2704 Auroral phenomena (2407); 2716 Energetic particles; precipitating; 2724 Magnetopause; cusp; and boundary layers; 2784 Solar wind/magnetosphere interactions
Abstract :
[en] The FUV instrument on IMAGE frequently observes localized ultraviolet emission on the high latitude dayside, poleward of the normal auroral oval location. This emission is especially distinct in the observations of Doppler shifted Lyman alpha emission from precipitating protons. We interpret this emission as the optical signature of precipitation into the cusp after lobe reconnection at the magnetopause. Several cusp crossings by the FAST satellite are used to establish an estimate of the energy input and the characteristics of the precipitating protons. Multivariate cluster analysis and other statistical tools are used to determine the dependence of this precipitation on solar wind parameters. This shows that under northward IMF and high solar wind dynamic pressure, proton precipitation can be the dominating energy input into the cusp region.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Frey, H. U.; Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 United States
Mende, S. B.; Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 United States
Fuselier, S. A.; Advanced Technology Center, Lockheed Martin, Palo Alto, CA 94304 United States
Gérard, Jean-Claude ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Hubert, Benoît ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Labo de physique atmosphérique et planétaire (LPAP)
Gladstone, R. G.; Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78228 United States
Carlson, C. W.; Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 United States
Immel, T. J.; Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 United States
