Dayside aurora and relevance to substorm current systems and dayside merging

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1979 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA084iA07p03339· OSTI ID:6097049

Eather, R H; Mende, S B; Weber, E J

Photometric keograms from South Pole Station are used to investigate dayside auroral precipitation. Identification of cusp auroral signatures allows cusp movements to be monitored and correlated with substorm activity and interplanetary magnetic field direction. We conclude that any erosion of dayside field is not a direct result of southward turning B/sub z/. On the other hand, cusp position is intimately related to substorm timing and intensity. We suggest the associated dayside field reconfiguration results from diversion of near-tail magnetopause currents through the nightside electrojet because of enhanced auroral ionosphere conductivity. This interpretation implies that substorms result from increased efficiency of the extraction of energy from the solar wind rather than from a release of internally stored magnetic energy in the tail.

• Research Organization: Physics Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02167
• OSTI ID: 6097049
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 84:A7; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
640203 -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTROJETS
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC BAYS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MAGNETOSPHERE
MAGNETOTAIL