FG: Interhemispheric Approaches to Understand M-I Coupling (IHMIC)

Focus Group Leaders

• Hyomin Kim, New Jersey Institute of Technology (hmkim@njit.edu)
• Robert Lysak, University of Minnesota
• Tomoko Matsuo, University of Colorado at Boulder

Focus Group Term

• 2018 - 2022

Focus Group Topic Description and Science Questions

The main goal of this focus group proposal is to understand the interhemispheric symmetry/asymmetry in geomagnetic fields and its effects on M-I coupling. Observational and modeling studies have shown the interhemispheric differences which are manifested in various signatures, e.g., large-scale current systems, auroral forms, waves, ion upflow, outflow, particle precipitation, high-latitude convection and thermospheric winds. The focus group addresses questions as to how to incorporate interhemispheric differences and their effects on M-I coupling in observations and modeling/simulations. The overarching science questions that this focus group will be addressing are:

1. In what aspect does the asymmetry in geomagnetic fields play a role in M-I coupling?
2. How are the interhemispheric differences related to solar wind and geomagnetic activities?
3. What are interhemispheric differences in storm and substorm signatures, wave activity and particle precipitation? What controls these differences?
4. How do interhemispheric differences in ionospheric conductivity affect solar wind coupling to the magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere?
5. What are effects of the neutral wind dynamo in the application of Ohm's law to ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling? Does the neutral wind dynamo contribute to the interhemispheric asymmetry in M-I coupling?

2018 GEM Meeting Schedule

There will be two sessions on Friday (June 22). Please note that the afternoon session is a joint session with the focus group “3D Ionospheric Electrodynamics and its impact on MIT coupling (IEMIT)”.

This year, we are encouraging more discussion and discouraging AGU-style presentations, limiting each talk to 3-4 slides focused on results and outstanding questions. If you are interested in presenting interhemispheric studies, please use this signup form at: [Google Form].

Please also note that there will be GEM-CEDAR joint sessions on Saturday (June 23). The second session from 10:30 to 12:00 will cover "Interhemispheric Processes/Symmetries/Asymmetries".

Friday, June 22, 10:30-12:00

• Michael Hartinger: Inter-hemispheric comparisons of current systems with different temporal and spatial scales
• Kristian Snekvik: Why we no longer believe tail reconnection is important for inducing B_Y in the nightside magnetosphere
• Jim LaBelle: How conjugate auroral radio emission observations can contribute to understanding hemispheric asymmetries
• Robert McPherron and James Weygand: Conjugate Delays Using Correlation and Wave Analysis
• Yining Shi: Modes of Field-aligned Currents (FACs) Variability and Their Hemispheric Asymmetry Revealed by Inverse and Assimilative Analysis of Iridium Magnetometer Data
• Michelle Salzano: A Statistical Analysis of Interhemispheric Pi1B Seasonal Variations
• Friday, June 22, 13:30-15:00 (IEMIT-IHMIC Joint FG Session)

Friday 13:30-15:00 (Joint Session: 3D Ionospheric Electrodynamics and its impact on MIT coupling (IEMIT)

• Bob Clauer: Interhemispheric Comparisons along the 40-degree magnetic meridian
• IEMIT talks here...