Proposed Priority Science Operations Topic
Topic 3: 'Coupling Through the Cusp, Low-Latitude Boundary Layer and the Mantle'
TOPIC DESCRIPTION
The coupling of energy and momentum across the magnetopause and its
boundary layers remains a fundamental issue in the dynamics of the
magnetosphere and magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. High latitude
convecton patterns are driven by this interaction. We don't
understand which parts of these boundaries are directly coupled to the
interplanetary field lines and which are closed. POLAR offers a unique
opportunity, in conjunction with the other ISTP satellites and ground
based data, to investigate the coupling processes, the dynamics of the
cusp and boundary layers, and the origin of the magnetospheric
convective electric field. The magnetic field lines threading the cusp,
the low-latitude boundary layer and the high latitude boundary layer or
mantle map to a small region of the high-latitude dayside ionosphere.
POLAR can provide in-situ passes through these regions in the high
latitude magnetosphere, watching the temporal evolution as the regions
are slowly traversed, while simultaneously imaging the ionospheric
effects from above. Ground based radar and magnetometer measurements
and DMSP fast-cuts through the region will help to sort out tempral and
spatial effects. The study expands to global scales when we add Geotail
skimming the magnetopause and Interball and IMP-8 magnetopause
crossings.
EPOCH/ORBIT CHARACTERISTICS
Dayside, from ascending node to apogee.
MLT 0900 to 1400
UT emphasis between 0800 and 1800.
SPECIAL POLAR DATA REQUIRED
EFE: 0-20 Hz
MFE: 0-20 Hz
UVI: UV images of dayside region
VIS: UV images of dayside region
Other instruments: normal operations
SPECIAL DESPUN PLATFORM OPERATIONS
Dayside auroral oval
OTHER ISTP REQUIREMENTS
WIND: solar wind monitoring
Geotail: crossing or skimming magntopause and LLBL
Interball: magnetopause/boundary layer crossings
DMSP: dayside skimmer passes, cuts through the cusp
and boundary layers (no pre-coordination needed)
By scheduling POLAR passes in the 0800-1800 UT
range the following ground facilities will be useful:
Superdarn
Sondrestrom
Eiscat
Canopus
Topic Proposed by: N. C. Maynard
e-mail: nmaynard@mrcnh.com