Articles | Volume 19, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-19-311-2001
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-19-311-2001
31 Mar 2001
 | 31 Mar 2001

Compressional Pc5 type pulsations in the morningside plasma sheet

A. Vaivads, W. Baumjohann, G. Haerendel, R. Nakamura, H. Kucharek, B. Klecker, M. R. Lessard, L. M. Kistler, T. Mukai, and A. Nishida

Abstract. We study compressional pulsations in Pc5 frequency range observed in the dawn-side at distances of about 10 RE , close to the magnetic equator. We use data obtained during two events of conjunctions between Equator-S and Geotail: 1000–1700 UT on 9 March 1998, and 0200–0600 UT on 25 April 1998. In both events, pulsations are observed after substorm activity. The pulsations are antisymmetric with respect to the equatorial plane (even mode), and move eastward with phase velocity close to plasma velocity. The pulsations tend to be pressure balanced. We also discuss possible generation mechanisms of the pulsations.

Key words. Magnetospheric physics (magnetospheric configuration and dynamics; MHD waves and instabilities; plasma sheet)

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