Provan et al (JGR Nov 2019).pdf (14.82 MB)
Magnetic Field Observations on Cassini's Proximal Periapsis Passes: Planetary Period Oscillations and Mean Residual Fields
journal contribution
posted on 2020-05-20, 14:44 authored by G Provan, SWH Cowley, TJ Bradley, EJ Bunce, GJ Hunt, H Cao, MK DoughertyWe analyze periapsis pass magnetic field data from the final 23 orbits of the Cassini spacecraft at Saturn, uniquely encompassing auroral, subauroral, ring region, and intra-ring field lines, to determine the planetary period oscillations (PPOs) and mean residual fields in these regions. Dual modulation by northern and southern PPO systems is found almost continuously, demonstrating for the first time the presence of PPOs on and inside ring region field lines. The azimuthal component displays the largest ~10–15nT PPO amplitudes on auroral field lines, falling across the subauroral region to ~3–5 nT on main ring field lines in the northern hemisphere, less in the southern hemisphere, while increasing to ~5–8 nT on D ring and intra-D ring field lines. Auroral and subauroral amplitudes mapped along field lines are in good agreement with previous analyses in regions of overlap. Colatitudinal and radial field oscillations generally have a half and a quarter the amplitude of the azimuthal component, respectively. Inner region oscillation phases are typically several tens of degrees “earlier” than those of outer subauroral and auroral regions. Mean residual poloidal fields (internal and ring current fields subtracted) show quasi-sinusoidal latitude variations of ~2.5nT amplitude, with radial and colatitudinal fields approximately in quadrature. Mean azimuthal fields peaking at ~15 nT are approximately symmetrical about the equator on and inside D ring field lines as previously reported, but are unexpectedly superposed on ~3–5nT “lagging” fields which extend continuously through the ring region onto subauroral field lines north and south.
Funding
Work at the University of Leicester and Imperial College London was supported by STFC consolidated grants ST/N000749/1 and ST/N000692/1, respectively. E.J.B. was supported by a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award and M.K.D. by a Royal Society Research Professorship. T.J.B. was supported by STFC Quota Studentship ST/N504117/1. We thank Steve Kellock and the Cassini magnetometer team at Imperial College for the access to processed magnetic field data. Calibrated magnetic field data from the Cassini mission are available from the NASA Planetary Data System at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (https://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/).
History
Citation
Provan, G., Cowley, S. W. H., Bradley, T. J., Bunce, E. J., Hunt, G. J., Cao, H., & Dougherty, M. K. ( 2019). Magnetic field observations on Cassini's proximal periapsis passes: Planetary period oscillations and mean residual fields. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 124, 8814– 8864. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JA026800Version
- VoR (Version of Record)
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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICSVolume
124Issue
11Pagination
8814 - 8864 (51)Publisher
AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNIONissn
2169-9380eissn
2169-9402Acceptance date
2019-09-25Copyright date
2019Publisher DOI
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