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Substorm theories: United they stand, divided they fall

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:36642
Consensus on the timing and mapping of substorm features has permitted a synthesis of substorm models. Within the synthesis model the mechanism for onset of substorm expansion is still unknown. Possible mechanisms are: growth of an ion tearing mode, current disruption by a cross-field current instability, and magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. While the synthesis model is consistent with overall substorm morphology, including near-Earth onset, none of the onset theories, taken individually, appear to account for substorm expansion onset. A grand synthesis with unification of the underlying onset theories appears necessary.
Research Organization:
Boston Univ., MA (United States). Center for Space Physics
OSTI ID:
36642
Report Number(s):
N--95-22326; NASA-CR--197672; NAS--1.26:197672; CNN: NAGW-2627; NAGW-2856; F19628-90-K-0003
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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