Multipoint MMS observations of fine-scale SAPS structure in the inner magnetosphere

• We present detailed observations of dynamic, fine-scale inner magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling at approximate to 3.9R(E) in the Region 2 Birkeland field-aligned current (FAC). We find that observed electrodynamic spatial/temporal scales are primarily characteristic of magnetically mapped ionospheric structure. On 15 September 2015, conjugate Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) spacecraft and Millstone Hill radar observations show plasmasphere boundary region subauroral polarization stream (SAPS) electric fields at L = 4.0-4.2 near 21 MLT. MMS observations reveal high-altitude approximate to 1mV/m fine-scale radial and azimuthal electric field perturbations over 0.15L with high spatial coherence over 2-3min and show outward motion within a broader FAC of approximate to 0.12A/m(2). Our analysis shows that MMS electric field fluctuations are most likely reflective of SAPS ionospheric structure at scales of approximate to 22km and with ionospheric closure of small-scale filamentary FAC perturbations. The results highlight the ionosphere's importance in regulating fine-scale magnetosphere-ionosphere structure.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Geofysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Geophysics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

sub auroral polarization stream

ring current

region 2 Birkeland current

mms

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)