弱亚暴期STEVE演化的多源观测

王镜涵; 李书翰; 刘晶; 刘善彬

doi:10.11728/cjss2026.05.2025-0201

弱亚暴期STEVE演化的多源观测

doi: 10.11728/cjss2026.05.2025-0201 cstr: 32142.14.cjss.2025-0201

1.
山东大学澳国立联合理学院　威海　264209
2.
山东省太空环境与探测技术重点实验室　威海　264209
3.
山东大学集成电路学院　济南　250101

基金项目: 国家自然科学基金项目资助(42304168)

详细信息

作者简介:

王镜涵　男, 2005年3月出生于山东省淄博市, 现为山东大学澳国立联合理学院物理专业学生. 当前主要参与空间物理与空间环境相关研究工作, 研究方向包括亚极光区电离层卫星观测数据分析及空间等离子体物理过程等. E-mail: wangjinghan0101@163.com

通讯作者:

李书翰　男, 1989年11月出生于辽宁省辽阳市, 现为山东大学空间科学与技术学院助理研究员, 硕士生导师, 主要研究方向为亚极光区电离层、电离层理论及人工智能建模等. E-mail: lishuhan@sdu.edu.cn

中图分类号: P352
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出版历程
- 收稿日期: 2025-11-26
- 修回日期: 2026-01-20
- 网络出版日期: 2026-02-09

Multi-Instrument Observations of STEVE Evolution under Weak Substorm Conditions

1.
SDU-ANU Joint Science College, Weihai 264209
2.
Shandong Key Laboratory of Space Environment and Exploration Technology, Weihai 264209
3.
School of Integrated Circuits, Shandong University, Jinan 250101

摘要

摘要: STEVE是亚极光电离层的白紫色光弧结构, 其形态演化能反映电离层–磁层–热层之间的耦合作用. 通过对2021年4月16日的STEVE事件的多源观测分析, 探究了弱亚暴条件下STEVE的形态演化与能量来源. 综合THEMIS全天空相机和GNSS, Swarm, AMPERE, NOAA POSE以及Arase (ERG)电离层与磁层卫星的多源观测, 确定该STEVE事件持续约1.5 h, 并演化出Picket Fence结构, STEVE局地表现出高电子温度、低电子密度、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^–1)与相对较高的电子温度(约8000 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, 以低能为主的电子沉降可能在STEVE形成过程中提供了额外能量. 在弱亚暴期间, 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.
- 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. A STEVE event on 16 April 2021 is analyzed using multi-instrument observations to investigate its morphological evolution and energy sources under relatively quiet solar wind and weak substorm 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 (about 4 km·s^–1), together with the unusually high electron temperatures (about 8000 K during STEVE), 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 weak substorm 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.
- Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement (STEVE) /
- Picket Fence /
- Subauroral Ion Drift (SAID) /
- Ionosphere /
- Particle precipitation
注释:
医学伦理:
1) 研究不涉及人体或动物实验.
利益冲突:
2) 所有作者均声明不存在利益冲突.

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图 1 2021年4月16日02:30－09:30 UT太阳风与地磁条件

Figure 1. Solar wind and geomagnetic conditions from 02:30 to 09:30 UT on 16 April 2021

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图 2 2021年4月16日THEMIS- ATHA 台站的STEVE观测结果. (a)～(f) STEVE事件随时间演变的轨迹, 叠加了Swarm A, B, C卫星及NOAA 15, 18卫星的足点数据, (g)事件的时间剖面

Figure 2. Observations of the STEVE event from THEMIS-ATHA ASI on 16 April 2021. (a)～(f) Temporal evolution of STEVE overlapped by the foot points of Swarm A, B, C and NOAA 15, 18, (g) Keogram summarizing the event

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图 3 2021年4月16日STEVE期间Swarm A, B, C卫星的观测数据. (a)(e)(i)电子密度N_e, (b)(f)(j)电子温度T_e, (c)(g)(k)场向电流(正向向下), (d)(h)(l)离子在水平方向 (蓝色, 正向朝向太阳) 和垂直方向 (红色, 正向朝上)的跨轨速度

Figure 3. Swarm A, B and C data during the STEVE event on 16 April 2021. (a)(e)(i) Electron density N_e. (b)(f)(j) Electron temperature T_e. (c)(g)(k) FAC (positive downward). (d)(h)(l) Ion cross-track velocity in horizontal (in blue, positive sunward) and vertical direction (in red, positive upward)

