Near-Simultaneous Observations from Multiple DMSP Satellites: A New Direction in Probing the Magnetosphere

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Abstract

This project will utilize near simultaneous passes of two (or more) satellites from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) to investigate (1) the spatial and temporal structure of large scale electron acceleration (LSEA) events (also referred to as "inverted-V events" and (2) the phenomenon known as a "double cusp." Fortuitous conjunctions of the DMSP satellites occasionally bring the satellites within 50 km of one another in the auroral zone. The particle precipitation measurements from the satellites can be used to identify LSEA events and the differences observed between the satellites can be used to study the evolution of the LSEA event. Statistical analysis of many such events will make it possible to separate spatial structure from temporal evolution. Instances of multiple DMSP passes through the dayside auroral oval will be used to compare the particle precipitation characteristics on opposite sides of noon. High latitude magnetic merging takes place on the opposite sides of noon in the northern and southern hemisphere when the interplanetary magnetic field is dominated by the east-west component. It has been suggested that the particle precipitation features originating from opposite hemispheres should have particular signatures. This project will determine what those particular signatures are and will elucidate the nature of the double cusp.