Comprehensive evaluation of the vector magnetic field data from Macau Science Satellite-1A
In this study, we present a comprehensive evaluation of the magnetic field measurements from the Vector Field Magnetometer (VFM) aboard the recently launched Macau Science Satellite-1 (MSS-1). One-year data from November 2, 2023, to November 1, 2024, are considered. The MSS-1 flies with a low inclin...
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| Format: | Article |
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Science Press
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Earth and Planetary Physics |
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| Online Access: | http://www.eppcgs.org/article/doi/10.26464/epp2025038?pageType=en |
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| author | XinYi Rang Chao Xiong YuYang Huang ChunYu Xu FengJue Wang BoHao Qian Fan Yin SiShan Song Keke Zhang PengFei Liu |
| author_facet | XinYi Rang Chao Xiong YuYang Huang ChunYu Xu FengJue Wang BoHao Qian Fan Yin SiShan Song Keke Zhang PengFei Liu |
| author_sort | XinYi Rang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, we present a comprehensive evaluation of the magnetic field measurements from the Vector Field Magnetometer (VFM) aboard the recently launched Macau Science Satellite-1 (MSS-1). One-year data from November 2, 2023, to November 1, 2024, are considered. The MSS-1 flies with a low inclination (41°) and is designed to provide high-resolution magnetic field measurements, especially for monitoring the evolution of the South Atlantic Anomaly. Earlier studies confirmed the possibility of using MSS-1A data to model the Earth’s main magnetic field (e.g., Jiang Y et al., 2024). Therefore, in this study we focus on the magnetic signatures related to the external field, which are primarily associated with magnetospheric and ionospheric currents. The global distributions of the magnetic residuals from MSS-1A show a pattern consistent with that derived from the European Space Agency’s Swarm A satellite. A statistical survey of the conjugated observations (with Δt < 5 min and ΔR < 150 km) between the two satellites showed that the difference between their magnetic residuals is within ±3 nanoteslas. By separating the magnetic residuals at the noon and midnight hours, we see that the MSS-1A data can effectively capture features of the magnetospheric and ionospheric currents, such as the magnetospheric ring current and ionospheric equatorial electrojet. Moreover, the magnetic residuals from MSS-1A show a diamagnetic effect caused by post-sunset equatorial plasma bubbles, which also suggests that the MSS-1A data have the potential to reveal the ionospheric structures. The comprehensive evaluations performed within this study demonstrate that the MSS-1A provides high-quality magnetic field data reaching the level of the Swarm satellite, which enables a deeper understanding of the modeling of Earth’s magnetic field as well as monitoring of the magnetic environment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b74ebf377b464a7da262e2eddff37ae2 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2096-3955 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Science Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Earth and Planetary Physics |
| spelling | doaj-art-b74ebf377b464a7da262e2eddff37ae22025-08-20T02:28:47ZengScience PressEarth and Planetary Physics2096-39552025-05-019352153110.26464/epp2025038S22609-rangxinyi-xiongchao-FComprehensive evaluation of the vector magnetic field data from Macau Science Satellite-1AXinYi Rang0Chao Xiong1YuYang Huang2ChunYu Xu3FengJue Wang4BoHao Qian5Fan Yin6SiShan Song7Keke Zhang8PengFei Liu9School of Earth and Space Science and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Science and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Science and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Science and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Science and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Science and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Science and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaSchool of Earth and Space Science and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, ChinaMacau Institute of Space Technology and Application, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao 999078, ChinaMacau Institute of Space Technology and Application, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao 999078, ChinaIn this study, we present a comprehensive evaluation of the magnetic field measurements from the Vector Field Magnetometer (VFM) aboard the recently launched Macau Science Satellite-1 (MSS-1). One-year data from November 2, 2023, to November 1, 2024, are considered. The MSS-1 flies with a low inclination (41°) and is designed to provide high-resolution magnetic field measurements, especially for monitoring the evolution of the South Atlantic Anomaly. Earlier studies confirmed the possibility of using MSS-1A data to model the Earth’s main magnetic field (e.g., Jiang Y et al., 2024). Therefore, in this study we focus on the magnetic signatures related to the external field, which are primarily associated with magnetospheric and ionospheric currents. The global distributions of the magnetic residuals from MSS-1A show a pattern consistent with that derived from the European Space Agency’s Swarm A satellite. A statistical survey of the conjugated observations (with Δt < 5 min and ΔR < 150 km) between the two satellites showed that the difference between their magnetic residuals is within ±3 nanoteslas. By separating the magnetic residuals at the noon and midnight hours, we see that the MSS-1A data can effectively capture features of the magnetospheric and ionospheric currents, such as the magnetospheric ring current and ionospheric equatorial electrojet. Moreover, the magnetic residuals from MSS-1A show a diamagnetic effect caused by post-sunset equatorial plasma bubbles, which also suggests that the MSS-1A data have the potential to reveal the ionospheric structures. The comprehensive evaluations performed within this study demonstrate that the MSS-1A provides high-quality magnetic field data reaching the level of the Swarm satellite, which enables a deeper understanding of the modeling of Earth’s magnetic field as well as monitoring of the magnetic environment.http://www.eppcgs.org/article/doi/10.26464/epp2025038?pageType=enmss satellitemagnetic field residualsring currentequatorial electrojetdiamagnetic effect |
| spellingShingle | XinYi Rang Chao Xiong YuYang Huang ChunYu Xu FengJue Wang BoHao Qian Fan Yin SiShan Song Keke Zhang PengFei Liu Comprehensive evaluation of the vector magnetic field data from Macau Science Satellite-1A Earth and Planetary Physics mss satellite magnetic field residuals ring current equatorial electrojet diamagnetic effect |
| title | Comprehensive evaluation of the vector magnetic field data from Macau Science Satellite-1A |
| title_full | Comprehensive evaluation of the vector magnetic field data from Macau Science Satellite-1A |
| title_fullStr | Comprehensive evaluation of the vector magnetic field data from Macau Science Satellite-1A |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comprehensive evaluation of the vector magnetic field data from Macau Science Satellite-1A |
| title_short | Comprehensive evaluation of the vector magnetic field data from Macau Science Satellite-1A |
| title_sort | comprehensive evaluation of the vector magnetic field data from macau science satellite 1a |
| topic | mss satellite magnetic field residuals ring current equatorial electrojet diamagnetic effect |
| url | http://www.eppcgs.org/article/doi/10.26464/epp2025038?pageType=en |
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