Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multiple Flux Rope Events at the High-Latitude Magnetopause: Cluster/Rapid Observation on 26 January, 2001

  • Published:
Surveys in Geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cluster measurements of the cusp and high latitude magnetopause boundary on 26 January, 2001 confirm that the cusp is a dynamic region full of energetic charged particles and turbulence. An energetic ion layer at high-latitudes beyond and adjacent to the duskside magnetopause exists when the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) has a southward orientation. Multiple energetic ion flux bursts were observed in the energetic ion layer. Each energetic ion flux burst was closely related to a magnetic flux rope. The axes of the flux ropes lie in the direction pointing duskward/tailward and somewhat upward. An intense axis-aligned current flows inside the ropes, with the current density reaching ∼10−8 A/m2. The main components of the energetic ions are protons, helium and CNO ions, which originate from the magnetosphere, flowing out into the magnetosheath along the axis of the flux ropes. The velocity of the magnetosheath thermal plasma relative to the deHoffman-Teller (DHT) frame is found to be basically along the axis of the flux ropes also, but towards the magnetosphere. These flux ropes seem to be produced somewhere away via magnetic reconnection and move at similar DHT velocities passing over the spacecraft. These observations further confirm that the high-latitude magnetopause boundary region plays an important role in the solar wind-magnetopause coupling.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ACE:

Advanced Composition Explorer

IMF:

Interplanetary Magnetic Field

References

  • A. Balogh C. M. Carr M. H. Acuna M. W. Dunlop T. J. Beek P. Brown K.H. Fronacon E. Georgescu K.-H. Glassmeiei J. Harris G. Musmann T. Oddy K. Schwingenschuh (2001) ArticleTitleThe Cluster Magnetic Field Investigation: Overview of In-flight Performance and Initial Results Ann. Geophys. 19 1207–1217

    Google Scholar 

  • J. M. Bosqued T. D. Phan I. Dandouras C. P. Escoubet H. Reme A. Balogh M. W. Dunlop D. Alcayd E. Amata M.-B. Bavassano-Cattaneo R. Bruno C. Carlson A. M. DiLellis L. Eliasson V. Formisano L. M. Kistler B. Klecker A. Korth H. Kucharek R. Lundin M. McCarthy J. P. McFadden E. Mobius G. K. Parks J.-A. Sauvaud (2001) ArticleTitleCluster Observations of the High-latitude Magnetopause and Cusp: Initial Results From the CIS Ion Instruments Ann. Geophys. 19 1545–1556

    Google Scholar 

  • Boudouridis, A., Spence, H. E., and Onsager, T. G.: 2002, ‘Formation of the LLBL in the Context of a Unifying Magnetopause Reconnection Mechanism’, in P. T. Newell, and T. G. Onsager (eds.), Earth’s Low-Latitude Boundary Layer, and Its Dynamic Interaction with the Solar Wind and Magnetosphere, Geophys. Monogr., AGU, Washington DC, Vol. 122, 131–136

  • G. Chanter (1998) Spatial Interpolation for Four Spacecraft: Theory G. Paschmann P. W. Daly (Eds) Analysis Methods for Multi-Spacecraft Data International Space Science Insitute The Netherlands 349–369

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Chen T. A. Fritz R. B. Sheldon H. E. Spence W. N. Spjeldvik J. F. Fennell S. Livis C. T. Russell J. S. Pickett D. A. Gurnett (1998) ArticleTitleCusp Energetic Particle Events: Implication for a Major Acceleration Region of the Magnetosphere J. Geophys. Res. 103 69–78 Occurrence Handle10.1029/97JA02246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • N. U. Crooker (1979) ArticleTitleDayside Merging and Cusp Geometry J. Geophys. Res. 84 951–959

    Google Scholar 

  • M. W. Dunlop D. J. Southwood K.-H. Glassmeier F. M. Neubauer (1988) ArticleTitleAnalysis of Multipoint Magnetometer Data Adv. Space Res. 8 273–277 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0273-1177(88)90141-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. W. Dunlop A. Balogh P. Cargill R. C. Elphic K.-H. Fornacon E. Georgescu F. Sedgemore-Schulthess InstitutionalAuthorNamethe FGM team (2001) ArticleTitleCluster Observes the Earth’s Magnetopause: Coordinated Four-point Magnetic Field Measurements Ann. Geophys. 19 1449–1480

    Google Scholar 

  • J. W. Dungey (1961) ArticleTitleInterplanetary Magnetic Field and the Aurora Zones Phys. Rev. Lett. 6 47–48 Occurrence Handle10.1103/PhysRevLett.6.47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R. C. Elphic D. J. Southwood (1987) ArticleTitleSimultaneous Measurements of the Magnetopause and Flux Transfer Events at Widely Separeted Sites by AMPTE UKS and ISEE 1 and 2 J. Geophys. Res. 92 13,666–13,672

