On the search for evidence of fast mode compressions in the near-Earth tail: ISEE observations

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA095iA11p18887· OSTI ID:5047769

Moortgat, K T; Cattell, C A; Mozer, F S ^[1]; Elphic, R ^[2]

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1. Univ. of California, Berkeley (United States)
2. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (United States)

A search for earthward propagating fast mode compressions in the near-Earth tail has been conducted. ISEE electric and magnetic field data were studied for substorm and quiet times when the spacecraft was close to the neutral sheet, near midnight, and at radial distances of 5.5 to 13 R{sub E}. Due to ISEE orbit characteristics, the set of events covered 12 1/2 hours, during which time the satellite remained between 8.5 and 13 R{sub E}. Contrary to earlier ideas, no evidence for fast mode compression waves was found during the substorm events studied here, since plasma data and spacecraft potential data showed no density increases at the times of rapid magnetic field increases. For the one compression event for which a temporal offset between the ISEE 1 and ISEE 2 magnetic field structures could be clearly determined, the propagation velocity was {approximately} 140 km/s, well below the fast mode speed of {approximately} 400 km/s for the measured composition. During substorm events, the largest (EB)/{vert bar}B{vert bar}{sup 2} convection flows were earthward with magnitudes of 100-350 km/s.

• OSTI ID: 5047769
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 95:A11; ISSN JGREA; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMPRESSION
DATA
DATA ANALYSIS
DISTANCE
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
EXPLORER SATELLITES
INFORMATION
MAGNETIC BAYS
MAGNETIC COMPRESSION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOTAIL
PLASMA DENSITY
SATELLITES
WAVE PROPAGATION