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Detailed Reference Information |
Mitchell, D.G., Kutchko, F., Williams, D.J., Eastman, T.E., Frank, L.A. and Russell, C.T. (1987). An extended study of the low-latitude boundary layer on the dawn and dusk flanks of the magnetosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research 92: doi: 10.1029/JA092iA07p07394. issn: 0148-0227. |
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We present a study of the low-latitude boundary layer (LLBL) using ISEE 1 energetic particle, plasma, and magnetic field data obtained during numerous traversals of the LLBL that occurred on 66 ISEE 1 passes through the magnetospheric flank LLBL region. We use energetic particle distributions to determine dawn and dusk LLBL behavior and topology for varying orientations of the magnetosheath and/or interplanetary magnetic field (M/IMF), for different local times, and for changing levels of geomagnetic activity (Kp). This study corroborates and extends the earlier work of Williams et al. (1985) who presented a detailed study of two (dusk and dawn) ISEE 1 passes through the LLBL region for the case of northward M/IMF. We find that the dawn and dusk LLBL are on closed geomagnetic field lines for northward M/IMF but are on a combination of closed and open field lines for a southward M/IMF. The energetic particle distributions show that cases of reverse-draped field lines in the LLBL are consistent with an open field line topology. In addition, we find that the LLBL is thicker (thinner) for northward (southward) M/IMF and becomes thicker with increasing distance from the subsolar point. LLBL electric fields nominally are in the few (3--5) millivolts per meter range and display an apparent maximum value of ~10 mV/m. These electric fields capture magnetospherically drifting particles as they approach the LLBL and propel them tailward. In this way, the plasma sheet is the dominant source of energetic (>10 keV) particles in LLBL while the magnetosheath appears to be the dominant source for lower-energy (≲10 keV) LLBL particles. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1987 |
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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 |
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