The low-latitude boundary layer at mid-altitiudes: Relation to large-scale Birkeland currents

Journal Article · Fri Oct 22 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93GL01705· OSTI ID:5468861

Woch, J; Yamauchi, M; Lundin, R ^[1]; Potemra, T A; Zanetti, L J ^[2]

---

1. Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna (Sweden)
2. John Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MA (United States)

In this work the authors seek to test a projected relationship between the low latitude boundary layer (LLBL) and field aligned currents (FAC), or Birkeland currents. They use the procedure developed by Woch and Lundin for identifying LLBL boundaries. They look for correlations between properties of the FAC and properties of the LLBL. Their results show that in most cases the FAC observed are totally inside the region which exhibits LLBL plasma precipitation. The authors argue that within the biases to their data because of its source, and relative sensitivities, their conclusions support earlier work which argues for the LLBL acting as a source region for FAC features.

• OSTI ID: 5468861
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Vol. 20:20; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
BOUNDARY LAYERS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
PLASMA DRIFT
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
LAYERS
661320* - Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena- (1992-)