Noise in the geomagnetic tail.

Abstract

Present observations have revealed a variety of magnetic wave phenomena in the tail, from ULF to ELF frequencies. However, only VLF measurements of electric fields have been made. These measurements reveal that the tail is electrically quiet at VLF frequencies, except in the near-earth plasma sheet during substorm expansion phases. The magnetic waves observed include: waves with periods of about 2 min which cause the plasma sheet boundary position and the neutral sheet location to oscillate; waves from .1 to 1 Hz which occur throughout the plasma sheet during plasma sheet expansions; and ELF waves which occur sporadically in the plasma sheet.