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Earth, Planets and Space
Fig. 6 | Earth, Planets and Space

Fig. 6

From: An electric circuit model of the Earth’s polar electrojets and field-aligned currents for the estimation of magnetospheric magnetic field from along-track Swarm magnetic data

Fig. 6

A schematic view of large-scale current systems in the polar ionosphere of the northern hemisphere. The auroral oval (bounded by two eccentric circles) is the region with an enhanced electrical conductivity. FACs transport energy and momentum between the magnetosphere and ionosphere via Region 1 (the poleward edge of the auroral oval) and Region 2 (the equatorward edge of the auroral oval). Crossed and dotted circles represent the flow of FACs into and out of the ionosphere, respectively. Hall currents and polar-cap Hall currents (dashed lines) flow along the eastward and westward auroral electrojets, and sunwards across the polar cap, respectively. Pedersen currents and polar-cap Pedersen currents (solid lines) flow across the electrojets between Region 1 and Region 2, and across the polar cap to the opposite local-time sector, respectively

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