Impact of small- and meso-scale electromagnetic field variability on the high-latitude energy input

In this study, the high-resolution data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites are used to investigate the contribution and impact of small- and meso-scale electromagnetic field variability with different scales on the estimation of Joule heating and Poynting flux. Smoot...

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Main Authors: Jinlong Ji, Yanshi Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Physics
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2025.1569257/full
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author Jinlong Ji
Jinlong Ji
Yanshi Huang
author_facet Jinlong Ji
Jinlong Ji
Yanshi Huang
author_sort Jinlong Ji
collection DOAJ
description In this study, the high-resolution data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites are used to investigate the contribution and impact of small- and meso-scale electromagnetic field variability with different scales on the estimation of Joule heating and Poynting flux. Smoothing windows with various sizes, such as 5°, 2.5°, 1° magnetic latitude, are used to analyze the characteristics of electromagnetic field variability during the March 2015 geomagnetic storm event. The results show that the small- and meso-scale filed variability can either increase or decrease the estimation of the total Joule heating and Poynting flux during the storm main phase by more than 100% with a smoothing window size of 5° latitude. During the whole period of this storm event, the electric field variability with scales smaller than 5° latitude accounts for 47% of the total electric field on average, whereas the magnetic field variability with scales smaller than 5° latitude only takes 10% of the total magnetic field. Moreover, the mean magnitude changes of Joule heating and Poynting flux due to small- and meso-scale electromagnetic field variability are 58% and 52%, respectively. The impact of small- and meso-scale field variabilities on the energy estimation decreases when smaller smoothing windows are applied, for example, with a size of 0.1° latitude window, the mean magnitude changes of Joule heating and Poynting flux are 20% and 17%, respectively. This demonstrates that finer grids can capture more contribution of small- and meso-scale variabilities in the calculation of Joule heating and Poynting flux. It is very important to use high-resolution grids to calculate the total energy input at high latitudes during storm events. These results will help improve the estimation of high-latitude energy input in the general circulation models, thereby more accurately predict the changes in upper atmospheric parameters.
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spelling doaj-art-4824896c110145e38c6fa9e87dd3c8d32025-08-20T02:19:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physics2296-424X2025-04-011310.3389/fphy.2025.15692571569257Impact of small- and meso-scale electromagnetic field variability on the high-latitude energy inputJinlong Ji0Jinlong Ji1Yanshi Huang2Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Numerical Prediction for Space Storm, School of Aerospace, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaKey Laboratory of Geospace Environment, University of Science and Technology of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS), Hefei, ChinaShenzhen Key Laboratory of Numerical Prediction for Space Storm, School of Aerospace, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, ChinaIn this study, the high-resolution data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites are used to investigate the contribution and impact of small- and meso-scale electromagnetic field variability with different scales on the estimation of Joule heating and Poynting flux. Smoothing windows with various sizes, such as 5°, 2.5°, 1° magnetic latitude, are used to analyze the characteristics of electromagnetic field variability during the March 2015 geomagnetic storm event. The results show that the small- and meso-scale filed variability can either increase or decrease the estimation of the total Joule heating and Poynting flux during the storm main phase by more than 100% with a smoothing window size of 5° latitude. During the whole period of this storm event, the electric field variability with scales smaller than 5° latitude accounts for 47% of the total electric field on average, whereas the magnetic field variability with scales smaller than 5° latitude only takes 10% of the total magnetic field. Moreover, the mean magnitude changes of Joule heating and Poynting flux due to small- and meso-scale electromagnetic field variability are 58% and 52%, respectively. The impact of small- and meso-scale field variabilities on the energy estimation decreases when smaller smoothing windows are applied, for example, with a size of 0.1° latitude window, the mean magnitude changes of Joule heating and Poynting flux are 20% and 17%, respectively. This demonstrates that finer grids can capture more contribution of small- and meso-scale variabilities in the calculation of Joule heating and Poynting flux. It is very important to use high-resolution grids to calculate the total energy input at high latitudes during storm events. These results will help improve the estimation of high-latitude energy input in the general circulation models, thereby more accurately predict the changes in upper atmospheric parameters.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2025.1569257/fullsmall-and meso-scaleelectric and magnetic field variabilityJoule heatingpoynting fluxionosphere
spellingShingle Jinlong Ji
Jinlong Ji
Yanshi Huang
Impact of small- and meso-scale electromagnetic field variability on the high-latitude energy input
Frontiers in Physics
small-and meso-scale
electric and magnetic field variability
Joule heating
poynting flux
ionosphere
title Impact of small- and meso-scale electromagnetic field variability on the high-latitude energy input
title_full Impact of small- and meso-scale electromagnetic field variability on the high-latitude energy input
title_fullStr Impact of small- and meso-scale electromagnetic field variability on the high-latitude energy input
title_full_unstemmed Impact of small- and meso-scale electromagnetic field variability on the high-latitude energy input
title_short Impact of small- and meso-scale electromagnetic field variability on the high-latitude energy input
title_sort impact of small and meso scale electromagnetic field variability on the high latitude energy input
topic small-and meso-scale
electric and magnetic field variability
Joule heating
poynting flux
ionosphere
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphy.2025.1569257/full
work_keys_str_mv AT jinlongji impactofsmallandmesoscaleelectromagneticfieldvariabilityonthehighlatitudeenergyinput
AT jinlongji impactofsmallandmesoscaleelectromagneticfieldvariabilityonthehighlatitudeenergyinput
AT yanshihuang impactofsmallandmesoscaleelectromagneticfieldvariabilityonthehighlatitudeenergyinput