Global characteristics of northward IMF-associated (NBZ) field-aligned currents

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA092iA03p02408· OSTI ID:5557871

Iijima, T; Shibaji, T ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Tokyo (Japan)

Global characteristics of large-scale field-aligned current (FAC) systems have been determined by analyzing the magnetic disturbances acquired with the MAGSAT satellite in the southern summer hemisphere during November 1979 through January 1980 for the three cases of the IMF B{sub z} > B{sub y} > 0, IMF B{sub y} > B{sub z} > 0, and IMF B{sub y} > 0 and B{sub z} < 0. Transverse magnetic disturbances having a half wavelength larger than 113 km at the MAGSAT altitudes in the range of {approximately}350 to {approximately}550 km were subjected to the present analysis. The large-scale FAC systems include the usual region 1 and region 2 systems and the recently found NBZ system. The NBZ system denotes the FACs which flow into and away from the polar cap ionosphere (poleward of the region 1 system) during periods of the IMF B{sub z} > 0. The principal results of the observations include the following: (1) Global characteristics of large-scale FAC systems consist of two distinctive parts, i.e., the dayside part and nightside part. (2) During periods of the IMF B{sub z} > 0 the dayside part is characterized by a large NBZ system which dominates the entire polar cap and is flanked by a definite region 1 system. (3) During periods of the IMF B{sub z} > 0 the nightside part is characterized by a distinctive NBZ system which develops along with well-defined region 1 and region 2 systems. For both cases of the IMF B{sub z} > B{sub y} > 0 and IMF B{sub y} > B{sub z} > 0 these NBZ and region 1 systems on the nightside exhibit the dawn-dusk hemispheric asymmetries.

• OSTI ID: 5557871
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 92:A3; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
IONOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
POLAR REGIONS
ASYMMETRY
AURORAE
AURORAL OVAL
CURRENT DENSITY
DATA ANALYSIS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
GLOBAL ASPECTS
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
POLAR CUSP
SATELLITES
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
661320* - Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magnetospheric Phenomena- (1992-)