Several unconventional ideas on the formation and maintenance of the low latitude boundary layer (LLBL) of the terrestrial magnetosphere are proposed. It is proposed that the solar wind plasma flowing tailward on the closed field lines in the LLBL maintains the magnetotail. Field-aligned ion beams of the ionospheric origin are identified as region o currents. The evidence of the region o currents is sought in Viking satellite data and MAGSAT data. For the study of auroral arc, sonderstrom radar facility will be used to obtain improved measurements of field-aligned election and ion flows. A campaign is planned in March 1989 in conjunction with auroral imagers. A model for the auroral arc is proposed and the data obtained will allow the testing of this theoretical model. This project will utilize observational sets of data from various satellites (MAGSAT, Hilat, DMSP, ISEE 3) and radar observations to test the theoretical models of LLBL and auroral arc.
