Paper#: 89
Poster #:
Session Name: Workshop 1C: High Latitude Processes
Room: West Ballroom
Day: Monday
Time: 4:30-4:50 p.m.
Abstract Title: Magnetotail Flow-Pattern Dependencies on Auroral Breakup Locations
PresentSurname: Ieda, A.
All Authors: A. Ieda, D. H. Fairfield, K. Liou, T. Mukai, T. Nagai
Abstract : Geotail plasma flow observations between 5 and 30 Re down the tail have been investigated at times when 517 auroral breakups were identified in the Polar ultraviolet imager observations. Fast earthward flows were sometimes observed around 10 Re, while they were rarely seen between 15 and 25 Re. Beyond 25 Re and primarily in the premidnight region, fast tailward flows were observed more often than earthward flows and their longitudes were associated with breakup longitudes. The results are consistent with a very localized region of reconnection where plasmoids expand in longitude as they move down the tail. Fast earthward flows are probably restricted in longitude between 15 and 25 Re. Higher occurrence probability of the earthward flows around 10 Re is suggestive of accumulation of flows slowed by a breaking of faster flows. We also found that fast flows were observed more often for the breakups on the duskside. This suggests that the duskside breakups are statistically wider in longitude than midnight breakups.