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Banana current in the inner magnetosphere observed by Van Allen Probes
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  • Tong-Hui Wang,
  • Xiaoxin Zhang,
  • Fei He,
  • Jing-Tian Lv,
  • Qiu-Gang Zong,
  • Huishan Fu
Tong-Hui Wang
Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology
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Xiaoxin Zhang
China Meteorological Administration

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Fei He
Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Jing-Tian Lv
Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology
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Qiu-Gang Zong
Peking University
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Huishan Fu
Beihang University
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Abstract

By using the magnetic field data from of Van Allen Probes, we analyzed the distribution characteristics of the electromagnetic environment in the inner magnetosphere on different Dst* index and magnetic local time (MLT). Our results show that for the response of different current systems, the dawn-dusk and noon-midnight asymmetry distribution of the residual magnetic field δB increases with Dst* index. When Dst* < -60 nT, a ‘banana’-shaped geomagnetic field negative disturbance peak region appears in the sector from midnight to dusk. Then, we obtained the azimuthal current density and found the asymmetric internal eastward and external westward ring current. Through the vector analysis of three-dimensional current density, the current density vector distribution in the magnetic equatorial plane (MEP) is completely displayed for the first time, which directly proves the existence of banana current near r = 3.0 - 4.0 RE during strong geomagnetic storms.
06 May 2023Submitted to ESS Open Archive
08 May 2023Published in ESS Open Archive