Precipitating Polar Cap Particles during Northward IMF (Interplanetary Magnetic Field)

Abstract

We have studied the global features of high-latitude precipitating particles during a fifteen hour period of stably northward, toward sector interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Thiry passes of DMSP precipitating electron and ion measurements enabled us to examine the average polar cap particle intensity, morphology and characteristic spectra. Large scale regions of ion enhancement, with energy spectra similar to those for boundary plasma sheet ions, are associated with polar cap arcs. The high latitude precipitation patterns for each hemisphere are nearly mirror images, thereby showing an IMF sector (or By) dependence. Keywords: Charged particles; Polar cap arcs; Boundary plasma; Northward Bz; Electron precipitation; Ion precipitation; DMSP satellite; Reprints.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADA208794

Entities

People

  • D. A. Hardy
  • H.-c. Yeh
  • M. S. Gussenhoven
  • N. C. Heinemann
  • R. H. Redus

Organizations

  • Air Force Systems Command

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Boundaries
  • Electron Energy
  • Electrons
  • Grids
  • Hemispheres
  • High Latitudes
  • Intensity
  • Latitude
  • Meteorological Satellites
  • Northern Hemisphere
  • Particles
  • Polar Cap
  • Polar Regions
  • Precipitation
  • Regions
  • Solar Wind
  • Southern Hemisphere

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space