THEMIS overview, first results and near future

Details THEMIS overview, first results and near future THEMIS overview, first results and near future

Dec 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007agufmsm13d..01a&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2007, abstract #SM13D-01

Other

2431 Ionosphere/Magnetosphere Interactions (2736), 2740 Magnetospheric Configuration And Dynamics, 2744 Magnetotail, 2784 Solar Wind/Magnetosphere Interactions

Scientific paper

Since its launch, on February 17 2007, the five-satellite (or -probe) THEMIS mission has been operating nominally in a 14.6Re apogee (low-perigee), near-equatorial orbit. Most instruments have been on since March 15. Electric field (EFI) instruments on three probes were turned on and operating nominally since mid-June. EFI instruments on the other two probes will be deployed in early winter. THEMIS nominal science operations commenced on July 1. In its early orbits through the dusk magnetotail, the THEMIS probes captured several substorms and a small storm at roughly radial alignments along the 20-23MLT meridian. The THEMIS first-light (a single orbit in nominal science mode during early operations) on March-23, was nature's welcome: Two substorm sequences were captured in fast survey mode: particle injections and dipolarization signatures were seen propagating from one probe to another. An Earthward flow pulse ahead of a predominantly duskward flow accompanied a strong field-aligned current pair signature at the THEMIS altitude. POLAR VIS,UVI imaged the global evolution of the aurora. The THEMIS GBO array captured the salient features of the largest intensification of the first substorm, concurrent with the most intense particle injection on THEMIS probes. FAST, whose orbit passed through the vicinity of the THEMIS footprints 3 min after the major intensification, made detailed observations of the field aligned currents, arc and outflowing ions. In July and August, the THEMIS probes repeatedly encountered the magnetopause and bow shock, observing FTEs, LLBL and boundary layers with the three inner, deployed-EFI-bearing probes (C,D,E) at 100-500km separations, and the two outer probes (B, A) at 5,000-10,000 km separations. Dissecting FTEs, providing evidence for simultaneous reconnection at both cusps for northward IMF orientation, and directly relating magnetopause and boundary layer motion to corresponding ULF waves in the magnetosphere, are some of the exciting findings from this dayside interlude. In September 2007 the probes commenced the series maneuvers that will place them into their final orbits with approximately 30Re, 20Re, 12Re (2) and 10Re apogees and orbital periods of 4, 2, and 1 days. In these orbits, they will be aligned along the Sun-Earth line in Earth's magnetotail in January - March 2008. Results obtained demonstrate the high data quality and the potential for scientific discovery, particularly when combined with existing ancillary data or campaigns.

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