Auroral electrodynamics at the cusp/cleft poleward boundary during northward interplanetary magnetic field
- Univ. of Oslo (Norway)
Combined latitude profiles of optical aurora, magnetic disturbances, particle precipitation and field-aligned currents are used to investigate the electrodynamics of the cusp/cleft ionosphere during northward interplanetary magnetic field. An active zone of strong azimuthal plasma convection, manifested by the Svalgaard-Mansurov effect in ground magnetic deflections and auroral structure at the poleward boundary of the cusp/cleft is observed within {approximately}1,030-1,230 MLT. Contrary to the typical cusp/cleft auroral activity during negative IMF B{sub z} the discrete auroral forms in the present case move into the cusp/cleft arc, from the poleward edge. Both the optical observations and the inferred field-aligned current/plasma flow pattern indicate a generator mechanism poleward of the cusp/cleft, giving rise to strong momentum transfer and discrete electron precipitation within a {approximately}200 km wide latitudinal zone at the cusp/cleft poleward boundary, at the time of a poleward moving cusp/cleft arc. From this and other similar studies of the cusp/cleft ionosphere, the author concludes that a qualitatively similar mode of solar wind-magnetosphere interaction is operating both during northward and southward IMF.
- OSTI ID:
- 5221360
- Journal Information:
- Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 18:5; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
CONVECTION
CURRENTS
DATA
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
INFORMATION
INTERACTIONS
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASS TRANSFER
MOMENTUM TRANSFER
ORIENTATION
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DRIFT
POLAR CUSP
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND