Enhancements of magnetospheric convection electric field associated with sudden commencements in the inner magnetosphere and plasmasphere regions

Electric field variations in the inner magnetosphere and plasmasphere regions associated with sudden commencements (SCs) are investigated by using the observation data of the Akebono satellite which has been carried out more than 15 years since 1989. 117 of 153 SC events in the low-latitude (MLAT < 45°) region, which occurred within a period from March 1989 to January 1996, showed a shift of the magnetospheric convection electric field with the magnitude of 0.1–3.2 mV/m about 1 min after the electric field signature with a bi-polar waveform due to the passage of fast-mode hydromagnetic (HM) waves. The increase of the convection electric field takes place in the entire magnetic local time sector in the inner magnetosphere. The amplitude does not depend on L-value and magnetic local time but is proportional to the SC amplitude measured at Kakioka. The majority of the electric field enhancements persist for about 4–14 min. The origin of the convection electric field in the inner magnetosphere is a plasma motion caused by the compression of the magnetosphere due to the solar wind shock and discontinuity.