Multipoint MMS observations of fine-scale SAPS structure in the inner magnetosphere
Abstract
We present detailed observations of dynamic, fine-scale inner magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling at ∼3.9 RE in the Region 2 Birkeland field-aligned current (FAC). We find that observed electrodynamic spatial/temporal scales are primarily characteristic of magnetically mapped ionospheric structure. On 15 September 2015, conjugate Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft and Millstone Hill radar observations show plasmasphere boundary region subauroral polarization stream (SAPS) electric fields at L = 4.0–4.2 near 21 MLT. MMS observations reveal high-altitude ∼1 mV/m fine-scale radial and azimuthal electric field perturbations over ≤0.15 L with high spatial coherence over ≥2–3 min and show outward motion within a broader FAC of ∼0.12 μA/m2. Our analysis shows that MMS electric field fluctuations are most likely reflective of SAPS ionospheric structure at scales of ∼22 km and with ionospheric closure of small-scale filamentary FAC perturbations. The results highlight the ionosphere's importance in regulating fine-scale magnetosphere-ionosphere structure.
Publication Date
6-16-2016
Journal Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Publisher
AGU
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Erickson, P. J.; Matsui, H.; Foster, J. C.; Torbert, R. B.; Ergun, R. E.; Khotyaintsev, Yu. V.; Lindqvist, P. -A.; Argall, M. R.; Farrugia, C. J.; Paulson, K. W.; Strangeway, R. J.; Magnes, W. (2016). Multipoint MMS observations of fine-scale SAPS structure in the inner magnetosphere, GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS. Vol. 43, No. 14, 7294-7300. DOI: 10.1002/2016GL069174