Ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling and field-aligned currents

Abstract

It is presented in this paper a review of one of several interactions between the magnetosphere and the ionosphere through the field-aligned currents (FACs). Some characteristics and physical implications of the currents flowing in a plane perpendicular to the magnetic field at high latitudes are discussed. The behavior of this system as an electric circuit is explained, where momentum and energy are transferred via Poynting flux from the magnetosphere into the ionosphere.

Keywords

• space physics
• ionosphere-magnetosphere interaction
• plasma physics