Simultaneous observations of the westward electrojet and the cross-tail current sheet during substorms

Technical Report · Mon Jan 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:7264480

Lopez, R E; Spence, H E; Meng, C I

In this report the authors present the results of a study using data from AMPTE/CCE, ground stations, and DMSP F7 during substorms. They have examined 12 events during which CCE was located near the neutral sheet and observed the disruption of the cross-tail current. During these events there were simultaneous ground magnetic field data near to the CCE local time sector. DMSP F7 crossed the nightside auroral oval within 40 minutes of substorm onset at CCE during five of the events. The authors find that the data are consistent with a near-Earth substorm initiation. They also find that the Tsyganenko magnetic field model requires an additional tail-like stress during substorms, which corresponds to an equatorward displacement of auroral zone field lines. Assuming that the center of the electrojet is drawn from the near-Earth region, the magnitude of this displacement is about 1 deg to 2 deg.

• Research Organization: Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7264480
• Report Number(s): AD-A-278631/7/XAB; TR--0091(6940-06)-3; CNN: F04701-88-C-0089
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
AURORAL OVAL
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTROJETS
FLUCTUATIONS
MAGNETIC STORMS
MAGNETOTAIL
PLASMA SHEET
VARIATIONS