Electrostatic turbulence in the magnetosphere

Plasma wave measurements from the IMP-6, IMP-8 and Hawkeye-1 satellites show that a broad region of intense low-frequency electric field turbulence occurs on the high latitude auroral field lines at altitudes ranging from a few thousand kilometers in the ionosphere to many earth radii in the distant magnetosphere. A qualitatively similar, but less intense, type of electric field turbulence is also observed at the plasmapause during magnetic storms. In the auroral regions the turbulence occurs in an essentially continuous band on the auroral L-shells at all local times around the earth and is most intense during periods of auroral activity. In this paper we summarize the basic characteristics of this electric field turbulence and consider the possible role this turbulence may play in the heating and acceleration of plasma in the magnetosphere.