Dynamics of particles and plasma movement during geomagnetic storms Original Research Article

The motions of the boundaries of quasi-trapped 0.04–2.0 MeV electron fluxes and thermal plasma are examined using the Intercosmos-19 and Cosmos-900 data obtained during a few magnetic storms in the magnetosphere and ionosphere and the Cosmos-1686 data obtained during a strong magnetic storm. The motions of the boundaries during the main and recovery phases of the storms are treated. The particles, plasma, and low-frequency waves move equatorwards during the main phases of some of the storms. During the main phases of some other storms, the particles move polewards, while the plasma and waves move equatorwards. The behaviour of the plasma and particle motion boundaries is discussed as dependent on model representations and storm amplitude.