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图 4 2021年4月16日地理纬度GLAT(北纬30°―90°)在06:00―07:20 UT下当地时间的GNSS TEC图序列

Figure 4. Sequences of GNSS TEC maps in the coordinates of GLAT (30°―90°N) and Local Time (LT) at 06:00―07:20 UT on 16 April 2021

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图 5 STEVE事件期间北半球地理坐标下的AMPERE场向电流的分布 (时间范围为05:30－06:50 UT, 以10 min为间隔, 正向为向上)

Figure 5. AMPERE field-aligned currents in a geographic coordinate system during the STEVE event (from 05:30 to 06:50 UT at 10 min intervals, positive upward)

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图 6 NOAA 15和NOAA 18卫星的质子能量通量数据. (a)～(c) NOAA 18卫星在参考日的观测数据, (d)～(f) STEVE事件前的观测数据, (g)～(i) STEVE事件期间NOAA 15的观测数据

Figure 6. Proton energy flux from NOAA 15 and 18. (a)-(c) NOAA-18 observations on the refence day, (d)-(f) NOAA 18 observations before the STEVE event, and (g)-(i) NOAA 15 during the STEVE event

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图 7 NOAA 15和NOAA 18卫星的电子能量通量数据. (a)～(g) NOAA 18卫星在参考日的观测数据, (h)～(n) STEVE事件前的观测数据, (o)～(u) STEVE事件期间NOAA 15的观测数据

Figure 7. Electron energy flux from NOAA 15 and 18. (a)～(g) NOAA-18 observations on the refence day, (h) ～(n) NOAA 18 observations before the STEVE event, and (o) ～(u) NOAA 15 during the STEVE event

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图 8 NOAA 15和NOAA 18卫星的电子积分能量通量数据. (a)(b) NOAA 18卫星在参考日的观测数据, (c)(d) STEVE事件前的观测数据, (e)(f) STEVE事件期间NOAA 15的观测数据

Figure 8. Integrated electron energy flux from NOAA 15 and 18. (a)(b) NOAA-18 observations on the refence day, (c)(d) NOAA 18 observations before the STEVE event, and (e)(f) NOAA 15 during the STEVE event

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图 9 STEVE事件期间来自Arase (ERG)卫星的电子能量通量

Figure 9. Electron energy flux from Arase (ERG) during the STEVE event

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表 1 2018－2022年全天空相机记录的STEVE事件

Table 1. STEVE events from 2018 to 2022

Event	Date	UT		$ {B}_{z} $/nT		$ {P}_{\text{dyn}} $/nPa		Station
Event	Date	start	end	max	min	max	min	Station
1	2018/4/10	5:09	5:37	4.03	–4.64	3.64	2.27	THEMIS-PINA
2	2018/5/6	4:09	5:02	0.12	–1.86	2.43	1.90	REGO-LUCK
3	2019/2/15	8:10	8:43	1.39	–0.22	1.05	0.63	THEMIS-ATHA
4	2019/5/2	4:48	5:40	2.27	1.22	2.06	1.38	THEMIS-ATHA
5	2019/8/31	6:10	6:45	2.08	–4.06	5.06	3.73	REGO-LUCK
6	2019/9/6	5:20	6:22	1.71	–0.38	1.73	1.44	THEMIS-ATHA
7	2019/10/10	5:50	6:21	3.09	1.00	1.00	2.31	THEMIS-ATHA
8	2020/8/31	3:50	4:45	0.91	–4.10	2.13	1.70	THEMIS-ATHA
9	2021/4/16	5:35	7:10	–0.92	–4.25	1.90	1.40	THEMIS-ATHA
10	2022/4/10	5:05	6:12	–2.66	–14.18	10.99	3.26	REGO-LUCK
11	2022/8/8	6:05	6:48	–1.00	–7.53	3.44	2.43	REGO-LUCK
12	2022/8/30	4:05	4:54	–2.04	–9.54	4.76	2.98	THEMIS-ATHA
13	2022/9/27	2:08	3:00	21.16	6.54	18.50	17.37	REGO-LUCK
注　粗黑体标出的是本次研究的事件.

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