Open AccessCurrents and magnetic field structures in the dayside solar wind interaction with Venus
Author(s) -
Law Colin C.,
Cloutier Paul A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/97ja01722
Subject(s) - venus , magnetosheath , physics , solar wind , orbiter , ionosphere , atmosphere of venus , geophysics , magnetopause , magnetic field , rotation (mathematics) , interplanetary magnetic field , astronomy , astrobiology , computer science , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence
Analysis of high‐resolution magnetic field data from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter spacecraft has shown that magnetic field rotations occur in association with the dayside ionopause of Venus. There is no evidence of a precursor to this rotation within the magnetosheath above the ionopause. This finding implies that the current system responsible for the field rotation is completely contained within the ionosphere, and therefore a return current must exist on the dayside below the ionopause. Further examination of the magnetic field data has revealed a secondary rotation at lower altitudes that we attribute to this return current. A large‐scale dayside current system capable of reproducing these observations is described.