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

Detailed Reference Information
Ogino et al. 1985
Ogino, T., Walker, R.J., Ashour-Abdalla, M. and Dawson, J.M. (1985). An MHD simulation of By-dependent magnetospheric convection and field-aligned currents during northward IMF. Journal of Geophysical Research 90: doi: 10.1029/JA080i011p10835. issn: 0148-0227.

We have used a high-resolution and time-dependent three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model to study the interaction between the solar wind and the earth's magnetosphere during intervals when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) has both a By component and northward Bz component. When the IMF is northward, the palsma sheet thickens near the noon-midnight meridian and extends projections into the northern and southern lobes. When projected onto the polar cap, this appears as a narrow channel extending from midnight toward noon. This plasma sheet extension from the nightside toward the dayside shifts toward dawn for By0. Two types of upward field-aligned currents were found: an arc-shaped current which extends around the auroal zone and a tail lobe region 1 current running almost parallel to the sun-earth line. Like the plasma sheet extension the sun-aligned tail lobe region 1 current moves across the northern polar cap from dusk to dawn when the IMF orientation chagnes from duskward to dawnward during northward IMF. At latitudes north of the region 1 current in the polar cap the currents have the same direction as the region 2 currents (i.e., upward at dawn and downward at dusk). As the IMF orientation changes from northward to dawnward, the currents rotate such that the upward current joins wit the upward region 1 current, while the earthward current expands in the polar region. These magnetospheric features can be well explained by high-latitude merging cells and tail lobe convection cells resulting from antiparallel merging between the northward IMF and the tail field. They also are consistent with several phenomena of theta aurora dynamics.

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