-H vortices rolling along the magnetopause or by the plasma density dropouts caused by the ongoing magnetic field line stretching occurring during the underlying magnetotail reconnection events, (iii) the various inner-magnetosphere configurations associated with the fast-time development of ASAID, often accompanied by SAID during multiple flow channel development, and (iv) the various polar convection patterns underlying the various subauroral flow channels in the various MLT sectors of interest. Our respective new findings include (i) the dawnside development of SAPS flow channel, (ii) the Near-Earth Plasma Sheet (NEPS) acting as a resonator after activation by the K-H vortices on the magnetopause and generating reflected (from the plasmapause) K-H waves structuring the hot zone, (iii) the single intrusion and repeated intrusions of hot ring current ions into the cold plasmasheet plasma leading to the respective development of single ASAID flow channel and multiple ASAID flow channels, and (iv) the antisunward streaming SAID flows in the postmidnight MLT sector
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 03, 2024
- Accession Number
- AD1228660
Entities
People
- Ildiko Horvath
Organizations
- University of Queensland