Can the ionosphere regulate magnetospheric convection.

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1973 · J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 16, pp. 2837-2851

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA078i016p02837· OSTI ID:4399815

Coroniti, F V; Kennel, C F

Following a southward shift of the interplanetary magnetic field, which implies enhanced reconnection at the nose of the magnetosphere, the magnetopause shrinks from its Chapman-Ferraro equilibrium position. If the convective return of magnetic flux to ihe magnetopause equaled the reconnection rate, the magnetopause would not shrink. Consequently, there is a delay in the development of magnetospheric convection following the onset of reconnection, which we ascribe to line tying by the polar cusp ionosphere. A simple model relates the dayside magnetopausc displacement to the currents feeding the polar cap ionosphere, from which the ionospheric electric field, and consequently the flux return rate, may be estimated as a function of magnetopause displacement. Flux conservation arguments then permit an estimate of the time scale on which convection increases, which is not inconsistent with that of the substorm growth phase. (auth)

• Research Organization: Plasma Physics Group, Department of Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90024
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-29-005984
• OSTI ID: 4399815
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 16, pp. 2837-2851, Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res., v. 78, no. 16, pp. 2837-2851; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

*IONOSPHERE-- CONVECTION
*MAGNETOSPHERE-- CONVECTION
ELECTRIC FIELDS
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOPAUSE
N58100* --Physics (Atmospheric)--Auroral & Ionospheric Phenomena
N58300 --Physics (Atmospheric)--Magnetospheric Phenomena