North-south and dawn-dusk plasma asymmetries in the distant tail lobes: ISEE 3

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA090iA07p06354· OSTI ID:5640094

Gosling, J T; Baker, D N; Bame, S J; Feldman, W C; Zwickl, R D; Smith, E J

ISEE 3 plasma measurements made in the distant geomagnetic tail during rapid traverals of the current sheet from one lobe to the other show that the lobe densities on opposite sides of the current sheet often differ by a factor of approx.3-10 or more. On the dawnside of the tail the north lobe plasma has the higher density when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) has a +B/sub y/ component, and the south lobe plasma has the higher density when the IMF has a -B/sub y/ component. The sense of this asymmetry is reversed on the duskside of the tail. Such IMF-controlled asymmetries in lobe plasma density are consistent with earlier observations made much closer to earth and can be interpreted most simply as a consequence of an ''open'' geomagnetic tail.

• Research Organization: University of California, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico
• OSTI ID: 5640094
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 90:A7; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASYMMETRY
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOTAIL
PLASMA