Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spatial frequencies associated with the latitudinal structures of ionospheric currents seen by CHAMP satellite

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Astrophysics and Space Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The CHAMP magnetic field variations during international quiet days of low solar activity period 2008–2009 are investigated. The present paper reports the existence of frequency peaks ≤20 mHz in the compressional component of the magnetic field in almost all CHAMP passes. The magnetic field variations associated with these frequencies have amplitude of a few tens of nT during the daytime. The geomagnetic activity and interplanetary magnetic field parameters were observed to be low during the period of study. The spectral powers of the observed frequencies show no dependence on solar wind velocity and cone angle; hence, the reported frequencies are not related to the geomagnetic pulsations. For frequency-peaks ≤15 mHz, strong local time dependence is observed with maximum power near noon and minimum at night. The longitudinal and seasonal variation of the powers of these frequency peaks match well with those of the equator-to-middle latitude ionospheric currents derived by the earlier studies. As a polar Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellite spans the entire range of latitudes within few minutes, it monitors the geomagnetic field variations caused by the quiet-time ionospheric currents flowing at different latitudes. This can result in certain frequencies in the magnetic field recorded by LEO satellites. We demonstrate that the frequencies <10 mHz are mainly due to the latitudinal structure of the equatorial electrojet. The observed frequencies in CHAMP data are therefore attributed to the latitudinal structures of the ionospheric currents that are monitored only by the polar LEO satellites and are found to alter the observations of geomagnetic pulsations (Pc4–5 and Pi2) significantly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alken, P., Maus, S.: Spatio-temporal characterization of the equatorial electrojet from CHAMP, Ørsted, and SAC-C satellite measurements. J. Geophys. Res. 112, A09305 (2007). doi:10.1029/2007JA012524

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Balasis, G., Daglis, I.A., Zesta, E., Papadimitriou, C., Georgiou, M., Haagmans, R., Tsinganos, K.: ULF wave activity during the 2003 Halloween superstorm: multipoint observations from CHAMP, Cluster and Geotail missions. Ann. Geophys. 30, 1751–1768 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Bol’shakova, O.V., Troitskaya, V.: Relation of the IMF direction to the system of stable oscillations. Dokl. Akad. Nauk (Proc. Russ. Acad. Sci.) 180, 343–346 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, W.H.: Introduction to Geomagnetic Fields. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuturrufo, F., Pilipenko, V., Heilig, B., Stepanova, M., Lühr, H., Vega, P., Yoshikawa, A.: Near-equatorial Pi2 and Pc3 waves observed by CHAMP and on SAMBA/MAGDAS stations. Adv. Space Res. 55, 1180–1189 (2014). doi:10.1016/j.asr.2014.11.010

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Gilman, D.L., Fuglister, F.J., Mitchell, J.M. Jr.: On the power spectrum of “red noise”. J. Atmos. Sci. 20, 182–184 (1963)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenstadt, E.W., Olson, T.V.: Pc 3, 4 activity and interplanetary field orientation. J. Geophys. Res. 81, 5911–5920 (1976)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Greenstadt, E.W., Olson, T.V., Loewen, P.D., Singer, H.J., Russell, C.T.: Correlation of Pc 3, 4, 5 activity with solar wind speed. J. Geophys. Res. 84, A11 (1979)

    Google Scholar 

  • Han, D.-S., Iyemori, T., Nose, M., McCreadie, H., Gao, Y., Yang, F., Yamashita, S., Stauning, P.: A comparative analysis of low-latitude Pi2 pulsations observed by Ørsted and ground stations. J. Geophys. Res. 109, A10209 (2004). doi:10.1029/2004JA010576

