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Burch et al. 1980
Burch, J.L., Reiff, P.H., Spiro, R.W., Heelis, R.A. and Fields, S.A. (1980). Cusp region particle precipitation and ion convection for northward interplanetary magnetic field. Geophysical Research Letters 7: doi: 10.1029/GL007i005p00393. issn: 0094-8276.

Data from Atmosphere Explorer D for periods of strong northward interplanetary magnetic field show the following characteristic behavior in the dayside magnetospheric cusp region: Energy-time spectrograms of suprathermal positive ion fluxes exhibit a characteristic 'V' pattern as the spacecraft moves toward higher latitudes; that is, with the peak in the energy spectrum falling in energy and then rising again. Convection velocities follow this pattern closely with strong eastwest flows (with antisunward components) occurring in the equatorward half of the 'V' and significant sunward flows occurring in the poleward half of the 'V'. These patterns can be understood qualitatively in terms of a model of ionospheric electric potential produced by the known dependence of Birkeland current densities on magnetic activity.

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Geophysical Research Letters
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American Geophysical Union
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