Coupling between the solar wind and the magnetosphere: CDAW 6

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA090iA02p01191· OSTI ID:6025610

Tsurutani, B T; Slavin, J A; Kamide, Y; Zwickl, R D; King, J H; Russell, C T

Interplanetary conditions (VB/sub 3/, V/sup 2/B/sub 3/ and epsilon-c) are derived from ISEE 3 and IMP 8 field and plasma data for the two Coordinated Data Analysis Workshop (CDAW 6) intervals of study and are compared with various aspects of geomagnetic activity (AE, U/sub T/, derived Joule heating, electric potential, westward eastward and total electrojet currents). The March 22 (day 81), 1979, interval contains two distinct periods of geomagnetic activity, both highly correlated with interplanetary features. The start of the first active interval is caused by a southward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) associated with the passage of a heliospheric current sheet. The start of the second interval is related to a second IMF southward turning. The geomagnetic activity intensifies when the second crossing of the current sheet, and a ram pressure increase of 4 to 6, impinges on the magnetosphere. Because the interplanetary parameters VB/sub 3/, V/sup 2/B/sub 3/ and epsilon-c decrease across the discontinuity, it is concluded that either additional energy is injected into the magnetosphere from the conversion of ram energy into magnetospheric substorm energy or some feature associated with current sheet crossing ''triggers'' the release of previously stored magnetosphere/magnetotail energy. It is not possible at this time to distinguish between these two possibilities. For day 81, VB/sub 3/, V/sup 2/4/sub 3/, and epsilon-c were highly correlated with AL, AE, westward and equivalent currents with coefficients ranging from approx.0.75 to 0.90.

• Research Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
• OSTI ID: 6025610
• 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
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC HEATING
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTROJETS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXPLORER SATELLITES
HEATING
IMP SATELLITES
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
JOULE HEATING
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC STORMS
MAGNETOSPHERE
PLASMA HEATING
RESISTANCE HEATING
SATELLITES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND