Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/2122/14748
Authors: | Consolini, Giuseppe* De Michelis, Paola* Coco, Igino* Alberti, Tommaso* Marcucci, Maria Federica* Giannattasio, Fabio* Tozzi, Roberta* |
Title: | Sign-Singularity Analysis of Field-Aligned Currents in the Ionosphere | Journal: | Atmosphere | Series/Report no.: | /12(2021) | Publisher: | MDPI | Issue Date: | 31-May-2021 | DOI: | 10.3390/atmos12060708 | Keywords: | Field-aligned currents Ionosphere fractals Complexty |
Abstract: | Field-aligned currents (FACs) flowing in the auroral ionosphere are a complex system of upward and downward currents, which play a fundamental role in the magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling and in the ionospheric heating. Here, using data from the ESA-Swarm multi-satellite mission, we studied the complex structure of FACs by investigating sign-singularity scaling features for two different conditions of a high-latitude substorm activity level as monitored by the AE index. The results clearly showed the sign-singular character of FACs supporting the complex and filamentary nature of these currents. Furthermore, we found evidence of the occurrence of a topological change of these current systems, which was accompanied by a change of the scaling features at spatial scales larger than 30 km. This change was interpreted in terms of a sort of symmetry-breaking phenomenon due to a dynamical topological transition of the FAC structure as a consequence of FACs and substorm current wedge intensification during substorms. |
Appears in Collections: | Article published / in press |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Consolini_atmosphere2_2021.pdf | Open Access | 586.76 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Page view(s)
547
checked on Apr 24, 2024
Download(s)
20
checked on Apr 24, 2024