Cluster EDI convection measurements across the high-latitude plasma sheet boundary at midnight

J. M. Quinn; G. Paschmann; R. B. Torbert; H. Vaith; C. E. Mcilwain; G. Haerendel; O. Bauer; T. M. Bauer; W. Baumjohann; W. Fillius; M. Foerster; S. Frey; E. Georgescu; S. S. Kerr; C. A. Kletzing; H. Matsui; P. Puhl-Quinn; E. C. Whipple

doi:10.5194/angeo-19-1669-2001

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Cluster EDI convection measurements across the high-latitude plasma sheet boundary at midnight

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Cluster EDI convection measurements across the high-latitude plasma sheet boundary at midnight

J. M. Quinn, G. Paschmann, R. B. Torbert, H. Vaith, C. E. Mcilwain, G. Haerendel, O. Bauer, T. M. Bauer, W. Baumjohann, W. Fillius, …

Annales geophysicae (1988), Vol.19(10/12), pp.1669-1681

2001

DOI: 10.5194/angeo-19-1669-2001

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Abstract

We examine two crossings of three Cluster satellites from the polar cap into the high-latitude plasma sheet at midnight local time, using data from the Electron Drift Instrument (EDI). EDI measures the full electron drift velocity in the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field for any field and drift directions. The context of the measured convection velocities is established by their relation to the intense enhancements in 1 keV electrons, also measured by EDI, as the satellites move from the polar cap into the plasma sheet boundary. In both cases presented here, the cross B convection in the polar cap is anti-sunward (toward the nightside plasma sheet) with a small duskward component. As the satellites enter the plasma sheet boundary region, the dawn-dusk convective flow component reverses its sign, and the flow in the meridianal plane (toward the center of the plasma sheet) drops substantially. The relatively stable convection in the polar cap becomes highly variable as the PSBL is encountered. The timing and sequence of the boundary crossings by the Cluster satellites are consistent with a relatively static structure on a time scale of the few minutes in satellite separations. In one of the two events, the plasma sheet boundary has a spatially separate structure that is crossed by the satellites before entering the plasma sheet.

Earth Sciences

Ocean, Atmosphere

Sciences of the Universe

Details

Title: Subtitle: Cluster EDI convection measurements across the high-latitude plasma sheet boundary at midnight
Creators: J. M. Quinn - UNH Space Science Center [Durham]
G. Paschmann - Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
R. B. Torbert - University of New Hampshire
H. Vaith - Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
C. E. Mcilwain - University of California San Diego
G. Haerendel - Constructor University
O. Bauer - Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
T. M. Bauer - Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
W. Baumjohann - Space Research Institute
W. Fillius - University of California San Diego
M. Foerster - Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
S. Frey - Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
E. Georgescu - Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
S. S. Kerr - University of California San Diego
C. A. Kletzing - University of Iowa
H. Matsui - University of New Hampshire
P. Puhl-Quinn - Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
E. C. Whipple - University of Washington
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Annales geophysicae (1988), Vol.19(10/12), pp.1669-1681
DOI: 10.5194/angeo-19-1669-2001
ISSN: 0992-7689
eISSN: 1432-0576
Publisher: European Geosciences Union
Language: English
Date published: 2001
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984429035902771

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