Skip to main content
Log in

Electric fields and currents in the ionosphere

  • Published:
Space Science Reviews Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper some theories and experimental data on the electric fields and currents in the ionosphere are reviewed. Electric fields originating in the polarization of the ionosphere as well as in local irregularities are considered. Special attention is paid to field-aligned currents as a regulator of the intensity and configuration of the ionospheric polarization field, the anomalous resistivity being one of the most important characteristics of the magnetospheric plasma. Present-day models of the magnetosphere and corresponding electric field generation mechanisms are discussed. Various models of the DP1 current system are considered and the main characteristics that allow us to distinguish between them are listed. Experimental data on the ionospheric electric field are considered; a modified model of Silsbee and Vestine is shown to fit these data reasonably well.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Armstrong, J. C. and Zmuda, A. J.: 1970, J. Geophys. Res. 75, 7122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asaulenko, L. G. and Pudovkin, M. I.: 1965, Geomagn. Aeronom. 5, 322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson, G.: 1970, J. Geophys. Res. 75, 4746.

    Google Scholar 

  • Axford, W. J.: 1964, Planetary Space Sci. 12, 45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Axford, W. J. and Hines, C. O.: 1961, Can. J. Phys. 39, 1433.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balsley, B. B. and Woodman, R. F.: 1971, ‘Ionospheric Drift Velocity Measurements at Jicamarca, Peru’, Rept. UAG-17.

  • Barsukov, V. M. and Pudovkin, M. I.: 1970, Geomagn. Aeronom. 10, 663.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben'kova, N. P. and Fatkullin, M. N.: 1970, in ‘Ionospheric Research’, No. 19, 136.

  • Birkeland, Kr.: 1908, 1913, The Norwegian Aurora Polaris Expedition 1903–1908.

  • Boström, R.: 1964, J. Geophys. Res. 69, 4983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bramley, E. N. and Pudovkin, M. I.: 1972, in E. R. Dyer (ed.), Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Part IV, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht-Holland, pp. 117–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burdo, O. A.: 1960 (in Russian), Proc. Arct. Antarct. Inst. 223, 21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cauffman, D. P. and Gurnett, A. D.: 1971, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 6014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cauffman, D. P. and Gurnett, A. D.: 1972, Space Sci. Rev. 13, 369.

    Google Scholar 

  • Choy, L. W., Arnoldy, R. L., Potter, W., Kinter, P., and Cahill, L. J.: 1971, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 8279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloutier, P. A.: 1971, Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 9, 987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cloutier, P. A., Anderson, H. R., Park, R. J., Vondrak, R. R., Spiger, R. J., and Sandel, B. R.: 1970, J. Geophys. Res. 75, 2595.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole, K. D.: 1960, Australian J. Phys. 13, 484.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coroniti, F. V. and Kennel, C. F.: 1972, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 2835.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, T. N.: 1962, J. Geophys. Res. 67, 59, 75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, T. N.: 1971, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 5978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dokuchaev, V. P.: 1959 (in Russian), Izvest. Acad. Nauk, Ser. Geophys., No. 5, 783.

  • Dungey, J. W.: 1961, Phys. Rev. Letters 6, 47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, J. V.: 1972, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 34, 175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farley, D. T.: 1959, J. Geophys. Res. 64, 1225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Föppl, H., Haerendel, G., Haser, L., Lüst, R., Melzner, F., Meyer, F., Neuss, H., Rabben, H. H., Stöcker, J., and Stoffregen, W.: 1968, J. Geophys. Res. 73, 21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank, L. A. and Gurnett, D. A.: 1971, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 6829.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukushima, N.: 1971, Radio Sci. 6, 269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fukushima, N.: 1972, Planetary Space Sci. 20, 1443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez, W. D. and Mozer, F. S.: 1972, ‘High Latitude Electric Fields and the Three-Dimensional Interaction between the Interplanetary and Terrestrial Magnetic Field’. Preprint, Space Sci. Lab., ser. 13, Issue 103, Univ. Calif., Berkeley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurnett, D. A.: 1972, in Critical Problems of Magnetospheric Physics, Proceedings of the joint COSPAR-IAGA-URSI Symposium, Madrid, pp. 123–138.

  • Haerendel, G.: 1972a, in B. M. McCormac (ed.), Earth's Magnetospheric Processes, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht-Holland, p. 246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haerendel, G.: 1972b, in E. R. Dyer (ed.), Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Part IV, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht-Holland, p. 87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haerendel, G.: 1973, Space Research XIII, 601.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haerendel, G. and Lüst, R.: 1970, in B. M. McCormac (ed.), Particles and Fields in the Magnetosphere, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht-Holland, p. 213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heppner, J. P.: 1972a, J. Geophys. Res. 77, 4877.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heppner, J. P.: 1972b, in Critical Problems of Magnetospheric Physics, Proceedings of the joint COSPAR-IAGA-URSI Symposium, Madrid, pp. 107–120.

  • Heppner, J. P.: 1972c, Planetary Space Sci. 20, 1475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heppner, J. P., Stolaric, J. D., and Wescott, E. M.: 1971, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 6028.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hones, E. W.: 1973, ‘Magnetospheric Plasma Flow and the Nature of the Magnetospheric Boundary Layer’, Preprint, Los-Alamos Sci. Lab., Univ. Calif., Form No. 836, St. No. 2629.

