An observational test of magnetospheric magnetic field mapping

Conference · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:10163053

Weiss, L A; Thomsen, M F; Reeves, G D; Hones, E W; McComas, D J

The distortion of the geomagnetic field is a key signature of the response of the magnetosphere to the solar wind input. A number of empirical models have been devised to estimate the magnetic field direction and magnitude at any point within the magnetosphere under a variety of conditions. We describe a technique whereby the field-line mapping predicted by such models is tested by matching measurements of magnetospheric plasma energy spectra obtained by Los Alamos instruments at geosynchronous orbit with spectra obtained by instruments on the polar-orbiting DMSP satellites (at an altitude of about 800 km) at times when the two satellites are in approximate magnetic conjugacy. With up to three geosynchronous satellites and as many as four DMSP satellites in operation at any given time, there are a very large number of such two-satellite conjunctions, allowing the model mappings to be tested under a wide range of local times and geomagnetic activity. Preliminary results from the application of this technique are presented for one week of data from March, 1991.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 10163053
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--94-2129; CONF-9406192--3; ON: DE94014461
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
MAPPING
REMOTE SENSING
SATELLITES
SOLAR WIND