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Unusual Multiple Excitation of Large‐Scale Gravity Waves by Successive Stream Interactions: The Role of Alfvénic Fluctuations
Author(s) -
Guo Jianpeng,
Wang Zehao,
Zheng Jianchuan,
Cui Jun,
Wei Yong,
Wan Weixing
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1029/2019ja026655
Subject(s) - physics , electrojet , gravity wave , solar wind , geophysics , excitation , gravitational wave , magnetosphere , scale (ratio) , computational physics , magnetic field , astrophysics , earth's magnetic field , quantum mechanics
Instances of multiple excitation of large‐scale gravity waves in the auroral region by solar wind Alfvénic fluctuations are rare. In this paper we report an unusual instance, in which sequential large‐scale gravity waves launched from northern and southern auroral regions are clearly linked to intermittent southward magnetic fields of Alfvénic fluctuations embedded in three successive stream interaction regions. The continuous gravity wave activity persists for ∼7 days, the longest duration currently tracked. The Alfvénic fluctuations are mainly dominated by Alfvén and slow waves, which might play a role in the solar wind‐magnetosphere interaction, leading to impulsive auroral electrojet activity and in turn exciting the sequential gravity waves.