Open magnetic flux and magnetic flux closure during sawtooth events

Hubert, B. and Milan, S. E. and Grocott, A. and Cowley, S. W. H. and Gérard, J. C. (2008) Open magnetic flux and magnetic flux closure during sawtooth events. Geophysical Research Letters, 35 (23): L23301. ISSN 0094-8276

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Abstract

We use IMAGE-FUV observations of the polar aurora and measurements of the ionospheric convection from the SuperDARN radar network to study several sawtooth events previously reported in the literature. We estimate the amount of open magnetic flux in the Earth magnetosphere during a significant part of these sawtooth intervals as well as the magnetic flux opening and closure rates, that is, the dayside and nightside reconnection rates. We find that during the sawtooth intervals the magnetosphere is highly loaded with open flux as a result of the strongly southward IMF carried by the solar wind during these intervals. The magnetosphere tries to relax to a less loaded configuration through a sequence of substorm expansions. However, these substorms do not necessarily evolve to their end before reintensification of nightside reconnection occurs in response to continued loading of the magnetosphere on the dayside.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Geophysical Research Letters
Additional Information:
Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1908
Subjects:
?? sawtoothreconnectionmagnetospheregeophysicsearth and planetary sciences(all) ??
ID Code:
67139
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
11 Oct 2013 12:32
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
31 Dec 2023 00:29