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An average parallel electric field deduced from the latitude and altitude variations of the perpendicular electric field below 8000 kilometers
Author(s) -
Mozer F. S.,
Torbert R. B.
Publication year - 1980
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/gl007i003p00219
Subject(s) - electric field , dusk , latitude , perpendicular , geodesy , altitude (triangle) , polar , geophysics , geology , plasmasphere , atmospheric sciences , physics , magnetosphere , magnetic field , geometry , astronomy , mathematics , quantum mechanics
The average equatorward component of the perpendicular electric field between the dusk plasmapause and polar cap has been determined at seven altitudes below 8000 kilometers by averaging large scale electric field measurements made on 166 passes of the S3‐3 satellite through the dusk auroral zone. The observed variation of the perpendicular electric field with altitude and latitude requires the presence of an upward pointing parallel electric field over a latitude range of a few degrees centered near 70° invariant latitude, and with a maximum parallel potential of several kilovolts.