This project continues research efforts on the morphology and dynamics of the Earth's magnetosphere. The methodology emphasizes particle precipitation data and auroral imagery from low altitude satellites. Ionospheric convection as determined from HF radars as well as middle-magnetosphere satellite data will also play crucial roles in the program. Research will be conducted in four broad categories. The first category concerns the low-altitude signatures of magnetopause processes in which we will clarify the distinctions between various high altitude magnetospheric plasma regimes. The second category addresses dayside auroral phenomenology using coordinated satellite imagery and particle precipitation data, particularly from the DMSP satellites. The third category involves coordinated observations using the extensive DMSP satellite data and ground-based coherent radar data to investigate the dynamics of substorm behavior. Finally, the fourth category involves magnetic field-aligned processes that connect the low altitude regions to the middle magnetosphere.
