Abstract
When the dawn-to-dusk component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF BY) is dominant, ionospheric convection exhibits a basic two-cell pattern with significant dawn-dusk and interhemispheric asymmetries. For IMF BY > 0 the duskside merging cell potential in the Northern Hemisphere is much higher than that in the Southern Hemisphere, and the dawnside merging cell potential in the Southern Hemisphere is much higher than that in the Northern Hemisphere. The situation is reversed for IMF BY < 0. This interhemispheric potential mismatch originates from reconnection of overdraped lobe field lines and closed flankside field lines. This type of north-south asymmetric reconnection does not affect the merging cell potentials in the same hemisphere as the reconnection point, whereas in the opposite hemisphere, it diminishes the potential of the dawnside (or duskside) Dungey-type merging cell. Thus the total dawnside (or duskside) merging cell potential in one hemisphere is smaller than that in the other hemisphere by the reconnection voltage associated with the asymmetric reconnection.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | A10205 |
| Journal | Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics |
| Volume | 112 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 1 2007 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Geophysics
- Forestry
- Oceanography
- Aquatic Science
- Ecology
- Water Science and Technology
- Soil Science
- Geochemistry and Petrology
- Earth-Surface Processes
- Atmospheric Science
- Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Space and Planetary Science
- Palaeontology
Cite this
Origin of the interhemispheric potential mismatch of merging cells for interplanetary magnetic field By-dominated periods. / Watanabe, Masakazu; Sofko, George J.; Kabin, Konstantin; Rankin, Robert; Ridley, Aaron J.; Clauer, C. Robert; Gombosi, Tamas I.
In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 112, No. 10, A10205, 01.10.2007.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Origin of the interhemispheric potential mismatch of merging cells for interplanetary magnetic field By-dominated periods
AU - Watanabe, Masakazu
AU - Sofko, George J.
AU - Kabin, Konstantin
AU - Rankin, Robert
AU - Ridley, Aaron J.
AU - Clauer, C. Robert
AU - Gombosi, Tamas I.
PY - 2007/10/1
Y1 - 2007/10/1
N2 - When the dawn-to-dusk component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF BY) is dominant, ionospheric convection exhibits a basic two-cell pattern with significant dawn-dusk and interhemispheric asymmetries. For IMF BY > 0 the duskside merging cell potential in the Northern Hemisphere is much higher than that in the Southern Hemisphere, and the dawnside merging cell potential in the Southern Hemisphere is much higher than that in the Northern Hemisphere. The situation is reversed for IMF BY < 0. This interhemispheric potential mismatch originates from reconnection of overdraped lobe field lines and closed flankside field lines. This type of north-south asymmetric reconnection does not affect the merging cell potentials in the same hemisphere as the reconnection point, whereas in the opposite hemisphere, it diminishes the potential of the dawnside (or duskside) Dungey-type merging cell. Thus the total dawnside (or duskside) merging cell potential in one hemisphere is smaller than that in the other hemisphere by the reconnection voltage associated with the asymmetric reconnection.
AB - When the dawn-to-dusk component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF BY) is dominant, ionospheric convection exhibits a basic two-cell pattern with significant dawn-dusk and interhemispheric asymmetries. For IMF BY > 0 the duskside merging cell potential in the Northern Hemisphere is much higher than that in the Southern Hemisphere, and the dawnside merging cell potential in the Southern Hemisphere is much higher than that in the Northern Hemisphere. The situation is reversed for IMF BY < 0. This interhemispheric potential mismatch originates from reconnection of overdraped lobe field lines and closed flankside field lines. This type of north-south asymmetric reconnection does not affect the merging cell potentials in the same hemisphere as the reconnection point, whereas in the opposite hemisphere, it diminishes the potential of the dawnside (or duskside) Dungey-type merging cell. Thus the total dawnside (or duskside) merging cell potential in one hemisphere is smaller than that in the other hemisphere by the reconnection voltage associated with the asymmetric reconnection.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=37249066221&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=37249066221&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2006JA012179
DO - 10.1029/2006JA012179
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:37249066221
VL - 112
JO - Journal of Geophysical Research
JF - Journal of Geophysical Research
SN - 0148-0227
IS - 10
M1 - A10205
ER -