Field-aligned currents and convection patterns in the Southern Polar Cap during stable northward, southward, and azimuthal IMF

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.24621· OSTI ID:6250050

Papitashvili, V O; Belov, B A; Gromova, L I

Equivalent ionospheric current patterns are derived from ground-based geomagnetic observations for events on 11-12 November 1979 (B/sub z/ >> 0), 24 November 1981 (B/sub z/ << 0), 10-11 January 1980 (B/sub y/ >> 0) (B/sub y/ >> 0), and 25-26 November 1979 (B/sub y/ << 0) when the corresponding IMF conditions remained stable. The radar scanning technique was used to scan the southern polar cap with a chain of unmanned magnetometer stations placed from the cap border to the corrected geomagnetic pole approximately along geomagnetic meridian 110/sup 0/. Due to stable external conditions, it is possible to calculate the field-aligned current (FAC) density within cells formed by two adjacent stations by taking into account the uniform conductivity of the summer polar ionosphere. These results completely correspond to regressional analysis of interplanetary magnetic fields (IMF) and ground-based geomagnetic data, and also to satellite observations of the NBZ current system. During stable southward IMF a new result was obtained, a reversal of antisunward convection flow is identified, and an NBZ-like FAC system is restored in the central part of the southern polar cap. The authors conclude that there may be an additional NBZ-like FAC system poleward of -85/sup 0/, which is independent of the IMF and is generated by the quasi-viscous interaction between solar-wind plasma and high-latitude lobes of the magnetospheric tail.

• Research Organization: Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere, and Radiowave Propagation (IZMIRAN), Troitsk, Moscow Region 142092 (SU)
• OSTI ID: 6250050
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.; (United States) Vol. 17:2; ISSN ITPSB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
AZIMUTH
CALCULATION METHODS
CONVECTION
DATA ANALYSIS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ENERGY TRANSFER
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
GEOS SATELLITES
HEAT TRANSFER
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOMETERS
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
POLAR-CAP AURORAE
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
SATELLITES
STATISTICS