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The interplanetary electric field, cleft currents and plasma convection in the polar capsThe relationship between the pattern of plasma convection in the polar cleft and the dynamics of the interplanetary electric field (IEF) is examined theoretically. It is shown that owing to the geometrical properties of the magnetosphere, the East-West component of the IEF will drive field-aligned currents which connect to the ionosphere at points lying on either side of noon, while currents associated with the North-South component of the IEF will connect the two polar caps as sheet currents, also centered at 12 MLT. In order to describe the consequences of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) effects upon high-latitude electric fields and convection patterns, a series of numerical simulations was carried out. The simulations were based on a solution to the steady-state equation of current continuity in a height-integrated ionospheric current. The simulations demonstrate that a simple hydrodynamical model can account for the narrow 'throats' of strong dayside antisunward convection observed during periods of southward interplanetary IMF drift, as well as the sunward convection observed during periods of strongly northward IMF drift.
Document ID
19850035908
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Banks, P. M.
(Stanford Univ. CA, United States)
Clauer, C. R.
(Stanford University Stanford, CA, United States)
Araki, T.
(Kyoto University Kyoto, Japan)
St. Maurice, J. P.
(Utah State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, Logan, UT, United States)
Foster, J. C.
(Haystack Observatory Westford, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: Planetary and Space Science
Volume: 32
ISSN: 0032-0633
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
85A18059
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-82-10562
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-78-0547
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-79-13748
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-7289
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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