Sub‐Auroral Heating at Jupiter Following a Solar Wind Compression
Abstract Jupiter's polar aurorae deliver significant heating at the poles, thought to spread across the planet through atmospheric winds. Additionally, ground‐based Keck observations have revealed a large‐scale high‐temperature region, spatially distinct from the aurorae. Here, we investigate the origins and characteristics of the feature using Keck data, in‐situ Juno spacecraft measurements, and solar wind modeling. Juno exited the magnetosphere on approach to Jupiter, coinciding with modeled high‐speed solar wind impact that compressed the magnetosphere. This hot feature may be dynamic, transported equatorward by winds following auroral activity enhancements from magnetospheric compression akin to a large‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbance on Earth, or driven by the inner magnetosphere particle precipitation. Exploring the dynamic case, we calculated equatorward velocities ranging from 0.46 to 2.02 km , similar to those seen at Earth. Our study underscores the importance of the solar wind at all planets, exemplified by its ability to alter Jupiter's upper‐atmospheric energy balance globally.
Authors
- Omakshi Agiwal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3999-9926)
- James O’Donoghue (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4218-1191)
- M. J. Owens (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2061-2453)
- Emma Thomas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5773-6110)
- Luke Moore (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4481-9862)
- W. S. Kŭrth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5471-6202)
- Go Murakami (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2759-7682)
- Hajime Kita (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9948-5316)
- Ruoyan Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4563-8919)
- J. E. P. Connerney (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7478-6462)
- Chihiro Tao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8817-0589)
- Katie Knowles (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5055-8115)
- Tom Stallard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3990-670X)
- Tanapat Bhakyapaibul
- R. E. Johnson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4696-2160)
- Karen Roberts (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1232-5078)
- Henrik Melin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5971-2633)
- Paola Tiranti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7339-9495)
Institutions
- Tohoku Institute of Technology (JP)
- Boston University (US)
- University of Iowa (US)
- Goddard Space Flight Center (US)
- University of Leicester (GB)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- Aberystwyth University (GB)
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JP)
- Northumbria University (GB)
- Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (JP)
- University of Reading (GB)
- National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Geophysical Research Letters
- Published
- 2025-04-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1029/2024gl113751
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.77
Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust
- University of Iowa
- Northumbria University
- Southwest Research Institute
- University of Leicester
- University of Reading
- Frontiers Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Kansas
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency