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Birkeland currents and charged particles in the high-latitude prenoon region - A new interpretationThe relationship between Birkeland currents and charged particles in the ionosphere was investigated for the period between the late morning through early afternoon, using data on simultaneous conjugate measurements of magnetic fields and charged particles at low altitude in the high-latitude prenoon sector, acquired on November 1, 1984 by four spacecraft, IMP 8, AMPTE CCE, DMSP F7, and HILAT. The results of these observations indicate that, for both northward and southward IMF, the traditional 'cusp Birkeland currents' lie poleward of the most intense sheathlike particle precipitation, and it is likely that these currents map to the plasma mantle and are associated with divergent flow of ionospheric plasma near noon. It is suggested that the traditional 'cusp' current system might be more appropriately named the 'mantle' Birkeland current system.
Document ID
19880066219
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Bythrow, P. F.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Laurel, MD, United States)
Potemra, T. A.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Laurel, MD, United States)
Erlandson, R. E.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Laurel, MD, United States)
Zanetti, L. J.
(Johns Hopkins University Laurel, MD, United States)
Klumpar, D. M.
(Lockheed Research Laboratories Palo Alto, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 93
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
AD-A201786
AFGL-TR-88-0313
Accession Number
88A53446
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-28796
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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