Instantaneous pictures of the high-latitude electrodynamics using Viking and DMSP/F7 observations

Technical Report · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:7222368

Marklund, G T; Blomberg, L G; Hardy, D A; Rich, F J

Simultaneous observations by the Viking and the DMSP/F7 satellites were applied to a new technique to obtain realistic pictures of the auroral electrodynamics. In particular, an instantaneous global equipotential pattern is calculated using field-aligned current and conductivity distributions that are qualitatively consistent with the Viking auroral imager data and quantitatively consistent with magnetic-field and particle data from the two satellites. This convection pattern agrees with the E x B-drift vectors estimated from Viking electric-field data. Discrepancies consistent with upward parallel electric fields occur in regions of upward currents. The pattern is of the normal two-cell type, with a small dusk cell and a large, elongated crescent-shaped dawn cell. The excellent agreement between the satellite and model data demonstrates the reliability of the results.

• Research Organization: Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7222368
• Report Number(s): AD-A-190548/8/XAB; AFGL-TR-87-0339
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ALIGNMENT
AURORAE
CONVECTION
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRODYNAMICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASS TRANSFER
PARTICLES
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
RELIABILITY