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Ground magnetic characteristics of the storm-time ring current Asymmetry

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Abstract

Using the minute data of the H component of geomagnetic field from the 20°E magnetic meridian chain and the 30°N magnetic latitudinal chain, the temporal evolution characteristics of the equatorial ring current during the storm on November 7–10, 2004 are studied. It is indicated that the UT-MLT and UT-MLAT graphics extremely exhibit the local time distribution, latitudinal variation and temporal evolution of the H component. The results show: (1) The UT-MLT contour clearly shows the increasing of the H component mostly around noon during the initial phase, representing the geomagnetic effect from the magnetopause current system. During the main phase, most negative values of the H component appear around the dusk-side, indicating the dawn-dusk asymmetric distribution of the ring current. (2) The contour of UT-MLAT suggests the latitudinal variation of the H component decreasing with the enhancement of the latitudes during geomagnetic storm, which is in good agreement with the D st index. The latitudinal variations provide a new sight for describing the temporal characteristics of the intensity of the storm-time ring current. (3) Both the contours of UT-MLT and UT-MLAT are useful to monitor the space-time distribution of the equatorial ring current.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    YingYan Wu, WenYao Xu, GengXiong Chen, Bo Chen & XiaoCan Liu

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Bo Chen & XiaoCan Liu

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  1. YingYan Wu
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  2. WenYao Xu
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  3. GengXiong Chen
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  4. Bo Chen
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  5. XiaoCan Liu
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Correspondence to YingYan Wu.

Additional information

Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2006CB806305) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40436016)

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Wu, Y., Xu, W., Chen, G. et al. Ground magnetic characteristics of the storm-time ring current Asymmetry. Sci. China Ser. D-Earth Sci. 51, 686–693 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-008-0045-0

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