Throat aurora: The ionospheric signature of magnetosheath particles penetrating into the magnetosphere. Issue 5 (5th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, D.‐S.; Nishimura, Y.; Lyons, L. R.; Hu, H.‐Q.; Yang, H.‐G.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 43:Issue 5(2016)
• Page Start: 1819
• Page End: 1827
• Publication Date: 2016-03-05
• Subjects: throat aurora -- magnetopause reconnection -- dayside diffuse aurora -- PMAF; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2016GL068181
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Throat aurora is suggested to be generated during magnetospheric cold plasma flowing into the magnetopause reconnection site and to be the ionospheric signature of the newly opened flux from reconnection. By examining simultaneous low‐altitude satellites and ground observations, we confirm that the throat auroras are associated with low‐energy electron and ion precipitation of magnetosheath type and thus provide the first evidence that they occur along open magnetic field lines. Additionally, the observations have important possible implications: (1) solar wind particles can penetrate deep into the magnetosphere and may make significant contributions to the low‐energy plasmas often observed in the dayside outer magnetosphere and (2) localized shapes of the magnetopause and the ionospheric open‐closed field line boundary may be substantially changed, during generation of the throat aurora. Key Points: Throat aurora is associated with magnetosheath particle precipitation and is on open field line Throat aurora is associated with upward FAC portion of localized FAC structures Localized magnetopause topology may be deformed during generation of throat aurora