  • Isaev, S. I. and Pudovkin, M. I.: 1972 (in Russian), Aurorae and Magnetospheric Processes, Nauka, Leningrad.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, M. C., Mozer, F. S., and Fahleson, U. V.: 1971, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 6054.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, M. C., Starr, J. A., and Mozer, F. S.: 1971, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 5269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennel, C. F.: 1969, Rev. Geophys. 1, 379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kindell, J. M. and Kennel, C. F.: 1971, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 3055.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohl, H. and King, J. W.: 1967, J. Atmospheric Terrest. Phys. 29, 1045.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laird, L. J.: 1969, J. Geophys. Res. 74, 133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lassen, K.: 1968, Polar Cap Emissions, Det. Danske Meteorol. Inst.

  • Lloyd, K. H. and Haerendel, G.: 1973, J. Geophys. Res. 78, 7389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loginov, G. A.: 1965, Geomagn. Aeronom. 5, 328.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsushita, S.: 1969, Radio Sci. 4, 771.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsushita, S. and Tarpley, J. D.: 1970, J. Geophys. Res. 75, 5433.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maynard, N. C. and Heppner, J. P.: 1969, ‘Variations in Electric Fields from Polar Orbiting Satellites’, Preprint X-612-69-374.

  • Maynard, N. C.: 1971, in K. Folkestad (ed.), Proceedings of the Advanced Study Institute on Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Interaction, pp. 155–168.

  • Meriwether, J. W., Stolaric, J. D., Heppner, J. P., and Wescott, E. W.: 1971, Program 52 Ann. Meet. AGU, Washington, D.C., p. 30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michalov, J. D., Colburn, D. C., Currie, R. G., and Sonnet, C. P.: 1968, J. Geophys. Res. 73, 943.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mozer, F. S. and Fahleson, U. V.: 1970, Planet. Space Sci. 18, 1563.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mozer, F. S.: 1971a, Pure Appl. Geophys. 84, 32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mozer, F. S.: 1971b, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 7595.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mozer, F. S., Bogott, F., Kelley, M. C., and Schutz, S.: 1972, ‘Polar Cap Electric Fields and Magnetospheric Convection’, Preprint, Space Sci. Lab., Ser. 13, Issue 96, Univ. Calif., Berkeley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mozer, F. S.: 1973, Space Sci. Rev. 14, 272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, C. H., Bull, G. V., and Edvards, H. D.: 1966, J. Geophys. Res. 71, 4535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishida, A.: 1971, Cosmic Electrodyn. 2, 350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obayashi, T. and Nishida, A.: 1968, Space Sci. Rev. 8, 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oguti, T.: 1971, Cosmic Electrodyn. 2, 164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, D. E.: 1971, Pure Appl. Geophys. 84, 118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, R. J. and Cloutier, P. A.: 1971, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 7714.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, C. G. and Meng, C.-I.: 1971, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 8326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polyakov, V. M., Shchepkin, A. A., Kasimirovsky, E. S., and Kokourov, V. D.: 1968 (in Russian), Ionospheric Processes, Nauka.

  • Pudovkin, M. I.: 1966 (in Russian), in High-latitude Researches on Geomagnetism and Aeronomy, Nauka, pp. 19–26.

  • Pudovkin, M. I.: 1968 (in Russian), ‘Morphology and Nature of Polar Substorms’, Dr. Sci. Thesis, Leningrad.

  • Pudovkin, M. I. and Shumilov, O. I.: 1969, Ann. Géophys. 25, 125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pudovkin, M. I. and Barsukov, V. M.: 1971, Planetary Space Sci. 19, 525.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pudovkin, M. I. and Zvetkov, A. V.: 1972, ‘Development of a “Crochet” against the Background of a Geomagnetic Bay’, paper presented at Symposium on Critical Problems of Magnetospheric Physics, Madrid.

  • Pudovkin, M. I., Zaitzeva, S. A. and Vataka, G. P.: 1973, ‘Electric Fields in the Low-latitude Ionosphere and the Return Currents of the Auroral Electrojet’, Geomagn. Aeronom., in press.

  • Réme, H. and Bosqued, J. M.: 1971, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 7683.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid, G. C.: 1965, Radio Sci. 69D, 827.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rieger, E.: 1971, Gerlands Beitr. Geophys. 80, 243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rishbeth, H.: 1971, Planetary Space Sci. 19, 263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silsbee, H. B. and Vestine, E. H.: 1942, Terrest. Magn. Atmospheric Electr. 47, 195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Syrovatsky, S. J.: 1972, ‘Origin of the Geomagnetic Tail and Neutral Sheet’, Preprint Inst. Cosm. Res., No. 52, Moscow.

  • Tarpley, J. D.: 1970, Planetary Space Sci. 18, 1091.

    Google Scholar 

  • Troshichev, O. A., Pegov, L. A., and Pudovkin M. I.: 1973, ‘DR and DCF Variations and DP 2 Disturbances’, Planetary Space Sci., in press.

  • Vanyan, L. L., Debabov, A. S., and Osipova, I. L.: 1972, Geomagn. Aeronom. 12, 628.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vondrak, R. R., Anderson, H. R., and Spiger, R. J.: 1971, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 7701.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodman, R. F.: 1972, Space Res. XII, 969–974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zmuda, A. J., Armstrong, J. C., and Heuring, R. T.: 1970, J. Geophys. Res. 75, 4757.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pudovkin, M.I. Electric fields and currents in the ionosphere. Space Sci Rev 16, 727–770 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00182599

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00182599

Keywords

Navigation