Title: A comparison of satellite observations of Birkeland currents with ground observations of visible aurora and ionospheric currents
Abstract: Observations of Birkeland (field aligned) currents inferred from magnetic field perturbations observed at ∼800-km altitude by the Triad satellite are correlated with simultaneous ground-based auroral and magnetic observations. A detailed study of one satellite pass is presented in which the ground-based data are used to locate the position of the substorm-disturbed region with respect to the region of the upper atmosphere through which Triad passed. Two other cases are presented to show the repeatable character of the correlation between the Triad data and the auroral arc configuration. It is found that the poleward discrete arc existing at the time of the pass marks the northernmost boundary of the Birkeland current region and all the visual auroral arcs lie within the latitudinal regime occupied by the Birkeland current flow. The dominant feature of the Birkeland current flow in the evening sector is intense upward flow just equatorward of the poleward arc. A broad region of diffuse inward flowing current flows in the region further equatorward. The eastward electrojet in the evening sector flows in the region bounded by the Birkeland current flow, and the poleward border of the electrojet coincides with the poleward edge of the upward field aligned current flow.
Publication Year: 1975
Publication Date: 1975-02-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 76
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot