Simultaneous observations of auroral zone electrodynamics by two satellites: evidence for height variations in the topside ionosphere. Environmental research papers

Technical Report · Mon Nov 10 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5915239

Rich, F J; Cattell, C A; Kelley, M C; Burke, W J

The S3-2 and S3-3 satellites were launched with identical orbit inclinations and with apogees of 1500 and 8000 km, respectively. Both satellites were equipped to measure magnetic fields, electric fields, and energetic electrons. By comparing a few cases when the satellites were crossing the auroral zone at approximately the same universal time and location, altitude variations in the electrodynamics of the auroral zone can be separated from universal and local time variations. Such comparisons show that there are times when the field-aligned current per unit of flux in the auroral zone measured by magnetic field deflections at the two satellites is the same at both altitudes. There are also times when the field-aligned current per unit of flux is larger at high altitudes than at low altitudes. This requires flow of currents perpendicular to the magnetic field. Comparisons of the convection electric field at the two altitudes show that the electric field does not always map as though field lines were equipotentials. In addition, intense, small-scale (0.1/sup 0/) electric fields perpendicular to the magnetic field observed at high altitudes are usually not seen in simultaneous low altitude observations. Only in one of the six passes was there a simultaneous observation of a region of intense, small-scale electric fields at 8000 km and 1000 km.

• Research Organization: Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5915239
• Report Number(s): AD-A-100237/7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALIGNMENT
ALTITUDE
AURORAE
AURORAL ZONES
CURRENTS
DATA ACQUISITION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTROJETS
ELECTRON SPECTRA
HALL EFFECT
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC STORMS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
SATELLITES
SPACE CHARGE
SPECTRA
VARIATIONS