Do we need a surface wave approach to the magnetospheric resonances?

In this paper we study a possible existence of surface wave (SW) global modes of the outer magnetosphere. The SW modes are supported by two plasma discontinuities: the plasmapause and the boundary between the open and closed field lines of the magnetosphere. Conditions under which the SW global modes can propagate azimuthally and along the magnetic field lines are examined. The ionosphere at the ends of the field lines is considered as reflecting boundaries of these SW modes. As a result SW standing wave structures along the magnetic field fluxes can be formed. Two branches of SW modes are derived. The low frequency branch, f(s),(1) falls in the Pc5 range, while the high frequency branch, f(s,2)-in the Pc4 range, where f(s,1(2)) is the fundamental SW global mode frequency. Their frequencies possess quantized properties in the following way: f = (1,2,3,...)f(s),(1(2)). The high frequency SW branch, f(s),(2) exists only for relatively great azimuthal wavenumbers k(perpendicular to). It is pointed out that most of the SW global mode characteristics are similar to those of the FLR. These results are applied to 1.8 mHz global mode observations on 11 January 1997. Spectral, phase and polarization properties of this Pc5 pulsation event under northward IMF conditions are examined as we see them from ground-based (L'Aquila and TNB observatories) and satellite (POLAR and INTERBALL) observations. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.