Average flow between about 70 and 220 earth radii in the geomagnetic tail

A detailed statistical analysis is made of the flow magnitude and direction in the geomagnetic tail between about 70 and 220 earth radii derived from suprathermal protons measured with the ultra-low energy charge analyzer on the ISEE-3 spacecraft. It is found that the average tailward flow velocity between 203 and 220 earth radii is 567 km/s, and earthward flow occurs in less than 1 percent of all the cases. At a radial distance of 117 and 153 earth radii, the result is similar: the average tailward flow velocity is 665 km/s, and the earthward flow occurs in less than 6 percent of all measurements. In contrast, at radial distances of 61 to 76 earth radii, equal probability for earthbound and tailward flow has been found, and average flow velocities are 336 km/s in both directions. These results indicate that magnetic neutral lines rarely move or form beyond about 100 earth radii.