Plasma pressure and the field-aligned currents in the magnetosphere

Physical principles of formation of field-aligned currents in the magnetosphere were formulated at first more 30 years ago. These principles are based on suggestion that magnetospheric convection is conditioned by the electric field of the solar wind penetrating into the magnetosphere. From the competitive point of view, it is field-aligned currents that are one of the main channels of the magnetosphere influence on the ionosphere processes. In this paper we review the results of experimental analyses and theoretical examinations evidenced that field-aligned currents are generated in association with the plasma pressure gradients in the magnetosphere. (C) 2003 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.