Structure of the magnetotail at 220 R/sub E/ and its response to geomagnetic activity

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL011i001p00005· OSTI ID:6719384

Homes, Jr, E W; Baker, D N; Bame, S J; Feldman, W C; Gosling, J T; McComas, D J; Zwicki, R D; Slavin, J A; Smith, E J; Tsurutani, B T

Using plasma electron and magnetic field measurements from ISEE 3, 220 Radai E from earth, we find that the magnetocell at that distance is a coherent structure that evidently waves about through distances comparable to it own lateral scale size. For about one-third of the time it was inside the magnetotail, ISEE 3 was in the plasma sheet. During quiet times the plasma sheet is apparently quite thin, but in response to geomagnetic activity it expands, becoming filled with hot plasma flowing tailward at speeds sometimes exceeding 1000 km/sec, and forces the magnetotail cross-section itself to expand. The plasma sheet's expansion is delayed typically by about 30 minutes from the onset of the associated geomagnetic activity (often a clearly identified isolated substorm). The magnetic field in the newly expanded plasma sheet usually exhibits a few-minute steep northward excursion followed by a more prolonged (and often steep) southward excursion. We believe these to be the signatures of arrival of a plasmoid formed and released near the earth at the onset of the corresponding geomagnetic activity. The discreteness of these plasma releases through the magnetotail and their close association with onsets of geomagnetic activity at earth suggest that they are consequences of spontaneous release, probably by magnetic reconnection, of energy and plasma earlier stored in the magnetotail.

• Research Organization: University of California, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
• OSTI ID: 6719384
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 11:1; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640203* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (-1987)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC STORMS
MAGNETOSHEATH
MAGNETOSPHERE
MAGNETOTAIL
PLASMA SHEET
PLASMOIDS