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Sources of field-aligned currents in the auroral plasmaData from the Dynamics Explorer 1 High Altitude Plasma Instrument (HAPI) and magnetometer are used to investigate the sources of field-aligned currents in the nightside auroral zone. It is found that the formula developed by S. Knight predicts the field-aligned current density fairly accurately in regions where a significant potential drop can be inferred from the HAPI data; there are, however, regions in which the proportionality between potential drop and field-aligned current does not hold. In particular, occurrences of strong upward field-aligned current associated not with inverted-V events but instead with suprathermal bursts are noted. In addition, upward field-aligned currents are often observed to peak near the edges of inverted-V events, rather than in the center as would be predicted by Knight.
Document ID
19910040042
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Marshall, J. A.
(Southwest Research Inst. San Antonio, TX, United States)
Burch, J. L.
(Southwest Research Institute San Antonio, TX, United States)
Kan, J. R.
(Alaska, University Fairbanks, United States)
Reiff, P. H.
(Rice University Houston, TX, United States)
Slavin, J. A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Geophysical Research Letters
Volume: 18
ISSN: 0094-8276
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
ISSN: 0094-8276
Accession Number
91A24665
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS5-33030
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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