Average field-aligned current configuration parameterized by solar wind conditions

J. A. Carter*, S. E. Milan, J. C. Coxon, Maria-Theresia Walach, B. J. Anderson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Citations (Scopus)
9 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

We present the first large-scale comparison of the spatial distribution of field-aligned currents as measured by the Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment, with the location and brightness of the average auroral oval, determined from the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration far ultraviolet instrument. These distributions are compared under the same interplanetary magnetic field magnitude and clock angle conditions. The field-aligned currents and auroral oval drop to lower latitudes, as the interplanetary magnetic field becomes both increasingly stronger in magnitude and increasingly southward. We find that the region 2 currents are more closely aligned with the distribution of auroral UV emission, whether that be in the discrete auroral zone about dusk or in the postmidnight diffuse aurora sector. The lack of coincidence between the region 1 field-aligned currents with the auroral oval in the dusk sector is contrary to expectation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1294-1307
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research A: Space Physics
Volume121
Issue number2
Early online date15 Feb 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • auroral oval
  • field-aligned currents

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