Analysis of Coordinated Observations in the Region of the Day Side Polar Cleft

• Main Authors: Carpenter, D. L., Clauer, C. R.
• Other Authors: STANFORD UNIV CA SPACE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND RADIOSCIENCE LAB (STAR)
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1988
• Subjects: Atmospheric Physics; *COUPLING(INTERACTION); *IONOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES; *PLASMAS(PHYSICS); *CONVECTION(ATMOSPHERIC); *MAGNETOSPHERE; ARRAYS; ALIGNMENT; TIME; PULSES; TRANSFER; ELECTRIC CURRENT; HIGH LATITUDES; MAGNETIC SIGNATURES; ELECTRODYNAMICS; GREENLAND; MAGNETOMETERS; FLUX(RATE); MODELS; MAGNETIC FIELDS; IONOSPHERE; SOLAR WIND; GROUND LEVEL; PE61102F; WUAFGL2311G2HG; Greenland; Sondre Stromfjord
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA200627; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA200627

The objective of the research effort has been to develop electrodynamic models of the connectivity of the dayside high latitude ionosphere with the magnetosphere and solar wind. This is accomplished through the coordinated analysis of a variety of electrodynamic observations utilizing correlative satellite and ground data acquired in the vicinity of the polar cleft. Very strong evidence is found for a direct electrical connection between utilizing large scale field-aligned currents in the cleft region reproduces many of the time varying features in the observed high latitude ionospheric electrical fields and plasma convection. The small-scale current structures and expected ionospheric signatures are examined from localized coupling which would be expected from flux transfer events. Analysis of high latitude magnetic data from an array of magnetometers around Sondre Stromfjord Greenland show impulsive events. These magnetic signatures are shown to result from pairs of small scale field-aligned current filaments moving tailward at about 4 Km/sec over the array of stations. These events, however, are inconsistent with present models of FTE current systems. Keywords: Ionospheric currents; Ionospheric plasma convection; Solar wind; Magnetosphere; Ionosphere coupling; Polar cleft.