NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE FORMATION AND EVOLUTION OF MAGNETOSPHERIC IRREGULARITIES BY THE INTERCHANGE OF MAGNETIC-FLUX TUBES

The formation and evolution of magnetospheric irregularities by interchange of tubes of force, is studied through the solution of the electron and ion heat, and ion density equations. These calculations indicate that interchange of magnetic flux tubes may cause irregularities in the ionosphere and protonosphere. Ionospheric irregularities result from disturbance of the F-layer through electrodynamic movement vertically while the protonospheric irregularities result from variations in flux tube volume. It has been found that the temperature profile plays an important role in the variation of irregularity magnitude along flux tubes and that irregularities will persist for many hours at night. After several hours a small growth of the irregularities has been observed. © 1979.