High resolution geomagnetic field observations at Terra Nova bay, Antarctica

• Published in: Annals of Geophysics
• Main Authors: Lepidi, S., Villante, U., Vellante, M., Palangio, P., Meloni, A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, INGV 1996
• Subjects: Geomagnetic pulsations; spectral index; wave polarization; Antartica; 04.05.05. Main geomagnetic field; Antarctic; Terra Nova Bay; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica; antartic*
• Online Access: https://www.annalsofgeophysics.eu/index.php/annals/article/view/3987; https://doi.org/10.4401/ag-3987

he preliminary results obtained from the analysis in the micropulsation frequency range of high time resolution magnetic field data recorded at the Antarctic Italian geomagnetic observatory at Terra Nova Bay for 11 consecutive days in February 1994 are reported. The spectral index over the whole Pcl-Pc5 frequency range is of the order of 3.5 and its value significantly increases beyond about 50 mHz. Spectral peaks in the Pc3 frequency range are common, especially during the daytime hours, and are probably due to the direct penetration of upstream waves in the cusp region. From the local time distribution of the micro pulsation power, a signifi - cant activity enhancement around the local magnetic noon emerges, in agreement with previous observations. The analysis of the signal polarisation characteristics in the horizontal plane shows a predominant CW polarisation in the Pcl-Pc3 frequency ranges with the major axis of the polarisation ellipse in the first quadrant.