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Categorization of the Time Sequence of Events Leading to Substorm Onset Based on THEMIS All-Sky Imager Observations

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The Dynamic Magnetosphere

Part of the book series: IAGA Special Sopron Book Series ((IAGA,volume 3))

Abstract

The sequence of events leading to substorm auroral onset has been a long-standing issue in substorm research. Based on statistical studies using THEMIS all-sky imager data, we have recently reported evidence that most substorm onset events are preceded by a pre-onset auroral form which is a distinct north-south arc originating from an poleward boundary intensification (PBI) and reaches the auroral onset region just before onset. This onset sequence was found to be a repetitive process; it is detected in 84% of 249 events between November 2007 and April 2008. A high occurrence of PBIs (84%) emphasizes an abrupt flux transport across the open-closed field line as initiation of the onset sequence. Here we present a variation of the onset sequence we have previously reported and two less frequently observed types of onset time sequence: poleward boundary contact and Harang aurora deformation. While poleward boundary contact events also start with PBIs, the auroral oval width becomes much narrower (∼2° MLAT) prior to onset, indicating that the plasma sheet is thin and the nightside magnetic separatrix is located closer to the near-Earth onset region. Harang auroral deformation events are not associated with an observed PBI, but the equatorward portion of a pre-existing Harang aurora bends equatorward, which indicates a rapid convection change leading to onset. All of those three categories of events suggest that new plasma intrusion toward onset location changes the pressure profile in the near-Earth region and leads to onset instability.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Science Foundation grants ATM-0646233 and ATM-0639312, NASA grant NNX07AF66, NASA contract NAS5-02099, and JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists. Deployment of the THEMIS ASIs was partly supported by CSA contract 9F007-046101. Alaska magnetometer data were obtained from Geophysical Institute of University of Alaska, Fairbanks. NOAA satellite data were provided through the NOAA’s National Geophysical Data Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1565, USA

    Y. Nishimura, L.R. Lyons & S. Zou

  2. Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory, Nagoya University, Furocho, Chikusa, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan

    Y. Nishimura

  3. Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Space Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 90095-1565, USA

    S. Zou

  4. Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    V. Angelopoulos

  5. Space Science Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-7450, USA

    S.B. Mende

Authors
  1. Y. Nishimura
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  2. L.R. Lyons
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  3. S. Zou
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  4. V. Angelopoulos
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  5. S.B. Mende
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Y. Nishimura .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Spacecraft Engineering, Canadian Space Agency, route de l'Aeroport 6767, St.-Hubert, J3Y 8Y9, Québec, Canada

    William Liu

  2. Astronautical Science (ISAS), Institute of Space &, Yoshinodai 3-1-1, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 229-8510, Japan

    Masaki Fujimoto

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Nishimura, Y., Lyons, L., Zou, S., Angelopoulos, V., Mende, S. (2011). Categorization of the Time Sequence of Events Leading to Substorm Onset Based on THEMIS All-Sky Imager Observations. In: Liu, W., Fujimoto, M. (eds) The Dynamic Magnetosphere. IAGA Special Sopron Book Series, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0501-2_8

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