Abstract
Thomas and Smith [1980] give an excellent description of the observations of the interplanetary magnetic field by the spacecraft Pioneer 10 and 11. Our purpose in this note is to discuss one aspect of their interpretation of their observations.They suggest that the fast solar wind streams associated with interaction regions may move the current sheet to higher heliographic latitudes. We have recently shown [Wilcox et al., 1980] that observations of the interplanetary magnetic field polarity in early 1976 obtained at several locations in the heliosphere at Helios 1, Helios 2, and earth show a rather detailed agreement with a warped heliospheric current sheet calculated from the observed photospheric magnetic field using a potential field method. It appears that at least in early 1976 the observations of the warped heliospheric current sheet are adequately explained using the observed photospheric magnetic field, and it is therefore not necessary to postulate that fast streams associated with interaction regions may move the current sheet to higher heliographic latitudes.
Published Version
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