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Heilig, B., Lühr, H., Rother, M.: Comprehensive study of ULF upstream waves observed in the topside ionosphere by CHAMP and on the ground. Ann. Geophys. 25, 737–754 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Heilig, B., Lotz, S., Verő, J., Sutcliffe, P., Reda, J., Pajunpää, K., Raita, T.: Empirically modelled Pc3 activity based on solar wind parameters. Ann. Geophys. 28, 1703–1722 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Heilig, B., Sutcliffe, P.R., Ndiitwani, D.C., Collier, A.B.: Statistical study of geomagnetic field line resonances observed by CHAMP and on the ground. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 118, 1934–1947 (2013). doi:10.1002/jgra.50215

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Iyemori, T., Nakanishi, K., Aoyama, T., Yokoyama, Y., Koyama, Y., Lühr, H.: Confirmation of existence of the small-scale field-aligned currents in middle and low latitudes and an estimate of time scale of their temporal variations. Geophys. Res. Lett. 42, 22–28 (2015). doi:10.1002/2014GL062555

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Jadhav, G., Rajaram, M., Rajaram, R.: Modification of daytime compressional waves by the ionosphere: first results from Oersted. Geophys. Res. Lett. 28, 103–106 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Jadhav, G., Rajaram, M., Rajaram, R.: A detailed study of equatorial electrojet phenomenon using Ørsted satellite observations. J. Geophys. Res. 107(A8), 1175 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le, G., Chi, P., Strangeway, R., Slavin, J.: Observations of a unique type of ULF wave by low-altitude space technology 5 satellites. J. Geophys. Res. 116(A8) (2011)

  • Liu, W., Sarris, T.E., Li, X., Ergun, R., Angelopoulos, V., Bonnell, J., Glassmeier, K.H.: Solar wind influence on Pc4 and Pc5 ULF wave activity in the inner magnetosphere. J. Geophys. Res. 115, A12201 (2010). doi:10.1029/2010JA015299

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lühr, H., Maus, S., Rother, M., Cooke, D.: First in-situ observation of night time F-region currents with the CHAMP satellite. Geophys. Res. Lett. 29(10), 1489 (2002). doi:10.1029/2001GL013845

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lühr, H., Maus, S., Rother, M.: Noon-time equatorial electrojet: its spatial features as determined by the CHAMP satellite. J. Geophys. Res. 109, A01306 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lühr, H., Rother, M., Hausler, K., Alken, P., Maus, S.: The influence of nonmigrating tides on the longitudinal variation of the equatorial electrojet. J. Geophys. Res. 113, A08313 (2008). doi:10.1029/2008JA013064

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lühr, H., Park, J., Xiong, C., Rauberg, J.: Alfvén wave characteristics of equatorial plasma irregularities in the ionosphere derived from CHAMP observations. Front. Phys. (2014). doi:10.3389/fphy.2014.00047

    Google Scholar 

  • Lühr, H., Kervalishvili, G., Michaelis, I., Rauberg, J., Ritter, P., Park, J., Merayo, J.M.G., Brauer, P.: The interhemispheric and F region dynamo currents revisited with the Swarm constellation. Geophys. Res. Lett. 42, 3069–3075 (2015). doi:10.1002/2015GL063662

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Mathie, R.A., Mann, I.R.: Observations of Pc5 field line resonance azimuthal phase speeds: a diagnosis of their excitation mechanism. J. Geophys. Res. 105, 10713–10728 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Maus, S., Manoj, C., Rauberg, J., Michaelis, I., Lühr, H.: NOAA/NGDC candidate models for the 11th generation International Geomagnetic Reference Field and the concurrent release of the 6th generation Pomme magnetic model. Earth Planets Space 62, 729–735 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakanishi, K., Iyemori, T., Taira, K., Lühr, H.: Global and frequent appearance of small spatial scale field aligned currents possibly driven by the lower atmospheric phenomena as observed by the CHAMP satellite in middle and low latitudes. Earth Planets Space 66, 40 (2014). doi:10.1186/1880-5981-66-4

