Solar wind-magnetosphere coupling and the distant magnetotail: ISEE-3 observations

Conference · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4722-1_49· OSTI ID:6522123

Slavin, J A; Smith, E J; Sibeck, D G; Baker, D N; Zwickl, R D; Akasofu, S I; Lepping, R P

ISEE-3 Geotail observations are used to investigate the relationship between the interplanetary magnetic field, substorm activity, and the distant magnetotail. Magnetic field and plasma observations are used to present evidence for the existence of a quasi-permanent, curved reconnection neutral line in the distant tail. The distance to the neutral line varies from absolute value of X = 120 to 140 R/sub e/ near the center of the tail to beyond absolute value of X = 200 R/sub e/ at the flanks. Downstream of the neutral line the plasma sheet magnetic field is shown to be negative and directly proportional to negative B/sub z/ in the solar wind as observed by IMP-8. V/sub x/ in the distant plasma sheet is also found to be proportional to IMF B/sub z/ with southward IMF producing the highest anti-solar flow velocities. A global dayside reconnection efficiency of 20 +- 5% is derived from the ISEE-3/IMP-8 magnetic field comparisons. Substorm activity, as measured by the AL index, produces enhanced negative B/sub z/ and tailward V/sub x/ in the distant plasma sheet in agreement with the basic predictions of the reconnection-based models of substorms. The rate of magnetic flux transfer out of the tail as a function of AL is found to be consistent with previous near-earth studies. Similarly, the mass and energy fluxes carried by plasma sheet flow down the tail are consistent with theoretical mass and energy budgets for an open magnetosphere. In summary, the ISEE-3 Geotail observations appear to provide good support for reconnection models of solar wind-magnetosphere coupling and substorm energy rates. 40 refs., 5 figs.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA); Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA); California Univ., Los Angeles (USA). Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences; Alaska Univ., Fairbanks (USA); National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD (USA). Goddard Space Flight Center
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6522123
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-85-3525; CONF-850277-5; ON: DE86002386
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COUPLING
DATA
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
INFORMATION
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC STORMS
MAGNETOTAIL
NUMERICAL DATA
PLASMA SHEET
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
THEORETICAL DATA