Magnetic field measurements obtained in the nightside magnetosphere by the co-orbiting ISEE-1 and 2 spacecraft have been examined for signatures of field-aligned currents (FAC). Such currents are found on the boundary of the plasma sheet both when the plasma sheet is expanding and when it is thinning. Evidence is often found for the existence of waves on the plasma sheet boundary, leading to multiple crossings of the FAC sheet. At times the boundary layer FAC sheet orientation is nearly parallel to the X-Z GSM plane, suggesting 'protrusions' of plasma sheet into the lobes. The boundary layer current polarity is, as expected, into the ionosphere in the midnight to dawn local time sector, and outward near dusk. Current sheet thicknesses and velocities are essentially independent of plasma sheet expansion or thinning, having typical values of 1500 km and 20-40 km/s respectively. Characteristic boundary layer current densities are about 10 nanoamps per square meter.


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    Titel :

    ISEE-1 and 2 observations of field-aligned currents in the distant midnight magnetosphere


    Beteiligte:
    Elphic, R. C. (Autor:in) / Kelly, T. J. (Autor:in) / Russell, C. T. (Autor:in)

    Erschienen in:

    Erscheinungsdatum :

    01.01.1985



    Medientyp :

    Sonstige


    Format :

    Keine Angabe


    Sprache :

    Englisch


    Schlagwörter :


    ISEE-1 and 2 observations of field-aligned currents in the distant midnight magnetosphere

    Elphic, R.C. / Kelly, T.J. / Russell, C.T. | Elsevier | 1985




    Surface Waves and Field-Aligned Currents in the Magnetosphere

    Nenovski, P. / International Council of Scientific Unions / Bulgarian Academy of Sciences et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003


    Modeling of Field-Aligned Currents in the Magnetosphere and Ionosphere

    Tsedilina, E. E. / Klos, Z. / Maj, S. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1997