Polar cap potential distributions during periods of positive IMF B(sub y) and B(sub z)

Details Polar cap potential distributions during periods of positive IMF B(sub y) and B(sub z) Polar cap potential distributions during periods of positive IMF B(sub y) and B(sub z)

Feb 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994jatp...56..209b&link_type=abstract

Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics (ISSN 0021-9169), vol. 56, no. 2, p. 209-221

Physics

11

Convective Flow, Electric Fields, Interplanetary Magnetic Fields, Magnetohydrodynamic Flow, Plasma Drift, Polar Caps, Solar Wind, Atmospheric Boundary Layer, Geomagnetism, Magnetic Field Reconnection, Particle Precipitation, Solar Terrestrial Interactions, Wind Velocity

Scientific paper

We compare the DE-2 electric field measurements used by HEPPNER and MAYNARD (1987) to illustrate strongly distorted, BC convection patterns for interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) B(sub z) greater than 0 and large absolute value of B(sub y), with simultaneous detections of particle spectra, plasma drifts and magnetic perturbations. Measured potentials greater than 50 keV, driven by the solar wind speeds exceeding 500 km/s, are greater than published correlation analysis predictions by up to 27%. The potential distributions show only two extrema and thus support the basic conclusion that under these conditions the solar wind/IMF drives two-rather than four-cell convection patterns. However, several aspects of the distorted two-cell convection pattern must be revised. In addition to the strong east-west convection in the vicinity of the cusp, indicated by Heppner and Maynard, we also detect comparable components of sunward (equatorward) plasma flow. Combined equipotential and particle precipitation distributions indicate the presence of a lobe cell embedded within the larger, afternoon reconnection cell. Both types rotate in the same sense, with the lobe cell carrying 20-40% of the total afternoon cell potential. We detected no lobe cell within morning convection cell.

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