Last Updated: 09/13/2022

GEM ULF Wave Modeling

About

From the GEM-wiki page of Metrics and Validation Focus Group:

We're organizing a modeling challenge to investigate the ability of global models to reproduce ULF wave fields in the magnetosphere, and ultimately if those ULF fields can radially diffuse an existing electron population from L~5.5 to L~4.5 in two weeks. To get there, we can split the question into two distinct ones:

1. Can global models of the magnetosphere reproduce the observed persistent, solar wind driven, low mode number ULF wave fields in the magnetosphere?

2. Are those waves capable of producing the observed energetic radiation belt population evolution observed during the first two weeks of March 2013 as observed by Van Allen Probes?

L-time plot of RBSP-ECT fluxes at 5.6 MeV energy with an event with radially inward diffusion circled.

Presentation on ULF challenge

T. Guild's summary charts [PDF]

Publications about ULF wave observation and modeling

  • Sarris et al., "Mode number calculations of ULF field-line resonances using ground magnetometers and THEMIS measurements", JGR 118(11), 6986-6997, doi:10.1002/2012JA018307, 2013
  • Claudepierre et al., "Solar wind driving of magnetospheric ULF waves: Field line resonances driven by dynamic pressure fluctuations", JGR 115, A11202, doi:10.1029/2010JA015399, 2010
  • Hartinger et al., "The effect of magnetopause motion on fast mode resonance", JGR 119(10), 8212-8227, doi:10.1002/2014JA020401, 2014
  • Rae et al., "Ground based Magnetometer determination of in situ PC4-5 ULF electric field wave spectra as a function of solar wind speed", JGR 117, A04221, doi:10.1029/2011JA017335, 2013
  • Zhao Li et al., Modeling gradual diffusion changes in radiation belt electron phase space density for the March 2013 Van Allen Probes case study, JGR 119 (10),8396--8403, doi=10.1002/2014JA020359 (2014)
  • A. J. Halford et al. BARREL observations of an ICME-shock impact with the magnetosphere and the resultant radiation belt electron loss}, JGR 120 (4),2557--2570, doi=10.1002/2014JA020873 (2015)

Simulation runs at CCMC