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Relationship between Birkeland current regions, particle precipitation, and electric fieldsThe relationship of the large-scale dayside Birkeland currents to large-scale particle precipitation patterns, currents, and convection is examined using DMSP and Sondrestrom radar observations. It is found that the local time of the mantle currents is not limited to the longitude of the cusp proper, but covers a larger local time extent. The mantle currents flow entirely on open field lines. About half of region 1 currents flow on open field lines, consistent with the assumption that the region 1 currents are generated by the solar wind dynamo and flow within the surface that separates open and closed field lines. More than 80 percent of the Birkeland current boundaries do not correspond to particle precipitation boundaries. Region 2 currents extend beyond the plasma sheet poleward boundary; region 1 currents flow in part on open field lines; mantle currents and mantle particles are not coincident. On most passes when a triple current sheet is observed, the convection reversal is located on closed field lines.
Document ID
19930053288
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
De La Beaujardiere, O.
(NASA Headquarters Washington, DC United States)
Watermann, J.
(SRI International Menlo Park, CA, United States)
Newell, P.
(Johns Hopkins Univ. Laurel, MD, United States)
Rich, F.
(USAF, Phillips Lab. Hanscom AFB, MA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
May 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 98
Issue: A5
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
93A37285
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-90-17725
CONTRACT_GRANT: F49620-92-C-0011
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASW-4399
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-88-22560
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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