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Dayside Auroral Observation Resulting From a Rapid Localized Compression of the Earth's Magnetic Field
Author(s) -
Briggs Jennifer K.,
Fasel Gerard J.,
Silveira Marcos,
Sibeck David G.,
Lin Yu,
Sigernes Fred
Publication year - 2020
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 - 10.1029/2020gl088995
Subject(s) - magnetosheath , magnetopause , geophysics , bow shock (aerodynamics) , spacecraft , physics , solar wind , compression (physics) , magnetosphere , earth's magnetic field , geology , magnetic field , astronomy , shock wave , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
This paper presents observations of dayside auroral signatures resulting from a massive localized compression of the magnetopause, magnetosheath, and bow shock. On 10 December 2016, the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) spacecraft observed a compression of the entire magnetosheath and bow shock, which moved past the spacecraft in 1 min and 45 s. Shortly afterward, the resulting auroral signature was observed at the Kjell Henriksen Observatory located in Longyearbyen, Norway. The characteristics of this unique event have major ramifications for understanding dayside magnetospheric physics.