EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Behannon et al. 1981
Behannon, K.W., Neubauer, F.M. and Barnstorf, H. (1981). Fine-scale characteristics of interplanetary sector boundaries. Journal of Geophysical Research 86: doi: 10.1029/JA086iA05p03273. issn: 0148-0227.

This investigation has studied the structure of the interplanetary sector boundaries observed by Helios 1 within sector transition regions during the time interval from December 1974 to April 1975. A sector transition region is the region of variable magnetic field magnitude and direction observed in or near the ecliptic plane between magnetic sectors in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Such regions are found generally to be complex in character, consisting of intermediate (nonspiral) average field orientations in some cases, as well as a number of large-angle (120 ¿?&ohgr;?180 ¿) directional discontinuities (DD's) on the fine scale (times scales 80%) in B(≡‖B‖), and, with a most probable thickness of 3¿104 km, significantly thicker structures on average (by a factor of 10 or more) than ordinary DD's previously studied in the IMF. It is hypothesized that the observed structures represent multiple traversals of the global heliospheric current sheet caused by local fluctuations in the position of the sheet. There is evidence that such fluctuations are sometimes produced by wavelike motions or surface corrugations of scale length 0.05--0.1 AU, superimposed on the large-scale structure. The observed steep inclinations could be produced by a combination of current sheet warping at the sun, a global wave structure, and the observed small-scale fluctuations. No radial distance dependence is found for the current sheet properties studied.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit