Unsolved problems: Mesoscale polar cap flow channels' structure, propagation, and effects on space weather disturbances

Abstract

AbstractRecent evidence indicates that the magnetosphere‐ionosphere system is frequently driven by dynamic mesoscale flow structures that are first seen near the dayside cusps, move across the open field line regions of the polar caps, and then enter the plasma sheet where they lead to a large variety of space weather disturbances. It will be important to uncover the features of these flow enhancements, including their structure, how they propagate across the polar cap, and what controls their dynamic effects after reaching the nightside plasma sheet.