    Google Scholar 

  • T. A. Fritz (2001) ArticleTitleThe Cusp as a Sourcs of Magnetospheric Energetic Particles, Currents, and Electric Fields: A New Paradigm Space Sci. Rev. 95 469–488 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1005286908441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fritz, T. A., Zurbuchen, T. H., Gloeckler, G., Hefti, S., and Chen J.: 2003, ‘The Use Of Iron Charge State Changes As A Tracer For Solar Wind Entry And Energization Within The Magnetosphere’, Ann. Geophys. 2155–2164

  • C. J. Farrugia R. C. Elphic D. J. Southwood S. W. H. Cowley (1987) ArticleTitleField and Flow Perturbations Outside the Open Field Region in Flux Transfer Events, 1, Theory Planet. Space Sci. 35 277–240

    Google Scholar 

  • A. V. Khrabrov B. U. O. Sonnerup (1998) DeHoffmann-Teller Analysis G. Paschmann P. W. Daly (Eds) Analysis Methods for Multi-Spacecraft Data International Space Science Insitute, Kluwer Academic Publishers The Netherlands 221–248

    Google Scholar 

  • K. K. Khurana E. L. Keplo M. G. Kivelson R. C. Elphic (1996) ArticleTitleAccurate Determination of Magnetic Field Gradients From Four-point Vector Measurements-II: Use of Natural Constraints on Vector Data Obtained From Four Spinning Spacecraft IEEE Trans. Magn. 32 5193–5205 Occurrence Handle10.1109/20.538622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J. G. Luhmann R. J. Walker C. T. Russell N. U. Crooker J. R. Spreiter S. S. Stahara (1984) ArticleTitlePatterns of Potential Magnetic Field Merging Sites on the Dayside Magnetopause J. Geophys. Res. 89 1739–1742

    Google Scholar 

  • C.-I Meng A. T. Y. Lui S. M. Krimigis S. Ismail D. J. Williams (1981) ArticleTitleSpatial Distribution of Energetic Particles in the Distant Magnetotail J. Geophys. Res. 86 5682–5700

    Google Scholar 

  • I Papamastorakis G. Paschmann W. Baurnjohann B. O. U. Sonnerup H. Luhr (1989) ArticleTitleOrientation, Motion and Other Properties of Flux Transfer Event Structures on 4 September 1984 J. Geophys. Res. 94 8852–8866

    Google Scholar 

  • G. Paschmann G. Haerendel N. Sckopke H. Rosenbauer P. C. Hedgecock (1976) ArticleTitlePlasma and Magnetic Field Characteristics of the Distant Polar Cusp Near Local Noon: The Entry Layer J. Geophys. Res. 81 2883–2899

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Reme C. Aoustin J. M. Bosqued et al. (2001) ArticleTitleFirst Multispacecraft Ion Measurement in and Near the Earth’s Magnetosphere with the Identical Cluster Ion Spectrometry (CIS) Experiment Ann. Geophys. 19 1303–1354

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Robert M. W. Dunlop A. Roux G. Chanteur (1998) Accuracy of Current Determination G. Paschmann P. W. Daly (Eds) Analysis Methods for Multi-Spacecraft Data International Space Science Insitute, Kluwer Academic Publishers The Netherlands 395–418

    Google Scholar 

  • H. H. Rosenbauer M. Grunwald D. Montgomery G. Paschmann N. Sckopke (1975) ArticleTitleHeos 2 Plasma Observations in the Distant Polar Magnetosphere: The Plasma Mantle J. Geophys. Res. 80 2723–2737

    Google Scholar 

  • C. T. Russell R. C. Elphic (1978) ArticleTitleInitial ISEE Magnetometer Results Space Sci. Rev. 22 681–715 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00212619

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C. T. Russell R. C. Elphic (1979) ArticleTitleObservation of Magnetic Flux Ropes in the Venus Ionosphere Nature 279 618 Occurrence Handle10.1038/279616a0 Occurrence Handle16068073

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sibeck, D. G., Pachmann, G., Treumann, R. A., Fuselier, S. A., Lennartsson, W., Lockwood, M., Lundin, R., Ogilvie, K. W., Onsager, T. G., Phan, T.-D., Roth, M., Scholer, M., Scopke, N., Stasiewicz, K., and Yamauchi, M.: 1999, ‘Plasma Transfer Processes at the Magnetopause’, in B. Hultqvist, M. Oieroset, G. Paschmann, and R. Treumann (eds.), Magnmetospheric Plasma Sources and Losses, Space Sci. Rev. Vol. 88, 207–283.

