Ultra-Low Frequency Waves of Foreshock Origin Upstream and Inside of the Magnetospheres of Earth, Mercury, and Saturn Related to Solar Wind–Magnetosphere Coupling

This review examines ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves across different planetary environments, focusing on Earth, Mercury, and Saturn. Data from spacecraft missions (CHAMP, Swarm, and Oersted for Earth; MESSENGER for Mercury; and Cassini for Saturn) provide insights into ULF wave dynamics. At Earth,...

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Main Authors: Zsofia Bebesi, Navin Kumar Dwivedi, Arpad Kis, Antal Juhász, Balazs Heilig
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Universe
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/10/11/407
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author Zsofia Bebesi
Navin Kumar Dwivedi
Arpad Kis
Antal Juhász
Balazs Heilig
author_facet Zsofia Bebesi
Navin Kumar Dwivedi
Arpad Kis
Antal Juhász
Balazs Heilig
author_sort Zsofia Bebesi
collection DOAJ
description This review examines ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves across different planetary environments, focusing on Earth, Mercury, and Saturn. Data from spacecraft missions (CHAMP, Swarm, and Oersted for Earth; MESSENGER for Mercury; and Cassini for Saturn) provide insights into ULF wave dynamics. At Earth, compressional ULF waves, particularly Pc3 waves, show significant power near the equator and peak around Magnetic Local Time (MLT) = 11. These waves interact complexly with Alfvén waves, impacting ionospheric responses and geomagnetic field line resonances. At Mercury, ULF waves transition from circular to linear polarization, indicating resonant interactions influenced by compressional components. MESSENGER data reveal a lower occurrence rate of ULF waves in Mercury’s foreshock compared to Earth’s, attributed to reduced backstreaming protons and lower solar wind Alfvénic Mach numbers, as ULF wave activity increases with heliocentric distance. Short Large-Amplitude Magnetic Structures (SLAMS) observed at Mercury and Saturn show distinct characteristics compared to those of Earth, including the presence of whistler precursos waves. However, due to the large differences in heliospheric distances, SLAMS (their temporal scale size correlate with the ULF wave frequency) at Mercury are significantly shorter in duration than at Earth or Saturn, since the ULF wave frequency primarily depends on the strength of the interplanetary magnetic field. This review highlights the variability of ULF waves and SLAMS across planetary environments, emphasizing Earth’s well-understood ionospheric interactions and the unique behaviours observed for Mercury and Saturn. These findings enhance our understanding of space plasma dynamics and underline the need for further research regarding planetary magnetospheres.
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spelling doaj-art-24efdbf426214bbfa4b67e5b22c5a2572025-08-20T02:04:44ZengMDPI AGUniverse2218-19972024-10-01101140710.3390/universe10110407Ultra-Low Frequency Waves of Foreshock Origin Upstream and Inside of the Magnetospheres of Earth, Mercury, and Saturn Related to Solar Wind–Magnetosphere CouplingZsofia Bebesi0Navin Kumar Dwivedi1Arpad Kis2Antal Juhász3Balazs Heilig4HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics, 1121 Budapest, HungaryHUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science, 9400 Sopron, HungaryHUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science, 9400 Sopron, HungaryHUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics, 1121 Budapest, HungaryHUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science, Tihany Geophysical Observatory, 8237 Tihany, HungaryThis review examines ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves across different planetary environments, focusing on Earth, Mercury, and Saturn. Data from spacecraft missions (CHAMP, Swarm, and Oersted for Earth; MESSENGER for Mercury; and Cassini for Saturn) provide insights into ULF wave dynamics. At Earth, compressional ULF waves, particularly Pc3 waves, show significant power near the equator and peak around Magnetic Local Time (MLT) = 11. These waves interact complexly with Alfvén waves, impacting ionospheric responses and geomagnetic field line resonances. At Mercury, ULF waves transition from circular to linear polarization, indicating resonant interactions influenced by compressional components. MESSENGER data reveal a lower occurrence rate of ULF waves in Mercury’s foreshock compared to Earth’s, attributed to reduced backstreaming protons and lower solar wind Alfvénic Mach numbers, as ULF wave activity increases with heliocentric distance. Short Large-Amplitude Magnetic Structures (SLAMS) observed at Mercury and Saturn show distinct characteristics compared to those of Earth, including the presence of whistler precursos waves. However, due to the large differences in heliospheric distances, SLAMS (their temporal scale size correlate with the ULF wave frequency) at Mercury are significantly shorter in duration than at Earth or Saturn, since the ULF wave frequency primarily depends on the strength of the interplanetary magnetic field. This review highlights the variability of ULF waves and SLAMS across planetary environments, emphasizing Earth’s well-understood ionospheric interactions and the unique behaviours observed for Mercury and Saturn. These findings enhance our understanding of space plasma dynamics and underline the need for further research regarding planetary magnetospheres.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/10/11/407ULF wavesmagnetospherebow shockionospheresolar windforeshock
spellingShingle Zsofia Bebesi
Navin Kumar Dwivedi
Arpad Kis
Antal Juhász
Balazs Heilig
Ultra-Low Frequency Waves of Foreshock Origin Upstream and Inside of the Magnetospheres of Earth, Mercury, and Saturn Related to Solar Wind–Magnetosphere Coupling
Universe
ULF waves
magnetosphere
bow shock
ionosphere
solar wind
foreshock
title Ultra-Low Frequency Waves of Foreshock Origin Upstream and Inside of the Magnetospheres of Earth, Mercury, and Saturn Related to Solar Wind–Magnetosphere Coupling
title_full Ultra-Low Frequency Waves of Foreshock Origin Upstream and Inside of the Magnetospheres of Earth, Mercury, and Saturn Related to Solar Wind–Magnetosphere Coupling
title_fullStr Ultra-Low Frequency Waves of Foreshock Origin Upstream and Inside of the Magnetospheres of Earth, Mercury, and Saturn Related to Solar Wind–Magnetosphere Coupling
title_full_unstemmed Ultra-Low Frequency Waves of Foreshock Origin Upstream and Inside of the Magnetospheres of Earth, Mercury, and Saturn Related to Solar Wind–Magnetosphere Coupling
title_short Ultra-Low Frequency Waves of Foreshock Origin Upstream and Inside of the Magnetospheres of Earth, Mercury, and Saturn Related to Solar Wind–Magnetosphere Coupling
title_sort ultra low frequency waves of foreshock origin upstream and inside of the magnetospheres of earth mercury and saturn related to solar wind magnetosphere coupling
topic ULF waves
magnetosphere
bow shock
ionosphere
solar wind
foreshock
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/10/11/407
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