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A Statistical Study of Pressure Changes in the Near-Earth Magnetotail Associated with Substorm Expansion Onsets

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The Dynamic Magnetosphere

Part of the book series: IAGA Special Sopron Book Series ((IAGA,volume 3))

Abstract

We have statistically studied substorm-associated evolution of the near-Earth magnetotail to understand the substorm triggering mechanism. In the present chapter we focus on changes in the total and plasma pressures. We find that energy release is more significant between the regions of the magnetic reconnection and the initial dipolarization, i.e., at –12 > X > –18 R e than in the surrounding regions. Unlike previously reported results, the plasma pressure increases in association with the initial dipolarization at X > –12 R e, the increase largely contributed by high-energy particles. This result suggests that the rarefaction wave scenario proposed in the current disruption model is questionable.

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Acknowledgments

The Geotail LEP ion moment data were provided by T. Mukai and Y. Saito. The Geotail MGF magnetic field data were provided by S. Kokubun and T. Nagai. The Geotail EPIC high-energy particle data were provided by R. W. McEntire, S. P. Christon, and A. T. Y. Lui. The Polar MFE and GOES magnetic field data were provided by C. T. Russell and H. J. Singer, respectively, through the Coordinated Data Analysis Web (CDAWeb) at NASA. The auroral breakup lists used in the present study were provided by K. Liou and H. U. Frey. We thank D. Nagata, Y. Kamide, M. Fujimoto, M. Nosé, K. Liou, C. T. Russell, S. P. Christon, T. Mukai, M. H. Saito, and I. Shinohara for their useful comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601, Japan

    Y. Miyashita & A. Ieda

  2. Department of Geophysics, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    S. Machida

Authors
  1. Y. Miyashita
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  2. S. Machida
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  3. A. Ieda
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Y. Miyashita .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Spacecraft Engineering, Canadian Space Agency, route de l'Aeroport 6767, St.-Hubert, J3Y 8Y9, Québec, Canada

    William Liu

  2. Astronautical Science (ISAS), Institute of Space &, Yoshinodai 3-1-1, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 229-8510, Japan

    Masaki Fujimoto

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Miyashita, Y., Machida, S., Ieda, A. (2011). A Statistical Study of Pressure Changes in the Near-Earth Magnetotail Associated with Substorm Expansion Onsets. In: Liu, W., Fujimoto, M. (eds) The Dynamic Magnetosphere. IAGA Special Sopron Book Series, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0501-2_7

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