Transient-response theory of Pi 2 pulsations

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA090iA05p04395· OSTI ID:5646971

Sun, W; Kan, J R

The cause of Pi 2 pulsations at substorm onset can be understood in terms of the transient ionospheric response to an enhanced convection in the plasma sheet. A two-dimensional model is presented to demonstrate how the transient ionospheric response can lead to damped oscillations similar to the Pi 2 pulsations observed at substorm onset. Alfven waves are launched by the enhanced convection and subsequently reflected between the ionospheres in the opposite hemisphere. The ionospheric conductivity is fully anisotropic and highly nonuniform.

• Research Organization: Geophysical Institute and Department of Space Physics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
• OSTI ID: 5646971
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 90:A5; 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
CONVECTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
EARTH PLANET
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROMAGNETIC WAVES
IONOSPHERE
IONOSPHERIC EFFECTS
IONOSPHERIC STORMS
MAGNETOSPHERE
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLANETS
PLASMA SHEET
PULSATIONS