Physics
Scientific paper
May 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010jgra..11505213p&link_type=abstract
Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 115, Issue A5, CiteID A05213
Physics
12
Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetotail, Magnetospheric Physics: Auroral Phenomena (2407), Magnetospheric Physics: Field-Aligned Currents And Current Systems (2409), Magnetospheric Physics: Substorms, Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Convection (2463)
Scientific paper
On 17 March 2008 around 0912 UT the five THEMIS spacecraft P1-P5 were in the plasma sheet between 2200 and 2300 h magnetic local time (MLT), covering radial distances between 15 Earth radii (Re) (P1) and 9 Re (P5). All the spacecraft consecutively observed a bursty bulk flow (BBF) that traveled earthward, slowed down from 400 km/s to 50 km/s between P1 and P5, and then turned in the opposite direction. The most tailward-located spacecraft, P1 and P2, detected thinning and then thickening of the plasma sheet around the time of the flow direction change. Meanwhile, the other three THEMIS spacecraft, which were located in a more dipolar region, observed plasma sheet thickening and then thinning. Observations indicated that the thinning/thickening was stronger around the BBF funnel. Further, during the interaction of the earthward-flowing BBF plasma with the Earth's dipolar field lines, the BBF was deflected by about 70° at a scale of about 5 Re. The radial pressure gradient was substantially increased when the BBF reached the shortest radial distance to the Earth and substantially decreased after the tailward plasma flow. We conclude that the tailward pressure pulse produced by the enhanced radial pressure gradients after the earthward BBF stopped could be responsible for the observed tailward plasma flows.
Angelopoulos Vassilis
Baumjohann Wolfgang
Glassmeier Karl-Heintz
Larson David
McFadden James P.
No associations
LandOfFree
Plasma sheet thickness during a bursty bulk flow reversal 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 Plasma sheet thickness during a bursty bulk flow reversal, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Plasma sheet thickness during a bursty bulk flow reversal will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-794711