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First medium energy neutral atom (MENA) Images of Earth's magnetosphere during substorm and storm‐time
Author(s) -
Pollock C. J.,
Asamura K.,
Balkey M. M.,
Burch J. L.,
Funsten H. O.,
Grande M.,
Gruntman M.,
Henderson M.,
Jahn J.M.,
Lampton M.,
Liemohn M. W.,
McComas D. J.,
Mukai T.,
Ritzau S.,
Schattenburg M. L.,
Scime E.,
Skoug R.,
Valek P.,
Wüest M.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl012641
Subject(s) - ring current , substorm , magnetosphere , geomagnetic storm , storm , energetic neutral atom , physics , geophysics , magnetopause , asymmetry , phase (matter) , geology , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , solar wind , plasma , nuclear physics , quantum mechanics
Initial ENA images obtained with the MENA imager on the IMAGE observatory show that ENAs emanating from Earth’s magnetosphere at least crudely track both Dst and Kp . Images obtained during the storm of August 12, 2000, clearly show strong ring current asymmetry during storm main phase and early recovery phase, and a high degree of symmetry during the late recovery phase. Thus, these images establish the existence of both partial and complete ring currents during the same storm. Further, they suggest that ring current loss through the day side magnetopause dominates other loss processes during storm main phase and early recovery phase.