Magnetospheric convection pattern inferred from magnetic disturbance and auroral motions

The auroral display appearing over Alaska on the night of February 13–14, 1958 (LT), was characterized by a relatively uniform level of auroral and magnetic activity. Synoptic maps of auroral orientations and motions and of magnetic disturbance from this night are used to infer the steady state magnetospheric convection during the display. The auroral motions imply an inward component to the convective motion during much of the display, westward motion at distances to 9 RE in evening and eastward motion beyond 9 RE in the evening hours and at radial distances 4 to 10 RE during the morning hours.