  • B. U. O. Sonnerup L. J. Cahill SuffixJr. (1968) ArticleTitleExplorer 12 Observations of the Magnetopause Current Layer J. Geophys. Res. 73 1757–1770

    Google Scholar 

  • B. U. O. Sonnerup M. Scheible (1998) Minimum Variation Analysis G. Paschmann P. W. Daly (Eds) Analysis Methods for Multi-Spacecraft Data International Space Science Insitute, Kluwer Academic Publishers The Netherlands 185–220

    Google Scholar 

  • N. A. Tsyganenko D. P. Stern (1996) ArticleTitleModeling the Global Magnetic Field of the Large-scale Birkeland Current System J. Geophys. Res. 101 27,187–27,195

    Google Scholar 

  • H. I. West SuffixJr. R. M. Buck (1976) ArticleTitleObservations of >100 keV Protons in the Eaxth’s Magnetosheath J. Geophys. Res. 81 569–584

    Google Scholar 

  • J. A. Wild S. W. Cowley J. A. Davies H. Khan M. Lester S. E. Milan G. Provan T. K. Yeoman A. Balogh M. W. Dunlop K.-H. Fornacon E. Georgescu (2001) ArticleTitleFirst Simultaneous Observations of Flux Transfer Events at the High- latitude Magnetopause by the Cluster Spacecraft and Pulsed Radar Signatures in the Conjugate Ionosphere by the CUTLASS and EISCAT Radars Ann. Geophys. 19 1491–1508

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Wilken W. I. Axford I. Daglis P. W. Daly W. Guttler A. Ip Korth G. Kremser S. Livi V. M. Vasyliunas J. Woch D. Baker R. D. Belian J. B. Blake J. F. Fennell L. R. Lyons H. Borg T. A. Fritz F. Gliem R. Rathje M. Grande D. Hall K. Kecskemety S. McKenna-Lawlor K. Mursula P. Tanskanen Z. Y. Pu I. Sandahl E. T. Sarris M. Scholer Schulz F. Sorass S./RAPID Ullaland (1997) The Imaging Energetic Particle Spectrometer on Cluster C. P. Escoubet C. T. Russell R. Schmide (Eds) The Cluster and Phoenix Missions Kluwer Academic Publishers The Netherlands 399–473

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Wilken P. W. Daly U. Mall K. Aarsnes D. N. Baker R. D. Belian J. B. Blake H. Borg J. Buchner M. Carter J. F. Fennell R. Friedel T. A. Fritz F. Gliem M. Grande K. Kecskemety G. Kettmann A. Korth S. Livi S. McKenna-Lawlor K. Mursula B. Nikutowski C. H. Perry Z. Y. Pu J. Roeder G. D. Reeves E. T. Sarris I. Sandahl F. Sorass J. Woch Q.-G. Zong (2001) ArticleTitleFirst Results From the RAPID Imaging Energetic Particle Spectrometer on Board Cluster Ann. Geophys. 19 1355–1366

    Google Scholar 

  • Q.-G. Zong B. Wilken (1998) ArticleTitleLayered Structure of Energetic Oxygen Ions in the Magnetosheath Geophys. Res. Lett. 25 4121–4124 Occurrence Handle10.1029/1998GL900110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Q.-G. Zong T. A. Fritz B. Wilken P. Daly (2002) ArticleTitleEnergetic Ions in the High Latitude Boundary Layer of the Magnetosphere RAPID/CLUSTER Observations Geophys. Monograph 122 101–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Q.-G. Zong T. A. Fritz H. Spence M. Dunlop Y. Z. Pu A. Korth W. Daly A. Balogh H. Reme (2003) ArticleTitleBursty Energetic Electrons Confined in Flux Ropes in the Cusp Region Planet. Space Sci. 51 821–830 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0032-0633(03)00116-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China

    Z. Y. Pu, C. J. Xiao, Z. Y. Huang, S. Y. Fu & Q. Q. Shi

  2. Center for Space Physics, Boston University, 02215, Boston, MA, USA

    Q. -G. Zong & T. A. Fritz

  3. Space Sciences Division, Rutherford Appleton laboratory, OX11 0QX, Chilton, DIDCOT, Oxfordshire, UK

    M. W. Dunlop

  4. Institut für Geophysik und Meteorologie, TU Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstr. 3, Braunschweig, 38106, Germany

    K. -H. Glassmeier

  5. Space and Atmospheric Physics Group, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London, SW7 2BZ, UK

    A. Balogh

  6. Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie, Max-Planck-Str. 2, 37191, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany

    P. Daly

  7. CESR, BP 4346, 31028, Toulouse Cedex 4, France

    H. Reme & J. Dandouras

  8. Center for Space Science and application Research, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100080, China

    J. B. Cao, Z. X. Liu, C. Shen & J. K. Shi

Authors
  1. Z. Y. Pu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Q. -G. Zong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T. A. Fritz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. J. Xiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Z. Y. Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. S. Y. Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Q. Q. Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. M. W. Dunlop
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. K. -H. Glassmeier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. A. Balogh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. P. Daly
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. H. Reme
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. J. Dandouras
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. J. B. Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  15. Z. X. Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  16. C. Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  17. J. K. Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Z. Y. Pu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pu, Z.Y., Zong, Q.G., Fritz, T.A. et al. Multiple Flux Rope Events at the High-Latitude Magnetopause: Cluster/Rapid Observation on 26 January, 2001. Surv Geophys 26, 193–214 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-005-1878-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-005-1878-0

Keywords:

Search

Navigation