Field-Aligned Current Structures during the Terrestrial Magnetosphere's Transformation into Alfven Wings and Recovery
Geophysical Research Letters(2024)
Abstract
On April 24th, 2023, a CME event caused the solar wind to become
sub-Alfvenic, leading to the development of an Alfven Wing configuration in the
Earth's Magnetosphere. Alfven Wings have previously been observed as cavities
of low flow in Jupiter's magnetosphere, but the observing satellites did not
have the ability to directly measure the Alfven Wings' current structures.
Through in situ measurements made by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS)
spacecraft, the April 24th event provides us with the first direct measurements
of current structures during an Alfven Wing configuration. We have found two
distinct types of current structures associated with the Alfven Wing
transformation as well as the magnetosphere recovery. These structures are
observed to be significantly more anti-field-aligned and electron-driven than
typical magnetopause currents, indicating the disruptions caused to the
magnetosphere current system by the Alfven Wing formation.
MoreTranslated text
Key words
Alfven wings,Alfven Wing currents,magnetopause,Chapman‐Ferraro current,magnetopause current,field‐aligned currents
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