Solar wind pressure pulse‐driven magnetospheric vortices and their global consequences. Issue 6 (24th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shi, Q. Q.; Hartinger, M.D.; Angelopoulos, V.; Tian, A.M.; Fu, S.Y.; Zong, Q.‐G.; Weygand, J. M.; Raeder, J.; Pu, Z.Y.; Zhou, X.Z.; Dunlop, M.W.; Liu, W.L.; Zhang, H.; Yao, Z.H.; Shen, X.C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 119:Issue 6(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 4274
• Page End: 4280
• Publication Date: 2014-06-24
• Subjects: solar wind pressure pulse -- magnetosphere vortex -- plasma sheet -- field‐aligned current -- ULF wave; Magnetospheric physics -- Periodicals; Space environment -- Periodicals; Cosmic physics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Atmospheres -- Periodicals; Heliosphere (Astrophysics) -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 523.01
• DOI: 10.1002/2013JA019551
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9380

Abstract

Abstract: We report the in situ observation of a plasma vortex induced by a solar wind dynamic pressure enhancement in the nightside plasma sheet using multipoint measurements from Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) satellites. The vortex has a scale of 5–10 Re and propagates several Re downtail, expanding while propagating. The features of the vortex are consistent with the prediction of the Sibeck (1990) model, and the vortex can penetrate deep (~8 Re ) in the dawn‐dusk direction and couple to field line oscillations. Global magnetohydrodynamics simulations are carried out, and it is found that the simulation and observations are consistent with each other. Data from THEMIS ground magnetometer stations indicate a poleward propagating vortex in the ionosphere, with a rotational sense consistent with the existence of the vortex observed in the magnetotail. Key Points: Solar wind pressure pulse‐driven vortex was observed in the magnetosphere Simulation and ground magnetic field data confirm this tailward moving vortex The vortex can penetrate deep inside the tail plasma sheet and couple to FLRs