Abstract The ISEE-3 Geotail Mission has extended our knowledge of the terrestrial magnetotail out to distances of 235 Re. This paper presents a review of the observations from this mission pertaining to the size, shape, and structure of the magnetotail. The data sets available include magnetic fields, electron plasma, electromagnetic waves, plasma composition, energetic ions (H, He, C, N, O) and electrons (2D), and energetic ion spectra in 3D. The observations show that the distant terrestrial magnetotail is similar to the the near-earth region, except that the predominant direction of flows is away from the earth. The shape becomes elliptical, with the major axis in the east-west direction. A semi-permanent X-line is deduced to be near 80 to 100 Re. A solar wind component is found in the ion compositions. Vortex-like events and magnetic flux ropes, both known from other missions, have also been found.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Structure of the distant terrestrial magnetotail


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1986-01-01


    Size :

    13 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    The Boundary Structure at the Distant Magnetotail Lobe

    Tsuruda, K. / Yamamoto, T. / Hayakawa, H. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1995


    Plasma electrons as tracers of distant magnetotail structure: ISEE-3

    Baker, D.N. / Bame, S.J. / Gosling, J.T. et al. | Elsevier | 1989


    Plasma electrons as tracers of distant magnetotail structure - ISEE-3

    Baker, D. N. / Bame, S. J. / Gosling, J. T. et al. | NTRS | 1988


    On the energetic particle dynamics in the distant magnetotail

    Antonova, A.E. / Grigoryan, O.R. / Stolpovsky, V.G. | Elsevier | 1989