Observations of three-dimensional ionospheric plasma properties in a space hurricane

The space hurricane is a newly discovered large-scale three-dimensional magnetic vortex structure that spans the polar ionosphere and magnetosphere. It has been suggested to open a fast energy transport channel for the solar wind to invade Earth’s magnetosphere under northward interplanetary magneti...

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Main Authors: Sheng Lu, Zan-Yang Xing, Qing-He Zhang, Yongliang Zhang, Kjellmar Oksavik, L. R. Lyons, Michael Lockwood, Yu-Zhang Ma, Xiang-Yu Wang, N. Balan, Hui-Gen Yang, Yong Wang, Zhong-Xin Deng, Tong Xu, Shu-Ji Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2024.1507824/full
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author Sheng Lu
Zan-Yang Xing
Qing-He Zhang
Qing-He Zhang
Yongliang Zhang
Kjellmar Oksavik
Kjellmar Oksavik
L. R. Lyons
Michael Lockwood
Yu-Zhang Ma
Xiang-Yu Wang
N. Balan
Hui-Gen Yang
Hui-Gen Yang
Yong Wang
Zhong-Xin Deng
Tong Xu
Shu-Ji Sun
author_facet Sheng Lu
Zan-Yang Xing
Qing-He Zhang
Qing-He Zhang
Yongliang Zhang
Kjellmar Oksavik
Kjellmar Oksavik
L. R. Lyons
Michael Lockwood
Yu-Zhang Ma
Xiang-Yu Wang
N. Balan
Hui-Gen Yang
Hui-Gen Yang
Yong Wang
Zhong-Xin Deng
Tong Xu
Shu-Ji Sun
author_sort Sheng Lu
collection DOAJ
description The space hurricane is a newly discovered large-scale three-dimensional magnetic vortex structure that spans the polar ionosphere and magnetosphere. It has been suggested to open a fast energy transport channel for the solar wind to invade Earth’s magnetosphere under northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions. It is, therefore, an important phenomenon to understand the solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling process under northward IMF conditions. In this study, we report the three-dimensional ionospheric plasma properties of a space hurricane event in the Northern Hemisphere observed by multiple instruments. Based on the convection velocity observations from ground-based radars and polar satellites, we confirm that the major modulation to the polar cap convection called a space hurricane rotates clockwise at the altitude of the ionosphere. Ground-based incoherent scatter radar and polar satellite observations reveal four features associated with the space hurricane: 1) strong plasma flow shears and being embedded in a clockwise lobe convection cell; 2) a major addition to the total energy deposition in the ionosphere–thermosphere system by Joule heating; 3) downward ionospheric electron transport; and 4) multiple ion-temperature enhancements in the sunward velocity region, likely from the spiral arms of the space hurricane. These results present, first, the impact of space hurricane on the low-altitude ionosphere and provide additional insights on the magnetospheric impact on structuring in the polar ionosphere.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-c5d7cbd9b6ea41fba73c0768a8b319632025-08-20T02:52:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences2296-987X2024-12-011110.3389/fspas.2024.15078241507824Observations of three-dimensional ionospheric plasma properties in a space hurricaneSheng Lu0Zan-Yang Xing1Qing-He Zhang2Qing-He Zhang3Yongliang Zhang4Kjellmar Oksavik5Kjellmar Oksavik6L. R. Lyons7Michael Lockwood8Yu-Zhang Ma9Xiang-Yu Wang10N. Balan11Hui-Gen Yang12Hui-Gen Yang13Yong Wang14Zhong-Xin Deng15Tong Xu16Shu-Ji Sun17Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Space Weather, Center for Space Science and Applied Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaApplied Physics Laboratory, The Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, MD, United StatesDepartment of Physics and Technology, University of Bergen, Bergen, NorwayArctic Geophysics, University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, NorwayDepartment of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesDepartment of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading, United KingdomShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, ChinaPolar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai, ChinaChina Research Institute of Radiowave Propagation, Qingdao, ChinaChina Research Institute of Radiowave Propagation, Qingdao, ChinaChina Research Institute of Radiowave Propagation, Qingdao, ChinaThe space hurricane is a newly discovered large-scale three-dimensional magnetic vortex structure that spans the polar ionosphere and magnetosphere. It has been suggested to open a fast energy transport channel for the solar wind to invade Earth’s magnetosphere under northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions. It is, therefore, an important phenomenon to understand the solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling process under northward IMF conditions. In this study, we report the three-dimensional ionospheric plasma properties of a space hurricane event in the Northern Hemisphere observed by multiple instruments. Based on the convection velocity observations from ground-based radars and polar satellites, we confirm that the major modulation to the polar cap convection called a space hurricane rotates clockwise at the altitude of the ionosphere. Ground-based incoherent scatter radar and polar satellite observations reveal four features associated with the space hurricane: 1) strong plasma flow shears and being embedded in a clockwise lobe convection cell; 2) a major addition to the total energy deposition in the ionosphere–thermosphere system by Joule heating; 3) downward ionospheric electron transport; and 4) multiple ion-temperature enhancements in the sunward velocity region, likely from the spiral arms of the space hurricane. These results present, first, the impact of space hurricane on the low-altitude ionosphere and provide additional insights on the magnetospheric impact on structuring in the polar ionosphere.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2024.1507824/fullspace hurricanepolar ionospherepolar cap auroraparticle precipitationhigh-latitude lobe reconnection
spellingShingle Sheng Lu
Zan-Yang Xing
Qing-He Zhang
Qing-He Zhang
Yongliang Zhang
Kjellmar Oksavik
Kjellmar Oksavik
L. R. Lyons
Michael Lockwood
Yu-Zhang Ma
Xiang-Yu Wang
N. Balan
Hui-Gen Yang
Hui-Gen Yang
Yong Wang
Zhong-Xin Deng
Tong Xu
Shu-Ji Sun
Observations of three-dimensional ionospheric plasma properties in a space hurricane
Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
space hurricane
polar ionosphere
polar cap aurora
particle precipitation
high-latitude lobe reconnection
title Observations of three-dimensional ionospheric plasma properties in a space hurricane
title_full Observations of three-dimensional ionospheric plasma properties in a space hurricane
title_fullStr Observations of three-dimensional ionospheric plasma properties in a space hurricane
title_full_unstemmed Observations of three-dimensional ionospheric plasma properties in a space hurricane
title_short Observations of three-dimensional ionospheric plasma properties in a space hurricane
title_sort observations of three dimensional ionospheric plasma properties in a space hurricane
topic space hurricane
polar ionosphere
polar cap aurora
particle precipitation
high-latitude lobe reconnection
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2024.1507824/full
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