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The ionospheric signatures of flux transfer events and solar wind dynamic pressure changesRecent observations of vortical flow patterns in the dayside auroral ionosphere are discussed in terms of two alternative mechanisms: (1) the time-dependent magnetic reconnection in 'flux transfer events' (FTEs); and (2) the action of solar wind dynamic pressure changes at the magnetopause. It is argued that the ionospheric flow signature of an FTE should be a twin vortex, with the mean flow velocity in the central region of the pattern being equal to the velocity of the pattern as a whole. On the other hand, the pulse of enhanced or reduced dynamic pressure is also expected to produce a twin vortex, but with the central plasma flow being generally different in speed from (and almost orthogonal to) the motion of the whole pattern. It is found that, while none of the events discussed here are consistent with the theories of the effects of the dynamic pressure changes, all are well explained in terms of the ionospheric signatures of FTEs.
Document ID
19910025788
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Lockwood, M.
(Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot; Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine London, United Kingdom)
Cowley, S. W. H.
(Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine London, United Kingdom)
Sandholt, P. E.
(Oslo, Universitetet Norway)
Lepping, R. P.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 95
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
91A10411
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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