Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “MAGNETIC VARIATION”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1978

Interplanetary magnetic field variations and the electromagnetic state of the equatorial ionosphere

The Esq phenomena were selected in order to examine the effect of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) on the ionospheric plasma and to obtain insight into the interplanetary ionospheric coupling processes. January-March 1973 interplanetary magnetic field data of Explorer 43, Huancayo ionograms, and surface equatorial magnetograms were used. The IMF observations from Explorer 43 in the form of 15-sec averages were examined around the time of disappearance of the Esq. The IMF z-component was observed to change from a negative to a positive value before the disappearance of the Esq in four events where simultaneous data were available. The general explanation is that the induced electric field becomes westward from a previous eastward direction, coinciding with the IMF z-component reversal. Thus, just before the Esq disappears, the magnetosphere is subjected to the westward electric field. If this field is impressed to the low-latitude ionosphere, the resultant electric field in the equatorial ionosphere changes from eastward (westward) to westward (eastward) in the daytime (nighttime).

Patel, V. L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Electrodynamic effects of thermospheric winds from the NCAR thermospheric general circulation model

Electrodynamic effects of thermospheric winds simulated with the NCAR thermospheric general circulation model (TGCM) were modeled and compared with observations for equinox solar minimum conditions. Two TGCM wind simulations were used: one driven only by in situ solar UV heating, the other also including lower boundary forcing that mimics the effects of upward propagating semidiurnal tides. It was found that, without tidal forcing, the TGCM winds produce ground magnetic variations that have the general pattern of observed Sq variations, but are only about half as strong. The addition of tidal forcing improved the agreement between calculated and observed magnetic variations and between calculated and observed electric fields.

Richmond, A. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

On the relationship of the polar cap current system to the north-south component of the interplanetary magnetic field

The daily magnetic variation at the Resolute Bay polar cap station is examined for its dependence on the N-S component Bz of the IMF. The magnetic variations are found to be approximately in the same direction in the nightside polar cap for both northward and southward IMF, the amplitudes of the perturbations being larger for southward IMF. In the dayside, significant differences between the northward and southward IMF cases are observed. It is suggested that the overall pattern consists of two standard two-cell current patterns placed in juxtaposition such that the interface between them is the site of the antisunward current (sunward convection). Within the centers of each of these two patterns the currents are sunward (convection is antisunward).

Horwitz, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Solar cycle variation of magnetic flux emergence

The number of X-ray bright points (XBP) has been measured from solar X-ray images obtained during two rocket flights in 1976. When compared with the data obtained during the Skylab mission (1973), the number is found to be higher by a factor of 2. As the probability of obtaining the result by chance is less than 1 in 5 million, it is concluded that the number of XBP has increased in the three year interval. As all other indicators of activity have decreased between 1973 and 1976, the cyclical variation of the short-lifetime end of the magnetic-flux-emergence spectrum is out of phase with the solar cycle as defined by active regions or sunspots. Since XBP in 1973 contributed more to the emerging magnetic flux than did active regions, the possibility exists that the total amount of emerging magnetic flux may be maximized at a sunspot minimum.

Davis, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Improved State Estimation in Distorted Magnetic Fields

The magnetic field of the Earth – besides varying naturally – may be disturbed locally by the (man-made) environment. State estimation and corresponding navigation frameworks that use magnetometers on-board of mobile platforms suffer from severe performance loss or failure upon local magnetic distortions if these are not detected and mitigated adequately. Advanced estimators include the magnetic variation in the state vector. However, Cartesian coordinates, although widely used in the literature, suffer from observability issues when it comes to disturbance detection. This paper shows the importance of representing the magnetic variation in a spherical coordinate system and subsequent improvements with respect to the common representation in Cartesian coordinates. The spherical representation improves estimator consistency and allows for accurate and fast mitigation of magnetic disturbances through consistent statistical tests which leads to better system state estimates in magnetically distorted areas. The approach is validated by performing tests with simulated and real-world data on embedded hardware.

Brommer, Christian↗
NASA NTRS1998

A Search for Vector Magnetic Field Variations Associated with the M-Class Flares of 1991 June 10 in AR 6659

A careful analysis of a 6-hour time sequence of vector magnetograms of AR 6659, observed on 1991 June 10 with the MSFC vector magnetograph, has revealed only minor changes in the vector magnetic field azimuths in the vicinity of two M-class flares, and the association of these changes with the flares is not unambiguous. In this paper we present our analysis of the data which includes comparison of vector magnetograms prior to and during the flares, calculation of distributions of the rms variation of the azimuth at each pixel in the field of view of the active region, and examination of the variation with time of the azimuths at every pixel covered by the main flare emissions as observed with the H-alpha telescope coaligned with the vector magnetograph. We also present results of an analysis of evolutionary changes in the azimuth over the field of view of the active region.

Hagyard, Mona J.↗
NASA NTRS1998

A Search for Vector Magnetic Field Variations Associated with the M-Class Flares of 1991 June 10 in AR 6659

A careful analysis of a 6-hour time sequence of vector magnetograms of AR 6659, observed on 1991 June 10 with the MSFC vector magnetograph, has revealed only minor changes in the vector magnetic field azimuths in the vicinity of two M-class flares, and the association of these changes with the flares is not unambiguous. In this paper we present our analysis of the data which includes comparison of vector magnetograms prior to and during the flares, calculation of distributions of the rms variation of the azimuth at each pixel in the field of view of the active region, and examination of the variation with time of the azimuths at every pixel covered by the main flare emissions as observed with the H-alpha telescope coaligned with the vector magnetograph. We also present results of an analysis of evolutionary changes in the azimuth over the field of view of the active region.

Hagyard, Mona J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Measurement and analysis of magnetic field variation during a class 2b flare

A digital analysis of high-time-resolution videomagnetograms taken during a class 2b flare that occurred at 60 deg east is reported. The data were obtained at the Big Bear Observatory and calibrated by a Mt. Wilson magnetogram. Changes of weak magnetic fields (less than 100 G) with an amplitude of 30% to 100% have been detected over 55% of the optical flare region, apparently taking place at the initial phase of the flare. Statistical considerations suggest a real flare association with most of these changes. H-alpha observations show that large changes took place over the footpoints of heavily inclined structures like penumbral fibrils, while smaller changes took place over the plage region. An apparent polarity reversal was found at the feet of erupted fibrils. Based on force-free field calculations these changes can be reasonably explained as a transformation of the current-carrying fields to potential fields which produced large changes in the field-line inclination and rotation.

Tanaka, K.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The large-scale ionospheric electric field - Its variation with magnetic activity and relation to terrestrial kilometric radiation

Four days of simultaneous auroral zone electric field measurements on balloons flown from six sites spanning 180 deg of magnetic longitude have been analyzed. The average electric field behavior during this magnetically quiet epoch is consistent with earlier single-point measurements, although the average auroral zone electric field was more affected by corotation effects than it was during more disturbed times. When these data, which primarily reflect the large-scale (several hundred kilometer) ionospheric electric field, are mapped to the equator, a steady dawn to dusk component is apparent only on the average, while instantaneously the field is quite variable. The ionospheric electric field during isolated substorms is shown to have differing signatures east and west of 2200 LT. A worldwide positive correlation is shown to exist between the auroral zone electric field strength and the intensity of terrestrial kilometric radiation.

Holzworth, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Plasma and magnetic field variations in the distant magnetotail associated with near-earth substorm effects

Examination of many individual event periods in the ISEE 3 deep-tail data set has suggested that magnetospheric substorms produce a characteristic pattern of effects in the distant magnetotail. During the growth, or tail-energy-storage phase of substorms, the magnetotail appears to grow diametrically in size, often by many earth radii. Subsequently, after the substorm expansive phase onset at earth, the distant tail undergoes a sequence of plasma, field, and energetic-particle variations as large-scale plasmoids move rapidly down the tail following their disconnection from the near-earth plasma sheet. ISEE 3 data are appropriate for the study of these effects since the spacecraft remained fixed within the nominal tail location for long periods. Using newly available auroral electrojet indices (AE and AL) and Geo particle data to time substorm onsets at earth, superposed epoch analyses of ISEE 3 and near-earth data prior to, and following, substorm expansive phase onsets have been performed. These analyses quantify and extend substantially the understanding of the deep-tail pattern of response to global substorm-induced dynamical effects.

Baker, D. N.↗