loading page

Interhemispheric Comparisons of Large Nighttime Magnetic Perturbation Events Relevant to GICs
  • +14
  • Mark J. Engebretson,
  • Kathryn R. Kirkevold,
  • Erik S. Steinmetz,
  • Vyacheslav A. Pilipenko,
  • Mark B. Moldwin,
  • Brett A. McCuen,
  • C. Robert Clauer,
  • Michael D. Hartinger,
  • Shane Coyle,
  • Hermann J. Opgenoorth,
  • Audrey Schillings,
  • Anna Willer,
  • Thom R Edwards,
  • David H Boteler,
  • Andrew J. Gerrard,
  • Mervyn P. Freeman,
  • Mike C Rose
Mark J. Engebretson
Department of Physics, Augsburg University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Kathryn R. Kirkevold
Augsburg University
Author Profile
Erik S. Steinmetz
Department of Computer Science, Augsburg University
Author Profile
Vyacheslav A. Pilipenko
Space Research Institute
Author Profile
Mark B. Moldwin
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Author Profile
Brett A. McCuen
University of Michigan
Author Profile
C. Robert Clauer
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Author Profile
Michael D. Hartinger
Space Science Institute
Author Profile
Shane Coyle
Virginia Tech
Author Profile
Hermann J. Opgenoorth
Umeå University
Author Profile
Audrey Schillings
Swedish Institute of Space Physics
Author Profile
Anna Willer
Technical University of Denmark
Author Profile
Thom R Edwards
DTU Space, Technical University of Denmark
Author Profile
David H Boteler
Natural Resources Canada
Author Profile
Andrew J. Gerrard
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Author Profile
Mervyn P. Freeman
British Antarctic Survey
Author Profile
Mike C Rose
British Antarctic Survey
Author Profile

Abstract

Nearly all studies of impulsive magnetic perturbation events (MPEs) with large magnetic field variability (dB/dt) that can produce dangerous geomagnetically-induced currents (GICs) have used data from the northern hemisphere. Here we present details of four large-amplitude MPE events (|DBx|> 900 nT and |dB/dt| > 10 nT/s in at least one component) observed between 2015 and 2018 in conjugate high latitude regions (65 - 80° corrected geomagnetic latitude), using magnetometer data from (1) Pangnirtung and Iqaluit in eastern Arctic Canada and the magnetically conjugate South Pole Station in Antarctica and (2) the Greenland West Coast Chain and two magnetically conjugate chains in Antarctica, AAL-PIP and BAS LPM. From 1 to 3 different isolated MPEs localized in corrected geomagnetic latitude were observed during 3 pre-midnight events; many were simultaneous within 3 min in both hemispheres. Their conjugate latitudinal amplitude profiles, however, matched qualitatively at best. During an extended post-midnight interval, which we associate with an interval of omega bands, multiple highly localized MPEs occurred independently in time at each station in both hemispheres. These nighttime MPEs occurred under a wide range of geomagnetic conditions, but common to each was a negative IMF Bz that exhibited at least a modest increase at or near the time of the event. A comparison of perturbation amplitudes to modeled ionospheric conductivities in conjugate hemispheres clearly favored a current generator model over a voltage generator model for 3 of the 4 events; neither model provided a good fit for the pre-midnight event that occurred near vernal equinox.
Aug 2020Published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics volume 125 issue 8. 10.1029/2020JA028128