MIRACLE data analysis tools

4) 2D magnetic field continuation to the ionosphere and separation into internal and external parts (SECS):

- Short description of the analysis method:

The full 2D set of IMAGE magnetometers is used to derive 2D maps of ionospheric equivalent currents (field upward continuation), and to derive external and internal equivalent currents on the ground (field separation).

Both techniques utilise 2D Spherical Elementary Current Systems (SECS), see literature.

- Input data requirements:

Full 2D set of IMAGE magnetometer data (upward field continuation: only horizontal components; field separation: all three components; see MIRACLE map for stations overview).

- Output quantities:

2D maps of ionospheric equivalent currents (upward field continuation);
2D maps of external and internal equivalent currents on the ground
(field separation).

- Literature:

- Example plots:

This is the input data: A full 2D set of IMAGE network data on June 26, 1998, 0118 UT. For this particular event, also data of the temporal BEAR magnetometer network were available and have been included into the plots and analysis.
Left panel: horizontal magnetic disturbance vector, rotated by 90 degrees clockwise
Right panel: vertical downward magnetic disturbance component



- Result plots:

a) upward field continuation:
This plot shows the resulting ionospheric equivalent currents on the region marked by the red box in the input data plots:



b) field separation:
The plots below show the internal equivalent currents immediately below the ground (upper panel), and the external equivalent currents immediately above the ground (lower panel), on the full IMAGE and BEAR network area.





Similarly, also the vertical downward magnetic disturbance component on the ground can be separated into its external part (upper panel below) and its internal part (lower panel below).





For further questions contact Olaf Amm or Antti Pulkkinen.
 


Maintained by: Olaf Amm
Latest update: 18.03.2004