The dynamic response of the westward auroral electrojet and polar-cap currents to solar wind-magnetosphere coupling

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:7275641

Bargatze, L F

Results are presented of studies using high-time resolution data to determine the response of magnetospheric currents to coupling with the solar wind. In the first study, the author applies the concept of dimensional analysis to the problem of solar wind-magnetosphere coupling in order to find the dependence of the coupling rate on solar-wind variables. He finds that energy input to the magnetosphere and as represented by the AE indices occurs at a rate proportional to p{sup 1/6}EG({theta}), where p is the solar-wind dynamic pressure, E is the solar-wind motional electric field, and G({theta}) is a leaky' gating function which expresses coupling-rate dependence on the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientation. In the second study, he determines the temporal relationship between the solar wind motional electric field (VB{sub s}) and the westward auroral-electrojet index, AL, by using the linear prediction technique. He finds that the VB{sub s}-AL response filters are composed of two response pulses. He suggests that one response pulse corresponds to AL index activity driven directly by solar wind-magnetosphere interaction, while the other corresponds to activity driven by energy loading and unloading from the magnetotail.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Los Angeles, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7275641
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
COUPLING
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTROJETS
ENERGY TRANSFER
MAGNETOTAIL
POLAR-CAP AURORAE
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND