Abstract. Plasmaspheric plumes have been routinely observed by the four Cluster spacecraft. This paper presents a statistical analysis of plumes observed during five years (from 1 February 2001 to 1 February 2006) based on fourpoint measurements of the plasmasphere (outside 4 Earth radii) as it is sampled by the spacecraft in a narrow local time sector before and after perigee. Plasmaspheric plumes can be identified from electron density profiles derived from the electron plasma frequency determined by the WHISPER wave sounder onboard Cluster. As the WHISPER instrument has a limited frequency range (2-80 kHz) only plumes with densities below 80 cm −3 can be identified in this way. Their occurrence is studied as a function of several geomagnetic indices (K p , am and D st ). Their transverse equatorial size, magnetic local time distribution, L position and density variation are discussed. Plasmaspheric plumes are observed mostly for moderate K p and never for small D st . They are found mainly in the afternoon and pre-midnight MLT sectors. Comparisons are also made between the density profiles of the plumes as they are crossed on the in-and outbound legs of the orbit, before and after perigee crossing, respectively.
[1] Recently, electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave generation in plasmaspheric plumes has been the subject of extensive discussion. Theory predicts that regions of detached cold, dense plasma immersed in relatively low background magnetic field should aid EMIC wave growth and may provide conditions for interaction between the EMIC waves and relativistic (MeV) electrons, leading to energetic particle loss into the atmosphere. Since plasmaspheric plumes are specific to disturbed geomagnetic conditions, the link between EMIC waves and plumes may be especially important for radiation belt dynamics during magnetic storms. In this work, we present an in situ survey of EMIC waves in plasmaspheric plumes using data from the Cluster satellites and will address the question of whether plumes are important for EMIC wave generation from a statistical perspective. We used a survey of plasmaspheric plumes between 2001 and 2006 identified from the Waves of High frequency and Sounder for Probing of Electron density by Relaxation (WHISPER) sounder measurements. We further identified EMIC waves from simultaneous (with WHISPER) magnetic field measurements by the fluxgate magnetometer instruments and investigated the relationship between these two data sets. Only 10% of the time when Cluster-observed plumes along its orbit did we also observe EMIC waves. The wave occurrence outside plumes is further significantly reduced and is~20 times lower in immediately adjacent regions than inside plumes. We found that cold plasma density was not a good predictor of EMIC occurrence inside the plumes and that the absolute density does not affect the EMIC probability. On the other hand, enhanced solar wind dynamic pressure significantly increases EMIC wave occurrence rate inside the plumes.
Abstract. The Whisper instrument yields two data sets: (i) the electron density determined via the relaxation sounder, and (ii) the spectrum of natural plasma emissions in the frequency band 2-80 kHz. Both data sets allow for the threedimensional exploration of the magnetosphere by the Cluster mission. The total electron density can be derived unambiguously by the sounder in most magnetospheric regions, provided it is in the range of 0.25 to 80 cm −3 . The natural emissions already observed by earlier spacecraft are fairly well measured by the Whisper instrument, thanks to the digital technology which largely overcomes the limited telemetry allocation. The natural emissions are usually related to the plasma frequency, as identified by the sounder, and the combination of an active sounding operation and a passive survey operation provides a time resolution for the total density determination of 2.2 s in normal telemetry mode and 0.3 s in burst mode telemetry, respectively. Recorded on board the four spacecraft, the Whisper density data set forms a reference for other techniques measuring the electron population. We give examples of Whisper density data used to derive the vector gradient, and estimate the drift velocity of density structures. Wave observations are also of crucial interest for studying small-scale structures, as demonstrated in an example in the fore-shock region. Early results from the Whisper instrument are very encouraging, and demonstrate that the four-point Cluster measurements indeed bring a unique and completely novel view of the regions explored.Correspondence to: P. Décréau (pdecreau@cnrs-orleans.fr)
Plasmaspheric density structures have been studied since the discovery of the plasmasphere in the late 1950s. But the advent of the CLUSTER and IMAGE missions in 2000 has added substantially to our knowledge of density structures, thanks to the new 56 F. Darrouzet et al.capabilities of those missions: global imaging with IMAGE and four-point in situ measurements with CLUSTER. The study of plasma sources and losses has given new results on refilling rates and erosion processes. Two-dimensional density images of the plasmasphere have been obtained. The spatial gradient of plasmaspheric density has been computed. The ratios between H + , He + and O + have been deduced from different ion measurements. Plasmaspheric plumes have been studied in detail with new tools, which provide information on their morphology, dynamics and occurrence. Density structures at smaller scales have been revealed with those missions, structures that could not be clearly distinguished before the global images from IMAGE and the four-point measurements by CLUSTER became available. New terms have been given to these structures, like "shoulders", "channels", "fingers" and "crenulations". This paper reviews the most relevant new results about the plasmaspheric plasma obtained since the start of the CLUSTER and IMAGE missions.
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