Embedded Regions 1 and 2 Field-Aligned Currents: Newly Recognized From Low-Altitude Spacecraft Observations.

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Title: Embedded Regions 1 and 2 Field-Aligned Currents: Newly Recognized From Low-Altitude Spacecraft Observations.
Authors: Jiang Liu1,2 jliu@igpp.ucla.edu, Lyons, L. R.2, Chih-Ping Wang2, Yuzhang Ma3, Strangeway, R. J.1, Yongliang Zhang4, Kivelson, M.1, Ying Zou5, Khurana, K.1
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics. Jun2021, Vol. 126 Issue 6, p1-15. 15p.
Subject Terms: *Ionosphere, *Convection (Meteorology), *Geomagnetism, Magnetosphere, Electron precipitation
Abstract: Regions 1 and 2 (R1 and R2) field-aligned currents (FACs), manifestations of large-scale convection in Earth's magnetosphere-ionosphere (M-I) system, often contain intense FAC layers of mesoscale latitudinal width near the R1/R2 interface. We refer to such layers as "embedded" R1 and R2 FACs. Likely resulting from enhanced magnetosphere-ionosphere (M-I) convection, these FACs may indicate M-I configuration change and contribute significantly to substorm current wedges. We present several events in which embedded FACs were observed by low-altitude spacecraft in the ionosphere. All the events occurred during active geomagnetic conditions or a substorm growth phase, and most map to an equatorial location on the nightside. When an embedded FAC is upward, it coincides with inverted-V electron precipitation and a discrete auroral arc. If an upward embedded FAC is in the postmidnight-to-dawn sector, a dawnside auroral polarization stream appears immediately poleward of it, so it may be important for ionospheric heating, M-I convection, and instabilities. Our results establish embedded FACs as a frequently appearing, fundamental phenomenon for understanding and modeling the magnetosphere-ionosphere system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Embedded Regions 1 and 2 Field-Aligned Currents: Newly Recognized From Low-Altitude Spacecraft Observations.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jiang+Liu%22">Jiang Liu</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo><i> jliu@igpp.ucla.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lyons%2C+L%2E+R%2E%22">Lyons, L. R.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chih-Ping+Wang%22">Chih-Ping Wang</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yuzhang+Ma%22">Yuzhang Ma</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Strangeway%2C+R%2E+J%2E%22">Strangeway, R. J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yongliang+Zhang%22">Yongliang Zhang</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kivelson%2C+M%2E%22">Kivelson, M.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ying+Zou%22">Ying Zou</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Khurana%2C+K%2E%22">Khurana, K.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Space+Physics%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics</searchLink>. Jun2021, Vol. 126 Issue 6, p1-15. 15p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ionosphere%22">Ionosphere</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Convection+%28Meteorology%29%22">Convection (Meteorology)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geomagnetism%22">Geomagnetism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Magnetosphere%22">Magnetosphere</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electron+precipitation%22">Electron precipitation</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Regions 1 and 2 (R1 and R2) field-aligned currents (FACs), manifestations of large-scale convection in Earth's magnetosphere-ionosphere (M-I) system, often contain intense FAC layers of mesoscale latitudinal width near the R1/R2 interface. We refer to such layers as "embedded" R1 and R2 FACs. Likely resulting from enhanced magnetosphere-ionosphere (M-I) convection, these FACs may indicate M-I configuration change and contribute significantly to substorm current wedges. We present several events in which embedded FACs were observed by low-altitude spacecraft in the ionosphere. All the events occurred during active geomagnetic conditions or a substorm growth phase, and most map to an equatorial location on the nightside. When an embedded FAC is upward, it coincides with inverted-V electron precipitation and a discrete auroral arc. If an upward embedded FAC is in the postmidnight-to-dawn sector, a dawnside auroral polarization stream appears immediately poleward of it, so it may be important for ionospheric heating, M-I convection, and instabilities. Our results establish embedded FACs as a frequently appearing, fundamental phenomenon for understanding and modeling the magnetosphere-ionosphere system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1029/2021JA029207
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 15
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Ionosphere
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Convection (Meteorology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Geomagnetism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Magnetosphere
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electron precipitation
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Embedded Regions 1 and 2 Field-Aligned Currents: Newly Recognized From Low-Altitude Spacecraft Observations.
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2021
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              Y: 2021
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