IMF B/sub y/-dependent plasma flow and Birkeland currents in the dayside magnetosphere 1. Dynamics Explorer observations

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA090iA02p01577· OSTI ID:5774438

Burch, J L; Reiff, P H; Menietti, J D; Heelis, R A; Hanson, W B; Shawhan, S D; Shelley, E G; Sugiura, M; Weimer, D R; Winningham, J D

Plasma, magnetic-field and dc electric-field observations from Dynamics Explorers 1 and 2 are used to investigate the morphology of solar-wind ion injection, Birkeland currents, and plasma convection in the morning sector for both positive and negative interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) B/sub y/ components. The results of the study are used to construct a B/sub y/-dependent global convection model for southward IMF. A significant element of the model is the coexistence of three types of convection cells (''merging cells,'' ''viscous cells,'' and ''lobe cells''). This model can account for observations of a nearly stationary (in local time) convection ''throat,'' a sunward-antisunward convection reversal zone at the polar-cap boundary in both the morning and afternoon quadrants, the morphology of solar-wind ion injection and transport in the mid-altitude polar cusp, and the By-dependent dawn-dusk asymmetry of polar-cap electron fluxes.

• Research Organization: Department of Space Sciences, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas
• OSTI ID: 5774438
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 90:A2; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
DAILY VARIATIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
EXPLORER SATELLITES
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOSPHERE
PLASMA DRIFT
POLAR CUSP
RADIATION TRANSPORT
SATELLITES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
VARIATIONS