Magnetospheric and auroral plasmas: A short survey of progress

Important milestones in our researches of auroral and magnetospheric plasmas for the past quadrennium 1971–1975 are reviewed. Many exciting findings, including those of the polar cusp, the polar wind, the explosive disruptions of the magnetotail, the interactions of hot plasmas with the plasmapause, the auroral field‐aligned currents, and the striking inverted V electron precipitation events, were reported during this period. Solutions to major questions concerning the origins and acceleration of these plasmas appear possible in the near future. A comprehensive bibliography of current research is appended to this brief survey of auroral and magnetospheric plasmas.