Interplanetary Magnetic Field Bx Effect on Field-Aligned Currents in Different Local Times

Abstract

This study explores the impact of the radial interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) on the strength and latitude of peak field-aligned currents (FACs). FACs are derived through vector magnetic field observations of the Swarm satellite mission. The analysis examines how the responses of FACs to radial IMF vary according to local time, season, and hemisphere. In the dawn and noon–midnight sectors, which are primarily influenced by westward auroral electrojets, the Northern Hemisphere (NH) exhibits stronger poleward FACs (FACp) when the IMF cone angle is ≥135° and weaker FACp when the cone angle is ≤45°. In contrast, the Southern Hemisphere (SH) shows the opposite response to the IMF Bx polarity. The effect of IMF Bx is more pronounced during summer than winter, especially in the noon-to-midnight sector, while its influence on FACs is more significant during the dawn period in winter. The latitude of FACs is most strongly affected by IMF Bx around noon and midnight. A relationship is observed between FAC density and latitude in response to IMF Bx, with stronger FACp occurring at lower latitudes.

Keywords

• field-aligned currents
• interplanetary magnetic field Bx
• interplanetary magnetic field cone angle