The contribution of flux transfer events to convection

Lockwood, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7397-2172, Cowley, S. W. H., Smith, M. F., Rijnbeek, R. P. and Elphic, R. C. (1994) The contribution of flux transfer events to convection. Geophysical Research Letters, 22 (10). pp. 1185-1188. ISSN 00948276 doi: 10.1029/95GL01008

Abstract/Summary

It is shown from flux transfer event (FTE) occurrence statistics, observed as a function of MLT by the ISEE satellites, that recent 2-dimensional analytic theories of the effects of pulsed Petschek reconnection predict FTEs to contribute between 50 and 200 kV to the total reconnection voltage when the magnetosheath field points southward. The upper limit (200 kV) allows the possibility that FTEs provide all the antisunward transport of open field lines into the tail lobe. This range is compared with the voltages associated with series of FTEs signatures, as inferred from ground-based observations, which are in the range 10–60 kV. We conclude that the contribution could sometimes be made by a series of single, large events; however, the voltage is often likely to be contributed by several FTEs at different MLT.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/38805
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	No Reading authors. Back catalogue items Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
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