Solar wind dynamic pressure variations and possible ground signatures of flux transfer events

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 UTC 1991 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/90JA02357· OSTI ID:5314411

Sibeck, D G ^[1]; Croley, Jr, D J ^[2]

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1. Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD (USA)
2. Aerospace Corp., Los Angeles, CA (USA)

The authors follow the effects of a series of solar wind dynamic pressure pulses through the solar wind, across the bow shock and magnetosheath, into the magnetosphere, and down to the dayside ionosphere. Although magnetic field variations associated with the pulses were observed at both ISEE 2 and IMP 8, less significant dynamic pressure pulses were observed by IMP 8. They demonstrate that each pressure pulse had an intrinsic solar wind origin, i.e., was not generated by processes occuring at the Earth's bow shock. Both upstream and downstream of the Earth's bow shock the pulses were identified by depressed magnetic field strengths and enhanced plasma densities. The pulses compressed the magnetosheath and magnetosphere, causing satellites in the magnetosphere to briefly observe enhanced magnetic field strengths, and/or enter the low-latitude boundary layer or magnetosheath. Satellites already in the magnetosheath observed a brief burst of enhanced magnetosheath flow caused by the relative inward motion of magnetosheath flow patterns. Alfven and fast mode compressional waves propagated rapidly down to the polar ionosphere, where they produced transient ionospheric flows at latitudes equatorward of the convection reversal boundary. The flow patterns moved westward around the auroral oval.

• OSTI ID: 5314411
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 96:A2; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALFVEN WAVES
AURORAL OVAL
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
GROUND LEVEL
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
INTERACTIONS
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONOSPHERE
LEVELS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOPAUSE
MAGNETOSHEATH
ORIGIN
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA PRESSURE
POLAR REGIONS
PRESSURE EFFECTS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
VARIATIONS
WAVE PROPAGATION