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Ndiitwani, D.C., Sutcliffe, P.R.: The structure of low-latitude Pc3 pulsations observed by CHAMP and on the ground. Ann. Geophys. 27, 1267–1277 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Olson, J.V.: Pi2 pulsations and substorm onsets: a review. J. Geophys. Res. 104, 17499–17520 (1999). doi:10.1029/1999JA900086

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Onwumechili, C.A.: The Equatorial Electrojet. Gordon and Breach, New York (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, J., Lühr, H., Stolle, C., Rother, M., Min, K.W., Michaelis, I.: The characteristics of field-aligned currents associated with equatorial plasma bubbles as observed by the CHAMP satellite. Ann. Geophys. 27, 2685–2697 (2009a)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Park, J., Lühr, H., Stolle, C., Rother, M., Min, K.W., Chung, J-K., Kim, Y.H., Michaelis, I., Noja, M.: Magnetic signatures of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances as observed by CHAMP. J. Geophys. Res. 114 (2009b). doi:10.1029/2008JA013792

  • Park, J., Lühr, H., Rauberg, J.: Global characteristics of Pc1 magnetic pulsations during solar cycle Discussions 23 deduced from CHAMP data. Ann. Geophys. 31, 1507–1520 (2013)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Pedatella, N.M., Forbes, J.M., Richmond, A.D.: Seasonal and longitudinal variations of the solar quiet (Sq) current system during solar minimum determined by CHAMP satellite magnetic field observations. J. Geophys. Res. 116, A04317 (2011). doi:10.1029/2010JA016289

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Pilipenko, V., Fedorov, E., Heilig, B., Engebretson, M.J.: Structure of ULF Pc3 waves at low altitudes. J. Geophys. Res. 113, A11208 (2008). doi:10.1029/2008JA013243

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, C.T., Luhmann, J.G., Odera, T.J., Stuart, W.F.: The rate of occurrence of dayside Pc 3, 4 pulsations: the L-value dependence of the IMF cone angle effect. Geophys. Res. Lett. 10, 663–666 (1983)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Saito, T.: A new index of geomagnetic pulsation and its relation to solar M-regions. Rep. Ionos. Space Res. Jpn. 18, 260–274 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, H.J., Russell, C.T., Kivelson, M.G., Greenstadt, E.W., Olson, J.V.: Evidence for control of Pc 3, 4 magnetic pulsations by solar wind velocity. Geophys. Res. Lett. 4, 377–380 (1977)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Stolle, C., Lühr, H., Rother, M., Balasis, G.: Magnetic signatures of equatorial spread F, as observed by the CHAMP satellite. J. Geophys. Res. 111(A02), 304 (2006). doi:10.1029/2005JA011184

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutcliffe, P.R., Lühr, H.: A comparison of Pi2 pulsations observed by CHAMP in low Earth orbit and on the ground at low latitudes. Geophys. Res. Lett. 30(21), 2105 (2003). doi:10.1029/2003GL018270

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sutcliffe, P.R., Lühr, H.: A search for dayside Pi2 geomagnetic pulsations in the CHAMP low-Earth-orbit data. J. Geophys. Res. 115, A05205 (2010). doi:10.1029/2009JA014757

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Sutcliffe, P.R., Heilig, B., Lotz, S.: Spectral structure of Pc3–4 pulsations: possible signatures of cavity modes. Ann. Geophys. 31, 725–743 (2013)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, K., Anderson, B.J., Yumoto, K.: Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite observation of a Pi2 pulsation. J. Geophys. Res. 104, 25035–25045 (1999). doi:10.1029/1999JA900317

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, N., Vichare, G., Sinha, A.K., Rawat, R.: Low-latitude Pi2 oscillations observed by polar Low Earth Orbiting satellite. J. Geophys. Res. Space Phys. 120 (2015). doi:10.1002/2014JA020958

  • Troitskaya, V.A., Plyasova-Bakunina, T.A., Gul’elmi, A.V.: Relationship between Pc2-4 pulsations and the interplanetary field. Dokl. Akad. Nauk USSR 197, 1312 (1971)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Urban, K.D., Gerrard, A.J., Bhattacharya, Y., Ridley, A.J., Lanzerotti, L.J., Weatherwax, A.T.: Quiet time observations of the open-closed boundary prior to the CIR-induced storm of 9 August 2008. Space Weather 9, S11001 (2011). doi:10.1029/2011SW000688

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Vellante, M., Lühr, H., Zhang, T.L., Wesztergom, V., Villante, U., Lauretis, M.D., Piancatelli, A., Rother, M., Schwiegenschuh, K., Koren, W., Magnes, W.: Ground/satellite Signatures of Field line Resonance: a test of theoretical predictions. J. Geophys. Res. 109(A06), 210 (2004). doi:10.1029/2004JA010392

    Google Scholar 

  • Vichare, G., Rajaram, R.: Global features of quiet time counter electrojet observed by Ørsted. J. Geophys. Res. 116, A04306 (2011). doi:10.1029/2009JA015244

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Vichare, G., Rawat, R., Hanchinal, A., Sinha, A.K., Dhar, A., Pathan, B.M.: Seasonal evolution of \(S\mathrm{q}\) current system at sub-auroral latitude. Earth Planets Space 64, 1023–1031 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe, A.: Dependence of mid-latitude hydromagnetic energy spectra on solar wind speed and interplanetary magnetic field direction. J. Geophys. Res. 85, 5977–5982 (1980)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe, A., Meloni, A., Lanzerotti, L.J., MacLennan, C.G.: Dependence of hydromagnetic energy spectra near \(\mathrm{L}=2\) and \(\mathrm{L}=3\) on upstream solar wind parameters. J. Geophys. Res. 90, 5117–5131 (1985)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Yagova, N., Heilig, B., Fedorov, E.: Pc2–3 geomagnetic pulsations on the ground, in the ionosphere, and in the magnetosphere: MM100, CHAMP, and THEMIS observations. Ann. Geophys. 33, 117–128 (2015)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamashita, S., Iyemori, T.: Seasonal and local time dependences of the interhemispheric field-aligned currents deduced from the Ørsted satellite and the ground geomagnetic observations. J. Geophys. Res. 107(A11), 1372 (2002). doi:10.1029/2002JA009414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yumoto, K., Saito, T., Akasofu, S.-I., Tsurutani, B.T., Smith, E.J.: Propagation mechanism of daytime Pc 3–4 pulsations observed at synchronous orbit and multiple ground-based stations. J. Geophys. Res. 90, 6439–6450 (1985)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to Information System and Data Center (ISDC) for providing high quality 1s magnetic field data from CHAMP satellite. The data set used is CH-ME-2-FGM-NEC and is available on request from ISDC at http://isdc.gfz-potsdam.de/. We are thankful USGS (http://cdaweb.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eval1.cgi) for making available 1s data from the ground observatory, Boulder. We are also thankful to WDC for Geomagnetism, Kyoto (http://wdc.kugi.kyotou.ac.jp/caplot/index.html) for providing the geomagnetic indices and GSFC/SPDF OMNIWeb (http://omniweb.gsfc.nasa.gov) for providing the solar wind and interplanetary data. We are deeply indebted to Prof. R. Rajaram for all the valuable discussions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Plot 5, Sector 18, New Panvel (W), Navi Mumbai, 410218, India

    Neethal Thomas, Geeta Vichare & A. K. Sinha

Authors
  1. Neethal Thomas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Geeta Vichare
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. K. Sinha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Neethal Thomas.

Additional information

Geeta Vichare, formerly Geeta Jadhav.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thomas, N., Vichare, G. & Sinha, A.K. Spatial frequencies associated with the latitudinal structures of ionospheric currents seen by CHAMP satellite. Astrophys Space Sci 361, 205 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-016-2787-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-016-2787-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation