A satellite study of the mid-latitude trough in electron density and VLF radio emissions during the magnetic storm of 25–27 May 1967

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The locations of the mid-latitude trough in electron density and VLF emissions during the magnetic storm of 25–27 May 1967 are studied from observations made on the Ariel 3 satellite. It is shown qualitatively that the response of the mid-latitude trough to magnetic activity agrees well with the time dependent convection model of the plasmapause derived by Grebowsky (1970). There is also evidence in the data that plasma is detached from the afternoon sector of the plasmasphere. In the afternoon, during the recovery phase of the storm, VLF emissions are observed close to and inside the plasmapause. We suggest that this implies that the plasmapause may be responsible for the erosion of the ring current as suggested by Russell and Thorne (1970). However, in the morning emissions occur polewards of the plasmapause suggesting that ring current erosion by the plasmapause is not important in this sector of the magnetosphere.