Comparing Magnetotail Dynamics Using TWINS and THEMIS

Mesoscale magnetotail dynamics are an essential component for understanding and predicting what occurs in the magnetosphere during geomagnetic storms and substorms. In situ measurements of the magnetotail environment can be augmented by the global perspective allowed by energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging. Combining remote and in situ measurement techniques can allow for improved characterization of the spatial and temporal nature of flow channels.

An algorithm developed by Dr. Katus and Dr. Keesee allows for automated detection of flow channels based on the associated ion heating seen in ion temperature maps calculated from the Two Wide-angle Imaging Neutral-atom Spectrometers (TWINS) ENA imaging data. Intervals detected by this algorithm were validated using a list of known dipolarizing flux bundles (DFBs) measured by THEMIS (Liu et al., 2013; Zhang et al., 2019).

Here, we present three case studies of intervals observed by both TWINS and THEMIS with the goal of investigating the temporal and spatial differences observed in the remote and in situ observations of the structures seen in these events.