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Observations of ionospheric magnetospheric coupling - DE and Chatanika coincidencesObservations from several experiments on board the Dynamics Explorer 1 and 2 (DE 1 and 2) spacecraft and ground-based radar measurements from the Chatanika radar are combined in order to examine the details of ionospheric/magnetospheric coupling in the local evening sector. DE 1 and DE 2 were in coplanar polar orbits that provided measurements almost simultaneously in time and magnetically coincident with the Chatanika radar from L = 3 to L = 17. The coupling processes are inferred from the density, temperature, composition, and angular distributions of the low-energy plasma observed from the E region of the ionosphere to magnetospheric altitudes of 2.5 earth radii. Plasma characteristics of the plasmasphere, main trough, auroral zone, and polar cap can be studied in this data set. The observations imply that as L increases, the dominant coupling mechanism between the ionosphere and magnetosphere in the measured energy range changes from equilibrium diffusion to perpendicular acceleration and finally to parallel acceleration.
Document ID
19860056286
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Green, J. L.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Brace, L. H.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Waite, J. H.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Chappell, C. R.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Chandler, M. O.
(Alabama, University Huntsville, United States)
Doupnik, J. R.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Richards, P. G.
(Utah State University of Agriculture and Applied Science, Logan, United States)
Heelis, R.
(Texas, University Richardson, United States)
Shawhan, S. D.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1986
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 91
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
86A41024
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-83-12633
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-305
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-306
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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