Inner Magnetospheric Response to the Interplanetary Magnetic Field By Component: Van Allen Probes and Arase Observations

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Abstract
We utilize 17 years of combined Van Allen Probes and Arase data to statistically analyze the response of the inner magnetosphere to the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By component. Past studies have demonstrated that the IMF By component introduces a similarly oriented By component into the magnetosphere. However, these studies have tended to focus on field lines in the magnetotail only reaching as close to the Earth as the geosynchronous orbit. By exploiting data from these inner magnetospheric spacecraft, we have been able to investigate the response at radial distances of <7RE. When subtracting the background magnetic field values, provided by the T01 and IGRF magnetic field models, we find that the IMF By component does affect the configuration of the magnetic field lines in the inner magnetosphere. This control is observed throughout the inner magnetosphere, across both hemispheres, all radial distances, and all magnetic local time sectors. The ratio of IMF By to the observed By residual, also known as the “penetration efficiency,” is found to be ∼0.33. The IMF Bz component is found to increase, or inhibit, this control depending upon its orientation.
Year of Publication
2020
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Volume
126
Number of Pages
e2020JA028765
Date Published
12/2020
URL
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2020JA028765
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JA028765
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