Ion Signatures of Pseudobreakups and Expansive Aurora in the Magnetotail

M. O. Fillingim1, G. K. Parks1, L. J. Chen1, M. Brittnacher1, G. A. Germany2, J. F. Spann3, D. Larson4, and R. P. Lin4

1 Geophysics Progam, University of Washington, Seattle
2 CSPAR, University of Alabama in Huntsville
3 NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL
4 SSL, Unverisity of California, Berkeley

Presented at 2000 GEM Summer Workshop, Snowmass, CO, June 19 - 23, 2000

Abstract

We present plasma distributions measured by the WIND spacecraft during two perigee passes through the near-Earth plasma sheet region. During the first interval (26 July, 1997) Polar UVI observed a series of pseudobreakups, characterized by localized, short-lived auroral brightenings. Two large auroral expansions were observed by UVI during the second interval (27 March, 1996). WIND plasma measurements revealed large ion velocity moments associated with large flucutations in the magnetic field. Large <V> were observed during all types of auroral activity. The plasma distributions indicate that the large ion velocity moments are not due to flows in the fluid sense, but are the result of complex ion dynamics.

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Contact Information:
Matt Fillingim Matt Fillingim
matt at ess dot washington dot edu matt at ssl dot berkeley dot edu
University of Washington University of California, Berkeley
Department of Earth and Space Sciences Space Sciences Laboratory # 7450
Box 351310 7 Gauss Way
Seattle, WA 98195-1310 Berkeley, CA 94720-7450