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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 30, NO. 4, 1158, doi:10.1029/2002GL016321, 2003

Penetration of the solar wind electric field into the magnetosphere/ionosphere system

Michael C. Kelley

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA


Jonathan J. Makela

Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D. C., USA


Jorge L. Chau

Radio Observatorio de Jicamarca, Instituto Geofísico del Perú, Lima, Peru


Michael J. Nicolls

School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA


Abstract

On April 17, 2002 an intense, long duration electric field penetration event was captured by the Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar. Other radars in the U. S. chain detected the event as well, although not with as much clarity. The Interplanetary Electric Field (IEF) is available from the ACE satellite as well. The ratio of the dawn-to-dusk component of the IEF to the dawn-to-dusk electric field in the equatorial ionosphere for periods less than about two hours is 15:1. We suggest that this corresponds to the ratio of the size of the magnetosphere to the length of the connection line between the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) and the Earth's magnetic field. Simultaneous magnetic field measurements at Piura (off the magnetic equator) and at Jicamarca (under the magnetic equator) in Peru, reveal the same high frequency components and suggest that a chain of stations or an equatorial fleet of satellites in low earth orbit could be used to monitor the connection length continuously.

Published 19 February 2003.

Index Terms: 2411 Ionosphere: Electric fields (2712); 2415 Ionosphere: Equatorial ionosphere; 2431 Ionosphere: Ionosphere/magnetosphere interactions (2736).

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Citation: Kelley, M. C., J. J. Makela, J. L. Chau, and M. J. Nicolls (2003), Penetration of the solar wind electric field into the magnetosphere/ionosphere system, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30(4), 1158, doi:10.1029/2002GL016321.