ICESTAR to Convene Session at 2009 Fall AGU
Sponsor: SPA - Magnetospheric Physics
Measurements of high-latitude electromagnetic fields, currents, and auroras in the conjugate hemispheres have revealed latitudinal, longitudinal and hemispheric asymmetries. Such global-scale MI coupling effects should be predicted by global models, yet many fundamental questions remain. For example, can asymmetries in auroral intensity and morphology be accounted for by tilt angle and IMF influence on the magnetosphere? Or is the energy input from the solar wind to the magnetosphere different in the two hemispheres? What is the role of seasonal conductivity differences and inter-hemispherical currents? Conjugate imaging from space, measurements from ground-based facilities and statistical studies are used to address these questions. In addition to final results we will be interested to hear discussion about the remaining outstanding questions and suggestions on how they could be solved with the massive data sets which we now have in our hands.
Nikolai Ostgaard
Dept. of Physics and Technology, University of Bergen
Allegt 55
Bergen, NOR
+47 5558 2794
Nikolai.Ostgaard@uib.no
Natsuo Sato
National Institute of Polar Research 10-3
Midoricho, Tachikawa-shi
Tokyo, JPN
+81-42-512-0602
nsato@nipr.ac.jp
Allan T Weatherwax
Siena College, USA
515 Loudon Road
Loudonville, NY, USA
518.786.5089
aweatherwax@siena.edu
Kirsti Kauristie
Finnish Meteorological Institute
P.O.B. 503
Helsinki, FIN
+358-9-1929 4637
Kirsti.Kauristie@fmi.fi
Featured Papers
- Asymmetric auroral intensities in the Earth's Northern and Southern hemispheres by K.M. Laundal and N. Østgaard
It is commonly assumed that the aurora borealis (Northern Hemisphere) and aurora australis (Southern Hemisphere) are mirror images of each other because the charged particles causing the aurora follow the magnetic field lines connecting the two hemispheres. The particles are believed to be evenly distributed between the two hemispheres, from the source region in the equatorial plane of the magnetosphere. Although it has been shown that similar auroral features in the opposite hemispheres can be displaced tens of degree in longitudeand that seasonal effects can cause differences in global intensity, the overall auroral patterns were still similar. Here we report observations that clearly contradict the common assumption about symmetric aurora: intense spots are seen at dawn in the Northern summer Hemisphere, and at dusk in the Southern winter Hemisphere. The asymmetry is interpreted in terms of inter-hemispheric currents related to seasons, which have been predicted but hitherto had not been seen.
Nature 460, 491-493 (23 July 2009)
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PENGUIn multi-instrument observations of dayside high-latitude injections during the 23 March 2007 substorm, J. Geophys. Res., 114, A00C11, doi:10.1029/2008JA013507.
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Coordinated observation of the dayside magnetospheric entry and exit of the THEMIS satellites with ground-based auroral imaging in Antarctica, J. Geophys. Res., 114, A00C23, doi:10.1029/2008JA013496.
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ICESTAR program in Japan during IPY2007-2008
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Planetary Waves, Ozone Distribution And Tropopause Height Asymmetries In Connection To Antarctic Peninsula Warming
ICESTAR is co-sponsoring and/or providing support for the following international meetings in 2008
Polar Gateways Arctic Circle Sunrise 2008
- Location/Date: Barrow, Alaska, January 23-29, 2008
- Conference Website: polargateways2008.gsfc.nasa.gov
IPY Cluster63 Meeting, Bergen Norway
- March 2008
- Conference Website: http://www.ipy-id63.org
Internatinal Riometer Workshop III
- Sunday, June 22, 2008
- Zermatt Resort & Spa - Utah
Space Weather School
Solar Terrestrial Physics from the Polar Regions
L’Aquila, Italy, April 6 -11, 2009
Visit http://www.cifs-isss.org for further details.
Recent ICESTAR Science Results
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Pc1-Pc2 waves and energetic particle precipitation during and after magnetic storms: Superposed epoch analysis and case studies
- Quasi-stationary auroral patches observed at the South Pole Station
- Narrow-band extremely low frequency (ELF) wave phenomena observed at South Pole Station
- Further study of flickering auroral roar emission: 1. South Pole observations
- Further study of flickering auroral roar emission: 2. Theory and numerical calculations
One of the core projects of the fourth International Polar Year programme, this project will be run by a federation of 29 international research groups from which the ICESTAR and IHY communities will carry the management responsibilities and will serve as the contact point towards the IPY Project Office.