Physics
Scientific paper
Sep 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009jgra..11409203p&link_type=abstract
Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 114, Issue A9, CiteID A09203
Physics
9
Magnetospheric Physics: Substorms, Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetotail Boundary Layers, Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Sheet, Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetospheric Configuration And Dynamics
Scientific paper
From a Cluster survey of the magnetotail during 2001-2007 we select 49 episodes of thin current sheet observations ending with plasma sheet activity onsets. The onsets were defined as flow bursts and/or electric current decrease and/or B z increase after a period of local quietness (in many cases with signatures of growth phase). Such onsets at 17-20 R E of radial distance were accompanied mainly by tailward flows with negativeB z . At 11-17 R E , earthward flows dominated, except the premidnight sector, where flows of both directions were observed. Tailward velocities were often rather small, within 200-300 km/s. We interpret such tailward flows as reconnection pulses occurring on the closed field lines in the stretched magnetic configuration. Ten activity onsets were not accompanied by plasma flows (faster than 100 km/s). Preonset current density was larger on average in the premidnight and midnight sector in comparison with the postmidnight.
Baumjohann Wolfgang
Nakamura Riou
Petrukovich A. A.
Reme Henri
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