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On differentiating multiple types of ULF magnetospheric waves in response to solar wind periodic density structures
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  • Simone Di Matteo,
  • Umberto Villante,
  • Nicholeen Mary Viall,
  • Larry Kepko,
  • Samantha Wallace
Simone Di Matteo
Catholic University of America at NASA-GSFC

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Umberto Villante
Universita di L'Aquila
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Nicholeen Mary Viall
NASA GSFC
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Larry Kepko
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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Samantha Wallace
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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Abstract

Identifying the nature and source of Ultra Low Frequencies (ULF) waves (f ≤ 4 mHz) at discrete frequencies in the Earth’s magnetosphere is a complex task. The challenge comes from the simultaneous occurrence of externally and internally generated waves, and the ability to robustly identify such perturbations. Using a recently developed robust spectral analysis procedure, we study an interval that exhibited in magnetic field measurements at geosynchronous orbit and in ground magnetic observatories both internally supported and externally generated ULF waves. The event occurred on November 9, 2002 during the interaction of the magnetosphere with two interplanetary shocks that were followed by a train of 90 min solar wind periodic density structures. Using the Wang-Sheeley-Arge model, we mapped the source of this solar wind stream to an active region and a mid-latitude coronal hole just prior to crossing the Heliospheric current sheet. In both the solar wind density and magnetospheric field fluctuations, we separated broad power increases from enhancements at specific frequencies. For the waves at discrete frequencies, we used the combination of satellite and ground magnetometer observations to identify differences in frequency, polarization, and observed magnetospheric locations. The magnetospheric response was characterized by: (i) forced breathing by periodic solar wind dynamic pressure variations below ≈ 1 mHz; (ii) a combination of directly driven oscillations and wave modes triggered by additional mechanisms (e.g., shock and interplanetary magnetic field discontinuity impact, and substorm activity) between ≈ 1 and ≈ 4 mHz; and (iii) largely triggered modes above ≈ 4 mHz.
Mar 2022Published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics volume 127 issue 3. 10.1029/2021JA030144