Statistical analysis of overlapping double ion energy dispersion events in the northern cusp

D. E. da Silva; D. E. da Silva; D. E. da Silva; L. J. Chen; S. A. Fuselier; S. A. Fuselier; S. M. Petrinec; K. J. Trattner; G. Cucho-Padin; G. Cucho-Padin; H. K. Connor; B. L. Burkholder; B. L. Burkholder; A. J. Huntenburg

doi:10.3389/fspas.2023.1228475

Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences (Jan 2024)

Statistical analysis of overlapping double ion energy dispersion events in the northern cusp

D. E. da Silva,
D. E. da Silva,
D. E. da Silva,
L. J. Chen,
S. A. Fuselier,
S. A. Fuselier,
S. M. Petrinec,
K. J. Trattner,
G. Cucho-Padin,
G. Cucho-Padin,
H. K. Connor,
B. L. Burkholder,
B. L. Burkholder,
A. J. Huntenburg

Affiliations

D. E. da Silva: Heliophysics Sciences Division, NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, Greenbelt, MD, United States
D. E. da Silva: Goddard Planetary Heliophysics Institute, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
D. E. da Silva: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
L. J. Chen: Heliophysics Sciences Division, NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, Greenbelt, MD, United States
S. A. Fuselier: Space Science and Engineering Department, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, United States
S. A. Fuselier: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
S. M. Petrinec: Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center, Palo Alto, CA, United States
K. J. Trattner: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
G. Cucho-Padin: Heliophysics Sciences Division, NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, Greenbelt, MD, United States
G. Cucho-Padin: Department of Physics, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, United States
H. K. Connor: Heliophysics Sciences Division, NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, Greenbelt, MD, United States
B. L. Burkholder: Heliophysics Sciences Division, NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, Greenbelt, MD, United States
B. L. Burkholder: Goddard Planetary Heliophysics Institute, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States
A. J. Huntenburg: University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fspas.2023.1228475
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10

Abstract

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This article presents a statistical analysis of overlapping double ion-energy dispersion events in the northern cusp (“double dispersion”). Double dispersion in either cusp is a phenomenon associated with multiple reconnections occurring on the dayside magnetosphere as a result of its constant interaction with the variable solar wind. Using observations from a low Earth orbiting (LEO) Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite, we analyze 138 dayside events selected by the automatic algorithm extended from our previous work. We conducted a correlation study between the number of detected double dispersion events and 1) the month of the year to analyze the seasonal response of the cusp, and 2) solar wind interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) components and clock/cone angles to investigate its relationship with magnetic reconnection. We found that dispersion events occur more frequently during the northern summer months (i.e., when the dipole is tilted Sunward) and when the By component of IMF is positive. In addition, we provide a machine-readable list of the events and the code used to automatically detect the events.

Published in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences

ISSN: 2296-987X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Astronomy; Science: Physics: Geophysics. Cosmic physics
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/astronomy-and-space-sciences

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