Convection and Substorms: Paradigms of Magnetospheric Phenomenology (International Series on Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2)

The Magnetosphere Is The Region Where Cosmic Rays And The Solar Wind Interact With The Earth's Magnetic Field, Creating Such Phenomena As The Northern Lights And Other Aurorae. The Configuration And Dynamics Of The Magnetosphere Are Of Interest To Planetary Physicists, Geophysicists, Plasma Astrophysicists, And To Scientists Planning Space Missions. The Circulation Of Solar Wind Plasma In The Magnetosphere And Substorms Have Long Been Used As The Principle Paradigms For Studying This Vital Region. Charles F. Kennel, A Leading Scientist In The Field, Here Presents A Synthesis Of The Convection And Substorm Literatures, And An Analysis Of Convection And Substorm Interactions; He Also Suggests That The Currently Accepted Steady Reconnection Model May Be Advantageously Replaced By A Model Of Multiple Tail Reconnection Events, In Which Many Mutually Interdependent Reconnections Occur. Written In An Accessible, Non-mathematical Style, This Book Introduces The Reader To The Exciting Discoveries In This Fast-growing Field. 1. Introduction -- 2. The Teardrop Magnetosphere -- 3. The Bell-like Magnetosphere -- 4. The Viscous Magnetosphere -- 5. The Reconnecting Magnetosphere -- 6. Correlation Of Geomagnetic Activity With The Solar Wind -- 7. The Reconnection System -- 8. Bursty Magnetopause Reconnection And Its Consequences -- 9. Bimodal Plasma Flow Sheet Flow -- 10. Convection For Northward Interplanetary Field -- 11. The Nightside Auroral Oval -- 12. The Auroral Substorm -- 13. The Geosynchronous And Auroral Substorms -- 14. Coordination Of The Geosynchronous And Auroral Substorms -- 15. Triggered Substorms -- 16. On The Relation Between Convection And Substorms -- 17. Epilogue -- References. Charles F. Kennel. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [311]-401) And Index. The magnetosphere is the region where cosmic rays & the solar wind interact with the Earth's magnetic field, creating such phenomena as the northern lights & other aurorae. The configuration & dynamics of the magnetosphere are of interest to planetary physicists, geophysicists, plasma astrophysicists, & to scientists planning space missions. The circulation of solar wind plasma in the magnetosphere & substorms have long been used as the principle paradigms for studying this vital region. The author here presents a synthesis of the convection & substorm literatures, & an analysis of convection & substorm interactions; he also suggests that the currently accepted steady reconnection model may be advantageously replaced by a model of multiple tail reconnection events, in which many mutually interdependent reconnections occur Convection and substorms are magnetospheric phenomena used as paradigms for the study of the magnetosphere. This book presents a synthesis of the literature on convection and substorms, an analysis of their interactions, and proposes a new model for reconnection. All scientists working in solar-terrestrial physics will find this book invaluable. It includes a comprehensive bibliography. Convection and substorms are magnetospheric phenomena used as paradigms for the study of the magnetosphere. This book presents a synthesis of the literature on convection and substorms, an analysis of their interactions, and proposes a model for reconnection. It will be useful for all scientists working in solar-terrestrial physics.