Multi-Instrument Observations of the Evolution of STEVE under Weak-disturbed Geomagnetic Conditions
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摘要: STEVE(Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement)是亚极光电离层的白紫色光弧,能够反映电离层-磁层-热层之间的相互耦合作用。我们对2021年4月16号的STEVE事件进行了多源观测分析,探究太阳风相对平静且地磁微扰动条件下STEVE的形态演化和能量来源。综合THEMIS全天空相机光学观测和GNSS、Swarm、AMPERE、NOAA POSE以及Arase(ERG)卫星的电离层与磁层多源观测,我们认为该STEVE事件持续约1.5小时,并演化出Picket Fence结构,且STEVE局地表现出高电子温度、电子密度损耗、高速西向离子流和下行场向电流的典型特征。局地较高的西向流速度(约4 km/s)与相对更高的电子温度(STEVE期间约8000 K,Picket Fence期间 > 20,000 K)表明在SAID的摩擦加热之外还存在额外潜在热源。磁层卫星观测显示STEVE区域存在全能段电子能通量(主体 < 10 keV)和全能段能通量增强,表明粒子沉降(主要是低能电子沉降)可能在STEVE形成过程中提供了额外能量。本研究显示,在微扰动期间SAID与低能电子沉降的联合作用会显著提升亚极光区电离层的电子温度,进而促进STEVE和Picket Fence结构的形成。
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关键词:
- STEVE /
- Picket Fence /
- SAID /
- 电离层 /
- 粒子沉降
Abstract: STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement) is a white/mauve optical arc in the subauroral region ionosphere that reflects the coupling among the ionosphere, magnetosphere, and thermosphere. We analyze a STEVE event on 16 April 2021 using multi-instrument observations to investigate its morphological evolution and energy sources under relatively quiet solar wind and weakly disturbed geomagnetic conditions. By integrating optical observations from THEMIS all-sky imagers with ionospheric and magnetospheric measurements from GNSS TEC, the Swarm satellites, AMPERE field-aligned currents, NOAA POSE, and the Arase (ERG) spacecraft, we find that this STEVE event lasted for approximately 1.5 hours and evolved into Picket Fence structures. The STEVE region exhibited typical localized signatures of electron heating, electron density depletion, fast westward ion flow, and downward field-aligned currents. The elevated westward plasma velocity (~4 km/s), together with the unusually high electron temperatures (~8,000 K during STEVE and >20,000 K during the picket fence), suggests that frictional heating associated with subauroral ion drifts (SAIDs) alone cannot account for the observed thermal enhancement. Magnetospheric observations reveal broadband electron energy flux enhancements (dominated by <10 keV electrons), indicating that low-energy electron precipitation likely supplied additional energy to the STEVE region. This study demonstrates that, even during weakly disturbed periods, the combined effects of SAID and low-energy electron precipitation can substantially elevate electron temperatures in the subauroral ionosphere, thereby facilitating the formation of STEVE and picket-fence structures.
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Key words:
- STEVE /
- Picket Fence /
- SAID /
- Ionosphere /
- Particle precipitation
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