View in EDS

Multiscale Observation of Magnetotail Reconnection Onset: 1. Macroscopic Dynamics.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Multiscale Observation of Magnetotail Reconnection Onset: 1. Macroscopic Dynamics.
Authors: Genestreti, Kevin J.1 (AUTHOR) kevin.genestreti@swri.org, Farrugia, Charles J.2 (AUTHOR), Lu, San3,4 (AUTHOR), Vines, Sarah K.5 (AUTHOR), Reiff, Patricia H.6 (AUTHOR), Phan, Tai7 (AUTHOR), Baker, Daniel N.8 (AUTHOR), Leonard, Trevor W.8,9 (AUTHOR), Burch, James L.10 (AUTHOR), Bingham, Samuel T.5 (AUTHOR), Cohen, Ian J.5 (AUTHOR), Shuster, Jason R.11,12 (AUTHOR), Gershman, Daniel J.11 (AUTHOR), Mouikis, Christopher G.2 (AUTHOR), Rogers, Anthony J.2 (AUTHOR), Torbert, Roy B.1,2 (AUTHOR), Trattner, Karlheinz J.8 (AUTHOR), Webster, James M.6,10 (AUTHOR), Chen, Li‐Jen11 (AUTHOR), Giles, Barbara L.11 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics. Nov2023, Vol. 128 Issue 11, p1-15. 15p.
Subject Terms: Current sheets, Wind pressure, Solar wind, Meteorological satellites, Solar system
Abstract: We analyze a magnetotail reconnection onset event on 3 July 2017 that was observed under otherwise quiescent magnetospheric conditions by a fortuitous conjunction of six space and ground‐based observatories. The study investigates the large‐scale coupling of the solar wind–magnetosphere system that precipitated the onset of the magnetotail reconnection, focusing on the processes that thinned and stretched the cross‐tail current layer in the absence of significant flux loading during a 2‐hr‐long preconditioning phase. It is demonstrated with data in the (a) upstream solar wind, (b) at the low‐latitude magnetopause, (c) in the high‐latitude polar cap, and (d) in the magnetotail that the typical picture of solar wind‐driven current sheet thinning via flux loading does not appear relevant for this particular event. We find that the current sheet thinning was, instead, initiated by a transient solar wind pressure pulse and that the current sheet thinning continued even as the magnetotail and solar wind pressures decreased. We suggest that field line curvature‐induced scattering (observed by magnetospheric multiscale) and precipitation (observed by Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) of high‐energy thermal protons may have evacuated plasma sheet thermal energy, which may require a thinning of the plasma sheet to preserve pressure equilibrium with the solar wind. Key Points: Magnetotail reconnection onset was observed during a fortuitous multiscale conjunction of the heliophysics observatoriesA transient solar wind pressure pulse triggered thinning and stretching of the cross‐tail current sheet without significant flux loadingA second solar wind pressure pulse caused the thinned current sheet to rapidly collapse and reconnect [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.)
Database: GreenFILE
Description
Abstract:We analyze a magnetotail reconnection onset event on 3 July 2017 that was observed under otherwise quiescent magnetospheric conditions by a fortuitous conjunction of six space and ground‐based observatories. The study investigates the large‐scale coupling of the solar wind–magnetosphere system that precipitated the onset of the magnetotail reconnection, focusing on the processes that thinned and stretched the cross‐tail current layer in the absence of significant flux loading during a 2‐hr‐long preconditioning phase. It is demonstrated with data in the (a) upstream solar wind, (b) at the low‐latitude magnetopause, (c) in the high‐latitude polar cap, and (d) in the magnetotail that the typical picture of solar wind‐driven current sheet thinning via flux loading does not appear relevant for this particular event. We find that the current sheet thinning was, instead, initiated by a transient solar wind pressure pulse and that the current sheet thinning continued even as the magnetotail and solar wind pressures decreased. We suggest that field line curvature‐induced scattering (observed by magnetospheric multiscale) and precipitation (observed by Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) of high‐energy thermal protons may have evacuated plasma sheet thermal energy, which may require a thinning of the plasma sheet to preserve pressure equilibrium with the solar wind. Key Points: Magnetotail reconnection onset was observed during a fortuitous multiscale conjunction of the heliophysics observatoriesA transient solar wind pressure pulse triggered thinning and stretching of the cross‐tail current sheet without significant flux loadingA second solar wind pressure pulse caused the thinned current sheet to rapidly collapse and reconnect [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:21699380
DOI:10.1029/2023JA031758