We statistically study the local time distribution of the helium band electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves observed at geosynchronous orbit when geomagnetic activity was low (Kp ≤ 1). In order to identify the geosynchronous EMIC waves, we use high time resolution magnetic field data acquired from GOES 10, 11, and 12 over a 2 year period from 2007 and 2008 and examine the local time distribution of EMIC wave events. Unlike previous studies, which reported high EMIC wave occurrence in the postnoon sector with a peak around 1500–1600 magnetic local time (MLT) during magnetically disturbed times (i.e., storm and/or substorm), we observed that quiet time EMIC waves mostly occur in a region from morning (∼0600 MLT) to afternoon (∼1600 MLT) with a peak around 1100–1200 MLT. To investigate whether the quiet time EMIC wave occurrence has a causal relationship with magnetospheric convection enhancement or solar wind dynamic pressure variations, we performed a superposed epoch analysis of solar wind parameters (solar wind speed, density, dynamic pressure, and interplanetary magnetic field Bz) and geomagnetic indices (AE and SYM‐H). From the superposed epoch analysis we found that solar wind dynamic pressure variation is a more important parameter than AE and SYM‐H for quiet time EMIC wave occurrence.

Although we have demonstrated that compressional Pc3-4 pulsations exist in the low-L magnetosphere and that they give rise to pulsations on the ground, we conclude that further study is required to distinguish between the cavity and evanescent modes.

The present Letter puts forth a possible explanation for the outstanding problem of measured proton temperature anisotropy in the solar wind at 1 AU apparently being regulated by the mirror and oblique fire-hose instabilities. Making use of the fact that the local magnetic field intensity near 1 AU undergoes intermediate-scale temporal variations, the present Letter carries out the quasilinear analysis of the temperature anisotropy-driven instabilities with a time-varying local B field, assuming arbitrary initial temperature ratios and parallel betas. It is found that the saturated states in (β(∥), T(⊥)/T(∥)) space are bounded by the mirror and oblique fire-hose instabilities, which is superficially similar to the observation.

We have examined relativistic electron flux losses at geosynchronous orbit under quiet geomagnetic conditions. One 3 day period, from 11 to 13 October 2007, was chosen for analysis because geomagnetic conditions were very quiet (3 day average of K p < 1), and significant losses of geosynchronous relativistic electrons were observed. During this interval, there was no geomagnetic storm activity. Thus, the loss processes associated with geomagnetic field modulations caused by ring current buildup can be excluded. The >2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit shows typical diurnal variations with a maximum near noon and a minimum near midnight for each day. The flux level of the daily variation significantly decreased from first day to third day for the 3 day period by a factor of >10. The total magnetic field strength (B T ) of the daily variation on the third day, however, is comparable to that on the first day. Unlike electron flux decreases, the flux of protons with energies between 0.8 and 4 MeV adiabatically responses to the daily variation of B T . That is, there is no significant decrease of the proton flux when the electron flux decreases. During the interval of quiet geomagnetic conditions, well-defined electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves were detected at geosynchronous spacecraft. Low-altitude polar-orbiting spacecraft observed the precipitation of energetic protons and relativistic electrons in the interval of EMIC waves enhancement. From these observations, we suggest that the EMIC waves at geosynchronous orbit cause pitch angle scattering and relativistic electron losses to the atmosphere under quiet geomagnetic conditions.