Universal Time Variations in the Magnetosphere and the Effect of CME Arrival Time: Analysis of the February 2022 Event that Led to the Loss of Starlink Satellites

We study Universal Time (UT) variations in the magnetospheric response to Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) impacts, using example of two CMEs that led destruction 38 out 49 Starlink satellites early February 2022. employ Expanding-Contracting Polar Cap model analyze variation size ionospheric polar caps and an eccentric dipole geomagnetic field thereby quantify UT caused by inductive effect diurnal motions poles a “geocentric-solar” frame reference (i.e., with X axis points from center Earth Sun). The results show use quasi-steady convection predicts similar global power deposition into thermosphere as inferred here, but does not give same division between northern southern hemispheres. demonstrate that, through combined effects Russell-McPherron dipole-tilt mechanism on solar-wind magnetosphere coupling cap geocentric-solar frame, deposited varies significantly arrival at Earth. also events 2022, both arrived almost optimum cause maximum thermospheric heating.