Real‐time Earth magnetosphere simulator with three‐dimensional magnetohydrodynamic code

Abstract

1] We developed a real-time numerical simulator for the solar wind --space --magnetosphere -ionosphere coupling system, adopting the three-dimensional (3-D) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation code developed by Tanaka. By using the real-time solar wind data, which is available from the ACE spacecraft every minute, as the upstream boundary conditions for density, temperature, flow speed, and interplanetary magnetic field, our MHD simulation system can numerically reproduce the global response of the magnetosphere and ionosphere at the same time as in the real world. We achieved realtime 3-D simulations of the solar wind --magnetosphere --ionosphere coupling system with a 44 Â 56 Â 60 mesh size by adapting high-performance FORTRAN language with eight CPUs on a supercomputer system located at the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT). Simulated plasma temperature and density in geostationary orbit were also plotted as an index to predict satellite charging. In addition, we present real-time virtual AE indices obtained from simulation results that directly compare with geomagnetic field activities as well as real-time plasma temperature and density in geostationary orbit. Our real-time MHD simulator now runs routinely on NICT's supercomputer system. We will present a detailed configuration of the real-time simulator system in this paper. Some examples are presented from system output to show how solar wind variations result in geomagnetic disturbances.Citation: Den, M., et al. (2006), Real-time Earth magnetosphere simulator with three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic code, Space Weather, 4, S06004,

Japanese space weather research activities

“…To achieve objective and advanced space weather forecast for operational use in the near future, a numerical simulation code for space weather should also be developed. We have been developing two types of magnetospheric models: (1) a global magnetospheric magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulation for understanding the physical processes of space weather [ Tanaka , ] and (2) a fast real‐time 3‐D MHD magnetospheric simulator used from 2004 to 2012 [ Den et al ., ]. The next generation of the real‐time simulation system is now under development.…”

Why Space Weather Is Relevant to Electrical Power Systems

“…A 3‐D magnetohydrodynamic model of coupling between the solar wind, magnetosphere, and ionosphere, developed by Den et al [] and running on National Institute of Information and Communication Technology supercomputers, models the timing and extent of GMDs. Weimer [] determined empirically that the interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind velocity at the L1 point, with the ionospheric conductivity, predict the low‐frequency geomagnetic variation.…”

New Ages of Operational Space Weather Forecast in Japan

“…To achieve high-resolution and excellent shock-capturing capabilities, the numerical model employs the finite volume total variation diminishing scheme with an unstructured grid system [Tanaka, 1994]. Since 2004, NICT has operated the first real-time Earth magnetosphere simulator based on the Tanaka global MHD code [Den et al, 2006;Shimazu et al, 2008]. The input parameter of this simulator is real-time solar wind data obtained from ACE.…”