A comparison of magnetic signatures and DMSP auroral images at substorm onset: Three case studies

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA092iA03p02447· OSTI ID:5510682

Gelpi, C; Hughes, W J ^[1]; Singer, H J ^[2]

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1. Boston Univ., MA (United States)
2. Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (United States)

The authors explore the relationship between mid-latitude and synchronous orbit magnetic signatures and the location of the auroral surge at the onset of three isolated magnetospheric substorms. Mid-latitude data come from the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory Magnetometer Network, synchronous orbit data form the satellites GOES 2 and 3, and auroral data from Defense Meteorological Satellite Program auroral images and auroral magnetograms. They find that the surge forms with its western edge {approximately} 1 hour west of the longitude where the major axis of the mid-latitude Pi 2 polarization ellipse is along magnetic north and where the D component perturbation of the magnetic bay is near zero. These observations are in qualitative agreement with a current wedge consisting of a localized upward current in the west and a longitudinally distributed current in the east. At synchronous orbit the longitude of the surge head appears to separate a region to the west where the magnetic field becomes more taillike from one to the east where the magnetic field becomes more dipolar.

• OSTI ID: 5510682
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 92:A3; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AMPLITUDES
AURORAE
AURORAL ZONES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTROJETS
EVALUATION
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
GOES SATELLITES
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
IMAGES
MAGNETIC BAYS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOTAIL
MONITORING
SATELLITES
VARIATIONS