Polarization and phase of planetary-period magnetic field oscillations on high-latitude field lines in Saturn's magnetosphere

Details Polarization and phase of planetary-period magnetic field oscillations on high-latitude field lines in Saturn's magnetosphere Polarization and phase of planetary-period magnetic field oscillations on high-latitude field lines in Saturn's magnetosphere

Feb 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009jgra..11402225p&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 114, Issue A2, CiteID A02225

Physics

24

Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects: Saturn, Planetary Sciences: Fluid Planets: Magnetospheres (2756), Planetary Sciences: Fluid Planets: Polar Regions, Magnetospheric Physics: Planetary Magnetospheres (5443, 5737, 6033), Planetary Sciences: Fluid Planets: General Or Miscellaneous

Scientific paper

We examine magnetic field data obtained by the Cassini spacecraft on a sequence of high-latitude orbits in Saturn's magnetosphere spanning October 2006 to May 2007 to determine whether planetary-period oscillations are present on polar open field lines, such as have been found previously in near-equatorial magnetic field data. Such oscillations are found generally to be present with amplitudes ~0.5-1 nT, somewhat smaller than the few nT amplitudes typical of the quasi-dipolar equatorial region. The polarization characteristics in the northern and southern polar regions are determined and found to differ significantly from those in the equatorial region. The phases of the oscillations in the northern and southern hemispheres are also determined relative to the equatorial oscillations, and hence relative to each other, requiring extension of the equatorial oscillation phase model to the end of 2007, spanning the interval of high-latitude orbits. The results show that the overall pattern of field oscillations is not consistent with a rotating external current system that mimics a rotating transverse dipole in the outer regions. Rather, we suggest that the overall field perturbations are associated with a rotating partial ring current and its field-aligned closure currents, the latter favoring the southern ionosphere during the southern summer conditions examined. A physical picture is presented that links together observed planetary-period modulations in the middle and outer magnetospheric field, plasma, and radio emissions that may be subject to further test and makes predictions as to how these phenomena will evolve during future Saturn equinox and northern summer conditions.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Polarization and phase of planetary-period magnetic field oscillations on high-latitude field lines in Saturn's magnetosphere 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 Polarization and phase of planetary-period magnetic field oscillations on high-latitude field lines in Saturn's magnetosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Polarization and phase of planetary-period magnetic field oscillations on high-latitude field lines in Saturn's magnetosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-919425