A study of polar cap Pc1-2: source locations and wave propagation

The occurrence of Pcl-2 ULF waves in Scott Base and Casey Antarctic magnetometer data has been examined with the objective of determining whether the source region for these waves is located in the Earth's cusp/boundary layer region or the magnetosheath. In particular we explore the hypothesis...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ables, Sean, Sciffer, Murray, Fraser, Brian, Morley, Steven
Other Authors: The University of Newcastle. Faculty of Science & Information Technology, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Format: Conference Object
Language:English
Published: National Space Society of Australia 2010
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/935310
Description
Summary:The occurrence of Pcl-2 ULF waves in Scott Base and Casey Antarctic magnetometer data has been examined with the objective of determining whether the source region for these waves is located in the Earth's cusp/boundary layer region or the magnetosheath. In particular we explore the hypothesis that some Pcl-2 events are propagated along open field lines which convect over the southern polar cap. For a selected event the location of Scott Base with respect to the open/closed field line boundary was independently determined using DMSP spacecraft particle data and well established particle energy and flux criteria. This event provides evidence that Pcl-2 waves can be seen on the ground well inside the polar cap. The possibility of propagation in the ionospheric waveguide, away from the footpoint of the source, is investigated using numerical modelling and realistic ionospheric parameters. Under the modelled conditions we find a modification of wave ellipticity which excludes this explanation for the polar cap Pcl-2 seen in the event study.