HR: 10:55h
AN: SM51D-03 INVITED     [PDF]
TI: Determining the Open Flux Content of the Magnetosphere From Observations of the Polar Ionosphere
AU: * Milan, S E
EM: steve.milan@ion.le.ac.uk
AF: University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH United Kingdom
AU: Lester, M
EM: mle@ion.le.ac.uk
AF: University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH United Kingdom
AU: Cowley, S W
EM: swhc1@ion.le.ac.uk
AF: University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH United Kingdom
AB: We employ observations from several sources to determine the location of the polar cap boundary, or open/closed field line boundary, at all local times, allowing the amount of open flux in the magnetosphere to be quantified. These data sources include global auroral images from the Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) instrument onboard the Polar spacecraft, SuperDARN HF radar measurements of the convection flow, and low altitude particle measurements from Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellites, and the Fast Auroral SnapshoT (FAST) spacecraft. Changes in the open flux content of the magnetosphere are related to the rate of magnetic reconnection occurring at the magnetopause and in the magnetotail, allowing us to estimate the day- and nightside reconnection voltages associated with different IMF orientations and the occurrence of substorms. In addition, we discuss the ramifications for the magnetotail of changes in open flux content of the magnetosphere.
DE: 2724 Magnetopause, cusp, and boundary layers
DE: 2740 Magnetospheric configuration and dynamics
DE: 2744 Magnetotail
SC: SPA - Magnetospheric Physics [SM]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting