A Profile of the Variability of the Geosynchronous Magnetic Field Strength and Its Response to the Solar Wind

地球同步磁场强度变化概况及其对太阳风的响应

• 批准号: 0350502
• 负责人: Jeff Sanny
• 金额: $ 12万
• 依托单位: Loyola Marymount University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-06-01 至 2007-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0350502&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Profile; Variability; Geosynchronous; Magnetic; Field

Understanding the response of Earth's magnetosphere to variations in solar wind parameters is one of the most important and fundamental problems in space physics. Within the magnetosphere, the location of the geosynchronous orbit is such that its magnetic field and plasma properties are responsive not only to solar wind-magnetosphere interactions at the magnetopause, but also to changes in the inner magnetosphere and the nightside plasmasheet. Fluctuations in the geosynchronous field associated with magnetic storms, Ultra-Low Frequency (ULF) magnetic pulsations, and transient events are just three important examples of how the geosynchronous field can act as a monitor of the effect of the solar wind. This project will focus on the variability of the geosynchronous magnetic field in response to the different types of ULF pulsations. The response will be examined as a function of magnetic local time (MLT) for different geomagnetic conditions. For each passband, the dependence of the variations in magnetic field on IMF orientation and solar wind properties such as proton number density, flow speed, dynamic pressure, and dynamic pressure fluctuations will be investigated. The resultant database of this survey and the statistical relationships among the different parameters will provide a better understanding of how the solar wind influences the magnetosphere. The project includes a tight integration of research and undergraduate education. Undergraduates at Loyola Marymount University will be provided the opportunity to participate actively in the research program, thus enriching their educational experience and providing them with greater preparation for their professional careers. The Loyola Marymount student population is very diverse with about 49% being non-white and 58% female. Educational materials based on this research will also be developed for classroom use. The study will be performed with collaborators at large research institutions, resulting in a partnership that will reinforce the excitement of space physics research among the Loyola Marymount student scientists.

了解地球磁层对太阳风参数变化的响应是空间物理学中最重要和最基本的问题之一。在磁层内，地球同步轨道的位置使得其磁场和等离子体特性不仅对磁层顶的太阳风-磁层相互作用有响应，而且对内磁层和夜侧等离子体层的变化也有响应。地球同步场的波动与磁暴、超低频率（ULF）磁脉动和瞬变事件有关，这只是地球同步场如何监测太阳风影响的三个重要例子。该项目将重点研究地球同步磁场对不同类型超低频脉冲的响应变化。在不同的地磁条件下，将检验响应作为磁地方时（MLT）的函数。对于每个通带，将研究磁场变化对IMF方向和太阳风性质（如质子数密度、流速、动压和动压波动）的依赖关系。这次调查的结果数据库和不同参数之间的统计关系将更好地理解太阳风如何影响磁层。该项目包括研究和本科教育的紧密结合。洛约拉玛丽蒙特大学的本科生将有机会积极参与研究项目，从而丰富他们的教育经验，为他们的职业生涯提供更大的准备。洛约拉玛丽蒙特大学的学生群体非常多样化，大约49%的学生是非白人，58%的学生是女性。以这项研究为基础的教育材料也将开发出来供课堂使用。这项研究将与大型研究机构的合作者一起进行，从而形成一种伙伴关系，这将加强Loyola Marymount学生科学家对空间物理研究的兴奋。