The evolving paradigm of the subauroral geospace

An assessment of the status quo fast subauroral flows—subauroral ion drifts (SAID) and polarization streams (SAPS), is presented. For a few decades, their development has been interpreted in terms voltage current magnetospheric generators based largely on drift motion test particles. Recent multispacecraft observations revealed serious flaws generator paradigm called for new generation mechanism fast-time flows ring (RC) injections. A novel model includes them overarching problem penetration magnetotail plasma flow bursts (MPFs) into plasmasphere substorm wedge (SCW) development. SAID are created near plasmapause, where inbound MPFs short-circuited by cold plasma. This stops MPF’s electrons forms “dispersionless” sheet (PS) boundary. The electric field—the inherent part short-circuiting loop—stops inward-moving ions. In turn, SAPS an integral two-loop SCW system, or SCW2L, downward (R2) emerges response to upward (R1) SCW’s “head.” meridional Pedersen current, which connects R1 R2 currents, leads that ultimately drive RC injections duskside.