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

Detailed Reference Information
Nakamura et al. 2004
Nakamura, R., Baumjohann, W., Mouikis, C., Kistler, L.M., Runov, A., Volwerk, M., Asano, Y., Vörös, Z., Zhang, T.L., Klecker, B., Rème, H. and Balogh, A. (2004). Spatial scale of high-speed flows in the plasma sheet observed by Cluster. Geophysical Research Letters 31: doi: 10.1029/2004GL019558. issn: 0094-8276.

Spatial gradients of high-speed flows in the midtail plasma sheet are determined using multipoint observations from the Cluster spacecraft along the dawn-dusk direction (perpendicular to the main flow and in the plane of the tail current sheet) and along the north-south direction. If we take the average or median of the spatial gradients and assume that the flow channel has a linear gradient, these values suggest that the full width of the flow channel is 2--3 RE in the dawn-dusk direction and 1.5--2 RE in the north-south direction. The velocity gradient at the duskward edge of a flow tends to be sharper than that at the dawnward edge, possibly reflecting an asymmetry in the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling process associated with the flow.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Magnetospheric Physics, Magnetotail boundary layers, Magnetospheric Physics, Plasma convection, Magnetospheric Physics, Plasma sheet
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
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