A Case Study of Energy Deposition and Absorption by Magnetic Cloud Electrons and Protons over the High Latitude Stations: Effects on the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere

• Main Authors: Olakunle Ogunjobi, Venkataraman Sivakumar, Nkanyiso Mbatha
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2014
• Subjects: Magnetic Cloud; Precipitation; MLT region; Absorption; Energy deposition; L shell; Geology; QE1-996.5; Geophysics. Cosmic physics; QC801-809; SANAE; SANAE IV; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/8dc347bd992e49b3981ae8946547b6cd

Several possible characteristics of magnetic clouds (MCs) have been discussed in the literature, but none appears to explain all the effects from accumulated observations. MC characteristics range from low proton temperature and plasma beta, to high magnetic field magnitude, to smooth rotation in the direction of the magnetic field thus resulting in strong geomagnetic disturbances. Varied instrumentation which is located not only in SANAE IV, Antarctica, but also at Halley, a same radial distance (L ~ 4) in the southern hemisphere and in the vicinity of a conjugate location in northern hemisphere provide an opportunity to test theories applied to high latitude heating rates on the arrival of MC. The Halley riometer is used to monitor coincidences of absorption with the arrival of MC which was observed on 8 November 2004. Using the Monte Carlo Energy Transport Model (MCETM), the corresponding altitude of electron and proton energy distribution indicates the importance of MC triggered geomagnetic storms on mesosphere dynamics.