Possible connection of polar cap flows to pre- and post-substorm onset PBIs and streamers

Abstract

Recent analysis of a short period of observations has led to the hypothesis that enhanced meso-scale flows from well within the region of open polar cap field lines may cross the nightside polar cap boundary into the closed field line region and contribute to the triggering of equatorward (earthward) meso-scale flows across the ionospheric (equatorial) portion of plasma sheet fields lines and lead to PBIs and streamers. This includes the streamers that have been postulated to bring new plasma equatorward (earthward) and lead to substorm onset. Meso-scale structure of flow within the polar cap, often studied near the dayside polar cap boundary, has not previously been generally recognized as significant within the nightside polar cap. Here we have taken advantage of new capabilities to measure polar cap convection by the Resolute Bay incoherent scatter radar and the Rankin Inlet PolarDARN radar, coordinated with THEMIS all-sky imager observations, to study flow measurements from well within the polar cap to near the polar cap boundary. We present evidence that flow structures moving from the polar cap toward the nightside polar cap boundary may be important for triggering the flows that lead to substorm onset streamers. The new observations also have given evidence that the flow structures come from deep within the polar cap, and have given unexpected evidence that a continuation of flow structures moving from the polar cap toward the nightside polar cap boundary after substorm onset may be important in controlling the poleward expansion and duration of post-onset auroral activity. Copyright © 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.