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The influence of the IMF B y component on the location of pulsed flows in the dayside ionosphere observed by an HF radar
Author(s) -
Provan G.,
Yeoman T. K.,
Cowley S. W. H.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/1999gl900009
Subject(s) - noon , ionosphere , magnetopause , interplanetary magnetic field , radar , northern hemisphere , geology , geophysics , convection , atmospheric sciences , solar wind , physics , magnetic field , meteorology , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , computer science
A study has been performed on the effect of the B y and B z components of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF), as measured by the WIND satellite, on the occurrence of pulsed ionospheric flows as observed by the CUTLASS Finland radar. These flows have been suggested as being created at the ionospheric footprint of newly reconnected field lines. The statistical location of the pulsed flows is strongly dependent on the IMF B y component, moving to the pre‐noon sector during intervals of positive B y and into the post‐noon sector for intervals of negative B y . These results directly confirm previous predictions, demonstrating that during intervals of flux transfer at the magnetopause, pulsed ionospheric convective flows are initiated. In the northern hemisphere these flows are shifted about noon in the opposite sense to the IMF B y component, consistent with the average ionospheric convection pattern.