CDAW-9 Analysis of Magnetospheric Events on 3 May 1986: Event C
Abstract
The ninth Coordinated Data Analysis Workshop (CDAW-9) focused upon several intervals within the PROMIS period (March-June 1986). Event interval C comprised the period 0000-1200 UT on 3 May 1986 which was a highly disturbed time near the end of a geomagnetic storm interval. A very large substorm early in the period commenced at 0111 UT and had a peak AE index value of approx. 1500 nT. Subsequent activity was lower, but at least three other substorms occurred at 2-3 hour intervals. The substorms on 3 May were well observed by a variety of satellites, including ISEE- 1, -2, and IMP-8 in the magnetotail plus SCATHA, GOES, GMS, and LANL spacecraft at or near geostationary orbit. A particularly important feature of the 0 1 1 1 UT substorm was the simultaneous imaging of the southern auroral oval by DE- 1 and of the northern oval by Viking. The excellent constellation of spacecraft near local midnight in the radial range 5-9 RE made it possible to study the strong cross-tail current development during the substorm growth phase and the current disruption and current wedge development during the expansion phase. We use a time-evolving magnetic field model to mad observed auroral features out into the magnetospheric equatorial plane. There was both a dominant eastward and a weaker westward progression of activity following the expansion phase. A clear latitudinal separation of the initial region of auroral brightening and the region of intense westward electrojet current was identified. Current disruption, Magnetotail currents, Geomagnetic storm, Substorm.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA277610
Entities
People
- Daniel N. Baker
- G. Rostoker
- J. D. Craven
- J. S. Murphree
- Joseph F. Fennell
- L. A. Frank
- R. D. Elphinstone
- R. L. McPherron
- Ramón López
- T. I. Pulkkinen
- T. Nagai
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation