Coherence lengths of upstream ULF waves - Dual ISEE observations

We have used high time resolution simultaneous magnetic field data from the dual ISEE spacecraft to study the coherence lengths of upstream ULF waves. We examine the cross-correlation between ISEE 1 and 2 observations for different spacecraft separations and determine the coherence lengths for upstream 30-second waves, 3-second waves, and one-Hz waves. We find that the observed coherence lengths are consistent with those estimated from the bandwidth of the spectral peak and that these lengths vary markedly from less than 100 km to over 1 R(E). In order to study all these wave phenomena, a multiple spacecraft mission such as the upcoming ESA Cluster mission would need to be capable of assuming a wide variety of possible separations.