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The quiet‐time pattern of auroral arcs as a consequence of magnetospheric convection
Author(s) -
Lassen K.
Publication year - 1979
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/gl006i010p00777
Subject(s) - quiet , convection , geophysics , interplanetary magnetic field , physics , magnetic field , geology , convection cell , solar wind , mechanics , astronomy , combined forced and natural convection , natural convection , quantum mechanics
Quiet‐time patterns of discrete auroral arcs are compared with magnetospheric convection patterns for corresponding orientations of the interplanetary magnetic field. The position and orientation of upward field aligned currents predicted from the presence of shears and flow irregularities in the convection are shown to be similar to those of the auroral arcs. It is concluded that the quiet‐time patterns are optical signatures of shears and flow irregularities in the magnetospheric convection.