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Space Technology 5 Multipoint Observations of Temporal and Spatial Variability of Field-Aligned CurrentsSpace Technology 5 (ST5) is a constellation mission consisting of three microsatellites. It provides the first multipoint magnetic field measurements in low Earth orbit, which enables us to separate spatial and temporal variations. In this paper, we present a study of the temporal variability of field-aligned currents using the ST5 data. We examine the field-aligned current observations during and after a geomagnetic storm and compare the magnetic field profiles at the three spacecraft. The multipoint data demonstrate that mesoscale current structures, commonly embedded within large-scale current sheets, are very dynamic with highly variable current density and/or polarity in approx.10 min time scales. On the other hand, the data also show that the time scales for the currents to be relatively stable are approx.1 min for mesoscale currents and approx.10 min for large-scale currents. These temporal features are very likely associated with dynamic variations of their charge carriers (mainly electrons) as they respond to the variations of the parallel electric field in auroral acceleration region. The characteristic time scales for the temporal variability of mesoscale field-aligned currents are found to be consistent with those of auroral parallel electric field.
Document ID
20110013523
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Le, G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Wang, Y.
(Maryland Univ. Baltimore County Baltimore, MD, United States)
Slavin, J. A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Strangeway, R. L.
(California Univ. Los Angeles, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
August 12, 2009
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 114
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA.4531.2011
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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