Statistical study of the NTC plasmaspheric patches: A direct link between wave observation in the inner magnetosphere and magnetic activity

Abstract

Variations in the solar wind are responsible of reconfiguration of the whole magnetosphere. The plasmapause is located in the inner magnetosphere and a direct link between its characteristics and the magnetic activity has been shown. NTC is believed to be emitted at the plasmapause and near the magnetic equator. The changes of the plasmapause due to solar wind variations may be reflected in the wave signature. Using three years of Cluster data we perform a statistical study. We show that their observation is linked with a compression of the plasmapause, and an increasing of the magnetic indices.