Magnetotail energy storage and release during the CDAW 6 substorm analysis intervals

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA090iA02p01205· OSTI ID:5887014

Baker, D N; Fritz, T A; McPherron, R L; Fairfield, D H; Kamide, Y; Baumjohann, W

A primary goal of the Coordinated Data Analysis Workshop (CADW) 6 has been to study the flow of energy from the solar wind through the magnetosphere and in so doing to examine the role of magnetotail storage and rapid dissipation of this energy during magnetospheric substorms. The chosen intervals for CDAW 6 analysis (March 22 and March 31 to April, 1 1979) are well suited for such studies since spacecraft were situated upstream (IMP 8 and ISSE 3) to measure magnetospheric energy input from the solar wind and spacecraft were also located in the magnetotail (ISEE 1, 2) and the midnight sector at geostationary orbit (76-059, 77-007, GEOS 2, GOES 3) during several of the substorm periods. Using solar wind, magnetotail, and geostationary particle and field data, as well as ground-based information, we present the evidence for enhanced solar wind--magnetosphere coupling and concomitant increases of stored magnetotail energy. Clear examples of energy storage are found prior to the 1055 and 1435 UT substorms of March 22, as well as the 0250 UT and 2250 UT substorms on April and March 31, respectively. In these cases we estimate the total energy increase in the tail prior to the substorm onsets, and we estimate the dissipation rate of this energy during the substorms themselves. Typical total energy increases in the tail (> or approx. =5 x 10/sup 22/ ergs) appear to be more than adequate to supply the substorm energy dissipation inferred from ground-based and spacecraft observations.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of California, Los Alamos, New Mexico
• OSTI ID: 5887014
• 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
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY TRANSFER
GEOS SATELLITES
GOES SATELLITES
IMP SATELLITES
MAGNETIC BAYS
MAGNETIC ENERGY STORAGE
MAGNETIC STORMS
MAGNETOSPHERE
MAGNETOTAIL
SATELLITES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
STORAGE