Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling in the Region of Auroral Electrojets

Abstract

We discuss the question as to how the magnetospheric energy source feeds the ionospheric current system. It is shown that a consistent application and further development of Kennel's ideas makes it possible to successfully solve the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling problem in regard to the formation of auroral electrojets by steady volume currents generated in the magnetosphere by the magnetospheric MHD generator in the case of a simple model which, nevertheless, retains the essential features of the reality. It is concluded that the whole of the complicated magnetospheric ''design'' only acts to redistribute, in space and time, currents and energy fluxes which must be supplied by external sources to feed the dissipative processes in the ionosphere.