Splinter Group - Chairs: J. Sigwarth (Univ. Iowa), B. Tsurutani (JPL), A. Szabo (GSFC)
Auroral observations during the ISTP era have shed new light on the effects of sharp dynamic pressure increases (pressure pulses) in the solar wind on the aurora and the ionosphere. The arrival of the pressure pulses is heralded by the sudden dramatic enhancement and energization of the global auroral precipitation. The auroral enhancement begins on the dayside near the cusp and propagates around the auroral oval to the midnight sector within a few minutes. In a high percentage of cases, this sudden compression of the magnetosphere is accompanied by the shrinking of the open polar cap by a factor of ~2 in ~30 minutes. For the first time, the upstream monitoring of the solar wind in combination with the high time resolution global auroral observations from polar orbit as well as the ground-based radar and optical observations can be brought together to test possible theoretical mechanisms and if necessary propose new ones. In order to provide a focus for this workshop session, a preliminary list of dynamic pressure pulse events in the solar wind follows. It is expected that other events that may add further information on this topic will be added as they come to light. All those with observations and theoretical interpretations are encouraged to contribute.
Events
Time*
Date UT
Jan. 10, 1997 0105 UT
Jan. 10, 1997 1046 UT
Oct. 01, 1997 0059 UT
Dec. 10, 1997 0528 UT
Aug. 26, 1998 0651 UT
Sept 24, 1998 2345 UT
Oct. 02, 1998 0726 UT
Feb. 18, 1999 0250 UT
*Times are arrival at Earth's ionosphere to within ~ 2 minutesOrder of presenters for the Fall 2000 ISTP workshop session on Solar Wind Pressure Pulses & Their Effects on the Aurora
John Sigwarth A brief introduction
Bruce Tsurutani A discussion on the possibility that shocks cause auroras at Jupiter
btsurutani@jplsp.jpl.nasa.gov
John Clarke Solar Wind Pressure Induced Auroral Effects at Jupiter
Hunter Waite Solar Wind Pressure Induced Auroral Effects at Jupiter
Adam Szabo Overview of the interplanetary shock events
Adam.Szabo@gsfc.nasa.gov
Jim Spann The prompt auroral response to the interplanetary shock events: What we
think we know and where we are headed
jspann@hq.nasa.gov
Efthiya Zesta Auroral current responses to solar wind dynamic pressure enhancements
ezesta@atmos.ucla.edu
Nicola Fox Ionospheric reaction to the arrival of pressure pulses in the solar wind.
nicola.fox@jhuapl.edu
John Sigwarth Shrinkage of the polar cap bounded by the auroral oval and the energization
of the auroral precipitation as the result of pressure pulses.
john-sigwarth@uiowa.edu
Xiaoyan Zhou Shocks causing dayside auroras
ZHOU@jplsp3.jpl.nasa.gov
Dave Sibeck Polar UVI observations of dayside auroral transient events by Vorobjev,
V. I., O. I. Yagodkina, D. G. Sibeck, K. Liou, and C.-I. Meng
Dave.Sibeck@jhuapl.edu
Damien Chua UVI-FAST observations during pressure pulse events
damien@geophys.washington.edu
Jih-Hong Shue Solar Wind Pressure Pulses & Their Effects on the Aurora
shuej1@oval.jhuapl.edu
Mitch Brittnacher Global Auroral Response to a Solar Wind Pressure Pulse
britt@geophys.washington.edu