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Linking Space-Borne and Ground-Based Observations Observed Around Substorm Onset to Magnetospheric ProcessesThe combined THEMIS five spacecraft in-situ and ground magnetic and camera arrays have advanced considerably our understanding of the causal relationship between midtail plasma flows, transient ionospheric features, and ground magnetic signatures. In particular, recent work has shown a connection between equatorward moving visible ionospheric transients and substorm onset, in both 6300 nm and white-light emissions. Although both observations detail pre-onset auroral features the interpretations differ substantially. We first provide a brief summary of these observations, highlighting in particular areas where the two observations differ, and suggest reasons for the differences. We then detail how these observations relate to dynamical magnetospheric processes, and show how they constrain models of transient convection. Next, we pull together observations and models of Pi2 generation, substorm current wedge (SCW) initiation and dipolarization to present a self-consistent description of the dynamical processes and communicative pathways that occur just prior to and during substorm expansion onset. Finally, we present a summary of open questions and suggest a roadmap for future work.
Document ID
20110008564
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Kepko, Larry
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Spanswick, Emma
(Calgary Univ. Alberta, Canada)
Angelopoulos, Vassilis
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Donovan, Eric
(Calgary Univ. Alberta, Canada)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
February 26, 2011
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Geophysical Union conference: Relationship between Auroral Phenomenology and Magnetospheric Processes
Location: Fairbanks, AK
Country: United States
Start Date: February 26, 2011
End Date: March 5, 2011
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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