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Earthward and tailward flows in the plasma sheet
Author(s) -
Zhang L. Q.,
Wang J. Y.,
Baumjohann W.,
Rème H.,
Dunlop M. W.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1002/2015ja021154
Subject(s) - plasma sheet , earth's magnetic field , plasma , flux (metallurgy) , population , physics , magnetic field , substorm , cluster (spacecraft) , atomic physics , magnetosphere , geophysics , chemistry , demography , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , sociology , computer science , programming language
Utilizing C3/Cluster satellite observations from the year of 2001 to 2006, we investigated the earthward flow (EF) and tailward flow (TF) at B z > 0 in the plasma sheet. We found that the EF and the TF have similar spatial distributions. Both characteristics are independent of the distance beyond 14 R E . Both flows are deflected while closer to the Earth. Statistical results further showed that the EF/TF occur in the central plasma sheet as well as the plasma sheet boundary layer and can be observed during quiet times and periods of geomagnetic activity. A typical event reveals that the EF and the TF have different plasma population. A transition region (TR) can be formed at the interface between the EF and TF. Very significant duskward components appeared in bulk velocities for both populations. It appears that the vortical‐like structure can be formed near the TR. The magnetic field within the TR is twisted and strongly fluctuates. No clear magnetic flux pileups are observed inside the TR.