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Joint Analysis With Swarm and Ground Stations: Ionospheric Current System and Geomagnetically Induced Currents.

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Title: Joint Analysis With Swarm and Ground Stations: Ionospheric Current System and Geomagnetically Induced Currents.
Authors: Zhang, C. M.1 (AUTHOR), Dunlop, M. W.1,2 (AUTHOR) malcolm.dunlop@stfc.ac.uk, Yang, J. Y.1 (AUTHOR), Tan, X.1 (AUTHOR), Marghitu, O.3 (AUTHOR), Blagau, A.3 (AUTHOR), Xiong, C.4 (AUTHOR), Dong, X. C.5 (AUTHOR), Wei, D.6 (AUTHOR), Constantinescu, V.3 (AUTHOR), Kervalishvili, G.7 (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics. Feb2026, Vol. 131 Issue 2, p1-17. 17p.
Subject Terms: *Earth currents, Electric currents, Geomagnetic variations, Ionospheric plasma, Plasma flow
Abstract: Sudden changes in the ground magnetic field, driven by geomagnetic activity, can ultimately generate geomagnetically induced currents (GICs), which can have a significant impact on artificial technology systems. High rates of change in the horizontal geomagnetic field (dH/dt) can be used as a substitute for the strength of GICs. It has been suggested that GIC signals in the nightside local time sectors can indirectly be driven by field‐aligned currents (FACs) flowing into the ionosphere, which themselves can be generated during arrival of bursty bulk flows (BBFs) into the nightside transition region (through an improved substorm current wedge, SCW). We extend the analysis of the 7 January 2015 substorm by utilizing multi‐point observation techniques from ground stations and satellites. We combine the data from the magnetosphere and ionosphere with the behavior of the dH/dt component obtained from ground stations. Our results confirm that Region 1 (R1) type FACs driven by the BBF arrivals form a loop with the westward auroral electrojet currents (AEJs), an important driving factor for ground GICs. We also briefly show the role of corresponding ultra‐low frequency (ULF) waves during the event. This further explains how BBFs affect ground GICs, which will help to understand the coupling between ionospheric current systems and ground currents. Plain Language Summary: Geomagnetic induced currents (GICs) are caused by rapid disturbances in the geomagnetic field during geomagnetic activity and have a significant impact on artificial technology systems. Usually, the high rate of change in the geomagnetic field (dB/dt) can replace the strength of GICs. In Earth's magnetosphere, bursty bulk flows (BBFs) are brief, high‐speed plasma structures with ion velocities typically exceeding 150 km/s, responsible for transporting mass, energy, and magnetic flux Earthward through the magnetotail. The substorm current wedge (SCW) is a fundamental current system comprising transient, field‐aligned currents (FACs) that connect a diversion of the cross‐tail current to the auroral ionosphere, serving as the primary electrodynamic signature of a magnetospheric substorm. The strong GIC signal may be related to the FACs (as part of the SCW) driven by BBFs toward the ionosphere. We analyzed the response of the ionospheric current system using data from the Swarm A/C spacecraft and compared it with the BBF observed in the magnetotail and the dH/dt component (horizontal ground magnetic field change rate) obtained from ground stations. It is expected that these results will contribute to understanding the coupling between ionospheric current systems and ground currents. Key Points: Combined joint observation with wavelet analysis reveals the multi‐scale coupling processes of ground disturbancesIntense ground dH/dt variations are closely related to AEJs, which in turn are closely related to R1 FACs driven by BBFsJoint observation provides a comprehensive physical basis for GICs warning from the magnetotail source region to the ground response [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: Joint Analysis With Swarm and Ground Stations: Ionospheric Current System and Geomagnetically Induced Currents.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Geophysical+Research%2E+Space+Physics%22">Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 131 Issue 2, p1-17. 17p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Earth+currents%22">Earth currents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electric+currents%22">Electric currents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geomagnetic+variations%22">Geomagnetic variations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ionospheric+plasma%22">Ionospheric plasma</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Plasma+flow%22">Plasma flow</searchLink>
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  Data: Sudden changes in the ground magnetic field, driven by geomagnetic activity, can ultimately generate geomagnetically induced currents (GICs), which can have a significant impact on artificial technology systems. High rates of change in the horizontal geomagnetic field (dH/dt) can be used as a substitute for the strength of GICs. It has been suggested that GIC signals in the nightside local time sectors can indirectly be driven by field‐aligned currents (FACs) flowing into the ionosphere, which themselves can be generated during arrival of bursty bulk flows (BBFs) into the nightside transition region (through an improved substorm current wedge, SCW). We extend the analysis of the 7 January 2015 substorm by utilizing multi‐point observation techniques from ground stations and satellites. We combine the data from the magnetosphere and ionosphere with the behavior of the dH/dt component obtained from ground stations. Our results confirm that Region 1 (R1) type FACs driven by the BBF arrivals form a loop with the westward auroral electrojet currents (AEJs), an important driving factor for ground GICs. We also briefly show the role of corresponding ultra‐low frequency (ULF) waves during the event. This further explains how BBFs affect ground GICs, which will help to understand the coupling between ionospheric current systems and ground currents. Plain Language Summary: Geomagnetic induced currents (GICs) are caused by rapid disturbances in the geomagnetic field during geomagnetic activity and have a significant impact on artificial technology systems. Usually, the high rate of change in the geomagnetic field (dB/dt) can replace the strength of GICs. In Earth's magnetosphere, bursty bulk flows (BBFs) are brief, high‐speed plasma structures with ion velocities typically exceeding 150 km/s, responsible for transporting mass, energy, and magnetic flux Earthward through the magnetotail. The substorm current wedge (SCW) is a fundamental current system comprising transient, field‐aligned currents (FACs) that connect a diversion of the cross‐tail current to the auroral ionosphere, serving as the primary electrodynamic signature of a magnetospheric substorm. The strong GIC signal may be related to the FACs (as part of the SCW) driven by BBFs toward the ionosphere. We analyzed the response of the ionospheric current system using data from the Swarm A/C spacecraft and compared it with the BBF observed in the magnetotail and the dH/dt component (horizontal ground magnetic field change rate) obtained from ground stations. It is expected that these results will contribute to understanding the coupling between ionospheric current systems and ground currents. Key Points: Combined joint observation with wavelet analysis reveals the multi‐scale coupling processes of ground disturbancesIntense ground dH/dt variations are closely related to AEJs, which in turn are closely related to R1 FACs driven by BBFsJoint observation provides a comprehensive physical basis for GICs warning from the magnetotail source region to the ground response [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  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: 10.1029/2025JA034698
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Earth currents
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      – SubjectFull: Geomagnetic variations
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      – SubjectFull: Ionospheric plasma
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      – TitleFull: Joint Analysis With Swarm and Ground Stations: Ionospheric Current System and Geomagnetically Induced Currents.
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