Comparison of magnetic signatures and DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) auroral images at substorm onset. Three case studies

Technical Report · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6401447

Gelpi, C; Singer, H J; Hughes, W J

The relationship is explored between mid-latitude and synchronous-orbit magnetic signatures and the location of the auroral surge at the onset of three isolated magnetospheric substorms. Mid-latitude data come from the Magnetometer Network, synchronous orbit data from the satellites GOES 2 and 3, and auroral data from Defense Meteorological Satellite Program auroral images and auroral magnetograms. It was found that the surge forms with its western edge about 1 hour west of the longitude where the major axis of the mid-latitude Pi 2 polarization ellipse is along magnetic north and where the D component perturbation of the magnetic bay is near zero. These observations are in qualitative agreement with a current wedge consisting of a localized upward current in the west and a longitudinally distributed current in the east. At synchronous orbit the longitude of the surge head appears to separate a region to the west where the magnetic field becomes more taillike from one to the east where the magnetic field becomes more dipolar.

• Research Organization: Boston Univ., MA (USA). Dept. of Astronomy
• OSTI ID: 6401447
• Report Number(s): AD-A-178534/4/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
IMAGES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC STORMS
MAGNETOMETERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
ORBITS
SURGES