Study of Response of Extreme Meso-Scale Field-Aligned Current to Interplanetary Magnetic Field Components BX, BY and BZ During Geomagnetic Storm

Adero Ochieng Awuor; Paul Baki; Olwendo Joseph; Pierre Cilliers; Pieter Kotze

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11

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Study of Response of Extreme Meso-Scale Field-Aligned Current to Interplanetary Magnetic Field Components B_X, B_Y and B_Z During Geomagnetic Storm

Adero Ochieng Awuor, Paul Baki, Olwendo Joseph, Pierre Cilliers, Pieter Kotze

Published in International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science (Volume 7, Issue 1)

Received: 6 October 2018 Accepted: 26 November 2018 Published: 6 August 2019

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Abstract

The influence of IMF components on meso-scale field-aligned currents (FACs) is investigated with an aim to establish how different IMF components influence the occurrence and distribution of FACs. The field-aligned currents (FACs) are calculated from the curl of the Ampere’s law to the magnetic field recorded by CHAMP satellite during 24 major geomagnetic storms. To determine the field-aligned currents at extreme mesoscale range ∼150 - 250 km, a low-pass filter to FACs with a cutoff period of 20s is applied. The peak-to-peak amplitude of FAC density, with the maximum difference ≤ 3⁰ MLAT, is determined and used to define the FAC range. The results indicate high occurrence of FACs centered about IMF ≈ 0, for large values of Dst. The magnitude of FACs is in general affected by all the three IMF components, alongside other ionospheric factors such as solar wind speed and density. Magnetic reconnection, under -B_Z is a major FACs drivers and is significant in the dayside northern hemisphere. The reconnection is not symmetric in both hemispheres. We find a possible electrodynamic similarity between the dayside northern hemisphere and nightside southern hemisphere, prominent along B_X when B_Z is negative. This interesting observation can further be investigated.

Published in	International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science (Volume 7, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11
Page(s)	1-11
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Auroral Ionosphere, High-latitude Current Systems, Magnetosphere-ionosphere Coupling

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APA Style

Adero Ochieng Awuor, Paul Baki, Olwendo Joseph, Pierre Cilliers, Pieter Kotze. (2019). Study of Response of Extreme Meso-Scale Field-Aligned Current to Interplanetary Magnetic Field Components BX, BY and BZ During Geomagnetic Storm. International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science, 7(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11

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ACS Style

Adero Ochieng Awuor; Paul Baki; Olwendo Joseph; Pierre Cilliers; Pieter Kotze. Study of Response of Extreme Meso-Scale Field-Aligned Current to Interplanetary Magnetic Field Components BX, BY and BZ During Geomagnetic Storm. Int. J. Astrophys. Space Sci. 2019, 7(1), 1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11

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AMA Style

Adero Ochieng Awuor, Paul Baki, Olwendo Joseph, Pierre Cilliers, Pieter Kotze. Study of Response of Extreme Meso-Scale Field-Aligned Current to Interplanetary Magnetic Field Components BX, BY and BZ During Geomagnetic Storm. Int J Astrophys Space Sci. 2019;7(1):1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11,
  author = {Adero Ochieng Awuor and Paul Baki and Olwendo Joseph and Pierre Cilliers and Pieter Kotze},
  title = {Study of Response of Extreme Meso-Scale Field-Aligned Current to Interplanetary Magnetic Field Components BX, BY and BZ During Geomagnetic Storm},
  journal = {International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science},
  volume = {7},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-11},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijass.20190701.11},
  abstract = {The influence of IMF components on meso-scale field-aligned currents (FACs) is investigated with an aim to establish how different IMF components influence the occurrence and distribution of FACs. The field-aligned currents (FACs) are calculated from the curl of the Ampere’s law to the magnetic field recorded by CHAMP satellite during 24 major geomagnetic storms. To determine the field-aligned currents at extreme mesoscale range ∼150 - 250 km, a low-pass filter to FACs with a cutoff period of 20s is applied. The peak-to-peak amplitude of FAC density, with the maximum difference ≤ 30 MLAT, is determined and used to define the FAC range. The results indicate high occurrence of FACs centered about IMF ≈ 0, for large values of Dst. The magnitude of FACs is in general affected by all the three IMF components, alongside other ionospheric factors such as solar wind speed and density. Magnetic reconnection, under -BZ is a major FACs drivers and is significant in the dayside northern hemisphere. The reconnection is not symmetric in both hemispheres. We find a possible electrodynamic similarity between the dayside northern hemisphere and nightside southern hemisphere, prominent along BX when BZ is negative. This interesting observation can further be investigated.},
 year = {2019}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Study of Response of Extreme Meso-Scale Field-Aligned Current to Interplanetary Magnetic Field Components BX, BY and BZ During Geomagnetic Storm
AU - Adero Ochieng Awuor
AU - Paul Baki
AU - Olwendo Joseph
AU - Pierre Cilliers
AU - Pieter Kotze
Y1 - 2019/08/06
PY - 2019
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11
DO - 10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11
T2 - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
JF - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
JO - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
SP - 1
EP - 11
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2376-7022
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11
AB - The influence of IMF components on meso-scale field-aligned currents (FACs) is investigated with an aim to establish how different IMF components influence the occurrence and distribution of FACs. The field-aligned currents (FACs) are calculated from the curl of the Ampere’s law to the magnetic field recorded by CHAMP satellite during 24 major geomagnetic storms. To determine the field-aligned currents at extreme mesoscale range ∼150 - 250 km, a low-pass filter to FACs with a cutoff period of 20s is applied. The peak-to-peak amplitude of FAC density, with the maximum difference ≤ 30 MLAT, is determined and used to define the FAC range. The results indicate high occurrence of FACs centered about IMF ≈ 0, for large values of Dst. The magnitude of FACs is in general affected by all the three IMF components, alongside other ionospheric factors such as solar wind speed and density. Magnetic reconnection, under -BZ is a major FACs drivers and is significant in the dayside northern hemisphere. The reconnection is not symmetric in both hemispheres. We find a possible electrodynamic similarity between the dayside northern hemisphere and nightside southern hemisphere, prominent along BX when BZ is negative. This interesting observation can further be investigated.
VL - 7
IS - 1
ER -

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Author Information

Adero Ochieng Awuor

Department of Physics and Space Science, Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
Paul Baki

Department of Physics and Space Science, Technical University of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
Olwendo Joseph

Department of Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Pwani University, Mombasa, Kenya
Pierre Cilliers

South Africa National Space Agency, SANSA Space Center, Hermanus, South Africa
Pieter Kotze

South Africa National Space Agency, SANSA Space Center, Hermanus, South Africa

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APA Style

Adero Ochieng Awuor, Paul Baki, Olwendo Joseph, Pierre Cilliers, Pieter Kotze. (2019). Study of Response of Extreme Meso-Scale Field-Aligned Current to Interplanetary Magnetic Field Components BX, BY and BZ During Geomagnetic Storm. International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science, 7(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11

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Adero Ochieng Awuor; Paul Baki; Olwendo Joseph; Pierre Cilliers; Pieter Kotze. Study of Response of Extreme Meso-Scale Field-Aligned Current to Interplanetary Magnetic Field Components BX, BY and BZ During Geomagnetic Storm. Int. J. Astrophys. Space Sci. 2019, 7(1), 1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11

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AMA Style

Adero Ochieng Awuor, Paul Baki, Olwendo Joseph, Pierre Cilliers, Pieter Kotze. Study of Response of Extreme Meso-Scale Field-Aligned Current to Interplanetary Magnetic Field Components BX, BY and BZ During Geomagnetic Storm. Int J Astrophys Space Sci. 2019;7(1):1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11,
  author = {Adero Ochieng Awuor and Paul Baki and Olwendo Joseph and Pierre Cilliers and Pieter Kotze},
  title = {Study of Response of Extreme Meso-Scale Field-Aligned Current to Interplanetary Magnetic Field Components BX, BY and BZ During Geomagnetic Storm},
  journal = {International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science},
  volume = {7},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-11},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20190701.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijass.20190701.11},
  abstract = {The influence of IMF components on meso-scale field-aligned currents (FACs) is investigated with an aim to establish how different IMF components influence the occurrence and distribution of FACs. The field-aligned currents (FACs) are calculated from the curl of the Ampere’s law to the magnetic field recorded by CHAMP satellite during 24 major geomagnetic storms. To determine the field-aligned currents at extreme mesoscale range ∼150 - 250 km, a low-pass filter to FACs with a cutoff period of 20s is applied. The peak-to-peak amplitude of FAC density, with the maximum difference ≤ 30 MLAT, is determined and used to define the FAC range. The results indicate high occurrence of FACs centered about IMF ≈ 0, for large values of Dst. The magnitude of FACs is in general affected by all the three IMF components, alongside other ionospheric factors such as solar wind speed and density. Magnetic reconnection, under -BZ is a major FACs drivers and is significant in the dayside northern hemisphere. The reconnection is not symmetric in both hemispheres. We find a possible electrodynamic similarity between the dayside northern hemisphere and nightside southern hemisphere, prominent along BX when BZ is negative. This interesting observation can further be investigated.},
 year = {2019}
}

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