Formation of thin auroral arcs by current striation

Details Formation of thin auroral arcs by current striation Formation of thin auroral arcs by current striation

Dec 1993

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993georl..20.2833o&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters (ISSN 0094-8276), vol. 20, no. 24, p. 2833-2836

Statistics

Computation

31

Auroral Arcs, Current Sheets, Field Aligned Currents, Magnetic Field Reconnection, Mapping, Current Density, Electron Precipitation, Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling, Three Dimensional Models

Scientific paper

A model for the formation of auroral arcs is presented which provides an explanation for the extraordinary small thickness of auroral arcs and other morphological properties. The presence of field-aligned current sheets allows for patchy (three-dimensional) reconnection processes. Due to the presence of magnetic shear, the associated field-aligned electric fields map to thin elongated regions at low altitudes. The ionospheric foot points of newly reconnected field lines can be interpreted as the locations of the auroral display. The process can occur in a cascading manner at varying altitudes depending on the local current densities and plasma conditions. The proposed properties are confirmed by results of three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic computations.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Formation of thin auroral arcs by current striation does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Formation of thin auroral arcs by current striation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Formation of thin auroral arcs by current striation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-786570