Transient Sheets of Field-Aligned Current Observed by DMSP During the Main Phase of a Magnetic Superstorm

Abstract

Reported are the first observations of intense (^1 A/m) but transient sheets of field-aligned currents (FACS) that couple of the central plasma sheet with the auroral ionosphere near the maximum epochs of magnetic superstorms. Maximum magnetic perturbations associated with the FACs normally develop at middle (55 deg - 60 deg) magnetic latitudes. Our attention was drawn to these phenomena while comparing ground magnetometer responses to measurements by particle and field sensors on Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite during a 4-hour period on 6 April 2000. Six empirical aspects of the data appeared to be unusual.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 16, 2004
Accession Number
ADA434562

Entities

People

  • C. Y. Huang
  • William J. Burke

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Electric Fields
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Grids
  • Ionosphere
  • Latitude
  • Magnetic Detectors
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magnetic Storms
  • Magnetometers
  • Measurement
  • Meteorological Satellites
  • Pressure Distribution
  • Spacecraft

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science
  • Physics

Readers

  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space