The structure of the Birkeland current system in the post-midnight plasma sheet

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL017i008p01057· OSTI ID:6514231

Nagai, Tsugunobu; Takahashi, K; Potemra, T A; McEntire, R W; Lopez, R E; Klumpar, D M

Simultaneous magnetic field and particle measurements by AMPTE/CCE with magnetic field measurements by GOES 5 and GOES 6 clarify the structure of the field-aligned Birkeland current system in the post-midnight region of the near-Earth magnetotail. The current system, consisting of current sheets flowing in opposite directions, exists near the boundary region of the plasma sheet; its magnetic effects are confined mainly to the current region because of its structure. During the expansion phase of substorms, a single-sheet current system is formed in the boundary region of the plasma sheet and net current is probably present in one meridian plane. This type of current system produces the substorm-related transient variations in the azimuthal (D) component normally observed at synchronous orbit.

• OSTI ID: 6514231
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 17:8; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTROJETS
EXPANSION
LAYERS
MAGNETIC BAYS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOTAIL
MORPHOLOGY
PLASMA SHEET
SATELLITES
VARIATIONS