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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Space Physics

 

Keywords

  • Pc 3 pulsations
  • low latitude
  • horizontal structure

Index Terms

  • Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosphere/ionosphere interactions
  • Ionosphere: Wave propagation
  • Ionosphere: Ionosphere/magnetosphere interactions
  • Ionosphere: Equatorial ionosphere
Abstract
Cited By (0)
 

Abstract

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 112, A11308, 10 PP., 2007
doi:10.1029/2007JA012585

Horizontal amplitude and phase structure of low-latitude Pc 3 pulsations around the dawn terminator

Y.-M. Tanaka

Transdisciplinary Research Integration Center, Research Organization of Information and Systems, Tokyo, Japan

K. Yumoto

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

Space Environment Research Center, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

A. Yoshikawa

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

M. Itonaga

Faculty of Education, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan

M. Shinohara

Space Environment Research Center, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

S. Takasaki

National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo, Japan

B. J. Fraser

Centre for Space Physics, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

The horizontal spatial structure of Pc 3 pulsations observed at low geomagnetic latitude (22–46°) around dawn is studied statistically using data acquired by the Circum-pan Pacific Magnetometer Network (CPMN). It is found that while the phase of the H component of low-latitude Pc 3 pulsations remains largely unchanged with the passing of dawn, the D component undergoes a phase shift of ca. 180°. This phase variation across dawn is related to the abrupt change in the major axis orientation of polarization ellipses observed in previous studies. Both the H and D components have higher amplitude after dawn than before dawn. This horizontal amplitude and phase structure is well explained by the response of a nonuniform ionosphere around dawn to incident Alfvén waves, where the secondary electric field caused by charge accumulation at the dawn terminator plays an important role in deformation of the current system. Enhancement of the D/H ratio is also observed just after dawn at very low latitudes (22°). As Alfvén waves are not excited efficiently at very low geomagnetic latitudes, including the magnetic equator, the observed horizontal structure in such regions may be due to a large-scale current system originating at higher latitudes.

Received 5 June 2007; accepted 22 August 2007; published 20 November 2007.

Citation: Tanaka, Y.-M., K. Yumoto, A. Yoshikawa, M. Itonaga, M. Shinohara, S. Takasaki, and B. J. Fraser (2007), Horizontal amplitude and phase structure of low-latitude Pc 3 pulsations around the dawn terminator, J. Geophys. Res., 112, A11308, doi:10.1029/2007JA012585.

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