Search Publications
Simultaneous Mesoscale Polar Cusp Field-Aligned Currents Measured on Mid- and Low-Altitude Satellites
Dunlop, M. W.; Dong, X. -C.; Xiao, C. +3 more
Using a conjunction of Cluster in the mid-altitude dayside magnetosphere and Swarm in the low-altitude ionosphere, we show, by employing multi-spacecraft analysis, that matched, strong magnetic perturbations and the corresponding mesoscale field-aligned current (FAC) structures are measured in the high latitude polar cusp region during the 7 Octob…
Multispacecraft Observations of the Simultaneous Occurrence of Magnetic Reconnection at High and Low Latitudes During the Passage of a Solar Wind Rotational Discontinuity Embedded in the April 9-11, 2015 ICME
Lugaz, Noé; Escoubet, C. Philippe; Wing, Simon +2 more
Numerous questions remain about how solar wind directional discontinuities, for example, rotational discontinuities (RDs), affect energy and transport processes at the magnetopause. The impact on the dayside magnetosphere of a solar wind RD is studied. The study shows that the RD leads to complex structures at the magnetopause, boundary layer, man…
Undulated Shock Surface Formed After a Shock-Discontinuity Interaction
Shen, Chao; Zhou, Yufei; Ji, Yong
Shock ripples and shock-discontinuity interactions (SDIs) have long been proposed to explain the frequent occurrence of high-speed jets (HSJs) in the magnetosheath; however, there is no direct observational evidence for either of them occurring near a shock. Herein, we report a large-scale, long-duration undulated quasi-perpendicular shock surface…
Jovian Magnetospheric Injections Observed by the Hubble Space Telescope and Juno
Wilson, R. J.; Bagenal, F.; Orton, G. S. +13 more
We compare Hubble Space Telescope observations of Jupiter's FUV auroras with contemporaneous conjugate Juno in situ observations in the equatorial middle magnetosphere of Jupiter. We show that bright patches on and equatorward of the main emission are associated with hot plasma injections driven by ongoing active magnetospheric convection. During …
A Survey of Strong Electric Potential Drops in the Ionosphere of Venus
Zhang, Tielong; Futaana, Yoshifumi; Collinson, Glyn A. +6 more
Every planet or moon with an ionosphere is thought to generate a weak electrical potential which helps ions overcome gravity and escape to space. A pilot study at Venus by Collinson et al. (2016, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068327) indicated a planetary potential an order of magnitude stronger t…
Shocklets and Short Large Amplitude Magnetic Structures (SLAMS) in the High Mach Foreshock of Venus
Raptis, Savvas; Karlsson, Tomas; Plaschke, Ferdinand +16 more
Shocklets and short large-amplitude magnetic structures (SLAMS) are steepened magnetic fluctuations commonly found in Earth's upstream foreshock. Here we present Venus Express observations from the 26th of February 2009 establishing their existence in the steady-state foreshock of Venus, building on a past study which found SLAMS during a substant…
Gravity Wave Modulations at the Lower Altitudes of Venus Ionosphere
Choudhary, R. K.; Imamura, T.; Ambili, K. M. +2 more
Using measurements from radio science experiments onboard Venus Express and Akatsuki orbiter, we explore factors that control the occurrence and spatial structure of the electron density enhancement at lower altitudes (V0 layer) in the Venus ionosphere. Results suggest that the Gravity Waves (GWs) play a crucial role in determining the …
Hubble Detects the Start of a New Saturn Ring Spoke Season
Nicholson, Philip D.; Hedman, Matthew M.; Showalter, Mark R. +4 more
Saturn's ring spokes typically appear over an 8-year duration centered on equinox. Hubble Space Telescope observations in 2021 indicate the beginning of a new spoke season as Saturn approaches equinox in 2025. The spokes show increased contrast and longevity in 2022, persisting for up to 11 hours. The spokes are visible from UV to near-IR and are …
Probing the Magnetospheric Generator of Quiet Electrostatic Auroral Arcs From Ground Based Optical Observations and Magnetosphere-ionosphere Coupling Modeling
De Keyser, J.; Lamy, H.; Cessateur, G. +2 more
Observations of a quiet electrostatic auroral arc by the ALIS network on 5 March 2008 are used to infer a two-dimensional map of the flux of precipitating energy. Among a family of numerical solutions of a stationary magnetosphere—ionosphere coupling model in which the origin of the arc is a magnetospheric generator interface, we find which genera…