Electromagnetic Pulse in the Magnetosphere Generated by Impulsive Current near the Lower Boundary of the Ionosphere

Authors: Surkov V.V.¹; Galperin Y.I.²

Source: Cosmic Research, Volume 38, Number 6, 12 November 2000 , pp. 562-573(12)

Publisher: MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica

Abstract:

A solution to the problem of current spreading is constructed in the case of relaxation of electric charges, which have arisen in the mesosphere for one reason or other. These currents penetrate into the conductive region with anisotropic conductivity of the D- and E-layers of the ionosphere, being transformed to a MHD-wave that propagates into the magnetosphere. Based on this solution, the form and spectrum of the generated MHD signal are calculated for Alfvenic and magnetosonic modes coming out to the ionosphere and magnetosphere. Electric charges and currents can arise, for example, in the space between a thunderstorm cloud and the ionosphere, or between the shock wave from a ground explosion and the ionosphere. Some signal parameters accepted in the model are close to those expected for high-altitude electric discharges of the Red Sprite type. The conditions are determined under which the Alfven impulse with an amplitude of up to 100 nT propagates in the magnetosphere above high-altitude discharge of this type. Such an impulse was recorded by the AUREOL-3 satellite after the ground explosion MASSA-1. Recently, this impulse was hypothesized to originate as a result of a high-altitude electric discharge. The hypothesis on a similar MHD pulse allows one to explain in a semiquantitative way the short burst of electron field-aligned acceleration observed by the DE-2 satellite over the Debbie hurricane. The high-altitude atmospheric discharge of this type can be a powerful, though short-time and local, source of electrons with kiloelectronvolt energies at low and middle latitudes. One could expect that such an effect causes a modified character of the so-called Trimpi-effect (a short-term disturbance of propagation of VLF waves in the ionosphere), and thus, it can be observable.

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (Technical University), Kashirskoe sh. 31, Moscow, 115409 Russia 2: Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Profsoyuznaya ul. 84/32, Moscow, 117810 Russia

Publication date: 2000-11-12

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Geophysics & Geomagnetism ,  Transportation ,  Astronomy
• By this author: Surkov V.V. ;  Galperin Y.I.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers