MFACE: An empirical model for auroral field-aligned currents

For detailed information, see - https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL053168 - https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JA019776

Description

MFACE is a high-resolution model for auroral field-aligned currents (FACs), developed from ten years of CHAMP satellite data using an advanced technique based on Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) decomposition. Key predictor variables include Magnetic Latitude (MLat), Magnetic Local Time (MLT), Day of Year (DoY), Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) conditions, solar wind speed (Vsw), and the Auroral Electrojet (AE) index. MFACE offers significantly better spatial resolution compared to existing models, accurately reproducing observed FAC thickness and intensity, enhancing the magnetic local time distribution, and capturing the seasonal dependence of FAC latitudes and the NBZ current signature. The EOF decomposition shows that:

• EOF1 represents the Bz-controlled large-scale Region 1/Region 2 current pattern.
• EOF2 captures the By-controlled cusp current signature.

v1.0.0.1 Update:

1. The license has been changed from v1.0.0.0 to the Apache License, Version 2.0.
2. The Matlab code has been translated to Python 3 and is currently being released.

For detailed information, refer to:

• Geophysical Research Letters, 2012
• Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 2014

Examples of the Output

• FAC evolution at active levels of geomagnetic activity: YouTube Video
• FAC evolution at moderate levels of geomagnetic activity: YouTube Video
• FAC evolution at quiet levels of geomagnetic activity: YouTube Video

To request similar visualizations for specific periods, please contact Maosheng He.Contents

• MFACE_v1.py: Code for MFACE v1.0 in Python 3
• MFACE_30min_Lag_N_v1.0: MFACE v1.0 coefficients for the Northern Hemisphere
• MFACE_30min_Lag_S_v1.0: MFACE v1.0 coefficients for the Southern Hemisphere
• AEmodel.mat: Model coefficients for the AE index
• MFACE_Example.py: Example code in Python 3
• exampleData.mat: Data for the example
• MFACE_Example.png: Output of the example

Communication

For further inquiries: Maosheng He

Jacobs University Bremen

Campus Ring 1,

28725 Bremen, Germany

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail] / [e-mail]

Date: September 20, 2013

License

This work is licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. You may not use this file except in compliance with the License. A copy of the License can be obtained at Apache License.

Citation

Please cite this work as:

• He, M., J. Vogt, H. Lühr, E. Sorbalo, A. Blagau, G. Le, and G. Lu (2012), A high-resolution model of field-aligned currents through empirical orthogonal functions analysis (MFACE), Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L18105, doi:10.1029/2012GL053168.
• He, M., J. Vogt, H. Lühr, and E. Sorbalo (2014), Local time resolved dynamics of field-aligned currents and their response to solar wind variability, J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics, 119, 5305–5315, doi:10.1002/2014JA019776.