Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: . The dynamics of the inner magnetosphere and magnetotail are determined by a number of factors such as magnetic reconnection, plasma instabilities, and large-scale plasma motion. We use the global hybrid-Vlasov simulation Vlasiator to study these dynamics as well as their signatures in the ionosphere. We observe magnetic reconnection, fast flows, and vorticity in the transition region between the Earth's dipolar field and the magnetotail. In our simulation, reconnection is first triggered at the dawn and dusk sides of the magnetotail current sheet. It then spreads across the current sheet. Concurrently, an azimuthally periodic, wave-like density structure develops in the transition region along with fast Earthward flows and enhanced vorticity patterns. The Earthward flows and vorticity induce field-aligned currents, which map onto the ionospheric simulation domain, creating a patchy current distribution. We find that the event is driven by the combination of reconnection-induced fast flows and the ballooning/interchange instability.
Source: Annales Geophysicae
Institutions: University of Helsinki, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l’Environnement et de l’Espace, Observatoire des sciences de l'Univers en région Centre Val de Loire, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, CSC - IT Center for Science (Finland)
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,186
Awards: HPC-approach to Ionospheric Situational Awareness (HISSA), Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space, Kinetic Ionosphere–Magnetosphere Coupling with Hybrid Ions (KIMCHI), G3351325123, Fast AI-assisted Space Environment pRediction, Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space, G5428434477, G5818264009, Distributed AI in Supercomputing and phYsics (DAISY), G6808016102, ICT-Solutions to Understand Variability of Arctic Climate, Aurora and Neutral Atmosphere interplay: Observations and Novel analysis methods (ANAON), Innovative Algorithms for Applications on European Exascale Supercomputers
OpenAlex ID: W7141373729