Hemispheric Asymmetries in Poynting Flux Derived from DMSP Spacecraft | CU Experts

We provide high-resolution maps of quasi-static Poynting flux (PF) in; each hemisphere based on nine-satellite years of Defense Meteorological; Satellite Program (DMSP) data. Conjugate comparisons from; ~850 km reveal more quasi-static PF arriving in the; northern hemisphere (NH) than the southern hemisphere (SH). This; tendency is clear in the dawn-dusk sectors and during intervals when Kp; < 3, which accounts for ~80% of the study; interval. Summer-to-summer comparisons indicate this asymmetry is; partially associated with more NH solar illumination, which supports; stronger NH field-aligned currents (FAC). Differing hemispheric FAC; configurations may also play a role. Our findings support and broaden; earlier reports of similar NH preference for the deposition of Alfvenic; PF. Regionally the NH has stronger dusk-region PF, while the SH has; stronger mid-morning PF. We find PF deposition in the near-cusp regions; that rivals and often exceeds the PF intensity in the auroral zones.

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