Auroral breakups and magnetotail plasmoids: Polar/UVI and Geotail observations

Akimasa Ieda
NRC at NASA/GSFC

The association between substorms and reconnection will be discussed using ISTP spacecraft observations of the ionosphere and the magnetotail. We conclude that reconnection is a necessary condition, but not a sufficient condition for substorms. This talk will cover material from three recent papers describing:

(1) A statistical study of plasmoid expansion

(2) Auroral activity when clear plasmoids are ejected

(3) Magnetotail activity when auroral breakups are occurring