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At least 163 records · Page 9

Comments on a proposed magnetospheric model

Magnetospheric model characteristics, discussing auroral phenomena energy sources, magnetotail length, polar cusp, auroral oval and electrojet relationships, polar and magnetospheric substorms

Frank, L. A.↗

Experimental evidence in support of Joule heating associated with geomagnetic activity

High resolution accelerometer measurements in the altitude region 140 to 300 km from a satellite in a near-polar orbit during a period of extremely high geomagnetic activity indicate that Joule heating is the primary source of energy for atmospheric heating associated with geomagnetic activity. This conclusion is supported by the following observational evidence: (1) There is an atmospheric response in the auroral zone which is nearly simulataneous with the onset of geomagnetic activity, with no significant response in the equatorial region until several hours later; (2) The maximum heating occurs at geographic locations near the maximum current of the auroral electrojet; and (3) There is evidence of atmospheric waves originating near the auroral zone at altitudes where Joule heating would be expected to occur. An analysis of atmospheric response time to this heat shows time delays are apparently independent of altitude but are strongly dependent upon geomagnetic latitude.

Devries, L. L.↗

Magnetic field fluctuations during substorms

Before a magnetospheric substorm and during its early phases the magnetic field magnitude in the geomagnetic tail increases and field lines in the nighttime hemisphere assume a more tail-like configuration. Before the substorm onset a minimum amount of magnetic flux is observed to cross the neutral sheet which means that the neutral sheet currents attain their most earthward locations and their greatest current densities. This configuration apparently results from an increased transport of magnetic flux to the tail caused by a southward interplanetary magnetic field. The field begins relaxing toward a more dipolar configuration at the time of a substorm onset with the recovery probably occurring first between 6 and 10 R sub E. This recovery must be associated with magnetospheric convection which restores magnetic flux to the dayside hemisphere. Field aligned currents appear to be required to connect magnetospheric currents to the auroral electrojets, implying that a net current flows in a limited range of longitudes. Space measurements supporting current systems are limited. More evidence exists for the occurrence of double current sheets which do not involve net current at a given longitude.

Fairfield, D. H.↗

Radio-auroral aspect sensitivity and the two-stream instability.

The possibility is explored that the auroral electrojet current motions may be sufficiently great not only to introduce some distortion in the magnetic field, but also to substantially increase the maximum deviation from orthogonality permitted by Farley's mechanism. These two effects are then combined to give an approximate indication of how the aspect sensitivity should vary with current strength and direction.

Moorcroft, D. R.↗