Study on Dipolarization Front Current Structures observed by MMS and SWARM spacecraft
Abstract
In this study, we investigate the current structures associated with magnetotail dipolarization fronts (DFs) using observations from Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) and low-altitude Swarm spacecraft. With the magnetotail observations of MMS satellites, we study the characteristics of dipolarization front current system (DFCS) at the near-Earth magnetotail regions. In 2016, the apogee of MMS satellites was away from the central plasma sheet, which enables us to examine the field-aligned current (FAC) associated with DFs at the off-equatorial region. At regions of high latitudes, we find that the parallel component of currents dominates in both the DF dip region and the front region, while DFCS is dominated by the perpendicular current near the equatorial plane shown by 2015 MMS magnetic field data. The in situ observations of the DF field-aligned current at high latitudes show that the R-1 sense current wedge forms in the front region while the R-2 current wedge in the dip region. Meanwhile, in order to study the coupling of DFCS with the ionosphere, we examine the conjugated observations from low-latitude Swarm satellites and MMS during an DF event. Our results show that when DF arrives MMS in the magnetotail, Swarm observe substantial FAC enhancement at the foot of MMS spacecraft near the top of the ionosphere. The consecutive observations from two Swarm satellites show the clear temporal variations of the coupling FAC from DFCS, which may be associated with the wave activities around DF in the magnetotail.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFMSM42A..06G
- Keywords:
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- 2730 Magnetosphere: inner;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICSDE: 2736 Magnetosphere/ionosphere interactions;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICSDE: 2740 Magnetospheric configuration and dynamics;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICSDE: 2788 Magnetic storms and substorms;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS