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Ionospheric–magnetospheric contributions to storm-time magnetic field changes near dip equator

Nature volume 281, pages 471–474 (1979)Cite this article

Abstract

Experimental identification of the electric current systems in the ionosphere and magnetosphere during magnetic storms is a fundamental problem. We report here a new approach to resolving the relative contributions of ionospheric and magnetospheric currents to the storm-time geomagnetic field variations at equatorial latitudes. In this approach, the VHF backscatter radar-measured electric field changes in the equatorial electrojet and the simultaneous surface magnetic field changes are analysed to determine quantitatively the ionospheric contribution ΔFI to the storm-time geomagnetic field perturbation ΔFD. The magnetospheric contribution ΔFM is then determined from: ΔFD=ΔFI+ΔFM (1) This method has yielded extremely interesting results for the magnetic storm of 15 February 1978. It has a great potential for providing valuable new insights into the nature and time evolution of the complex storm-time current systems in the ionosphere and magnetosphere.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Space Physics Division, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Trivandrum, 695 022, India

    C. A. Reddy, V. V. Somayajulu & K. S. Viswanathan

Authors
  1. C. A. Reddy
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  2. V. V. Somayajulu
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  3. K. S. Viswanathan
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Reddy, C., Somayajulu, V. & Viswanathan, K. Ionospheric–magnetospheric contributions to storm-time magnetic field changes near dip equator. Nature 281, 471–474 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/281471a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/281471a0

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