The dynamic response of the westward auroral electrojet and polar cap currents to solar wind-magnetosphere coupling

We present results of studies using high-time resolution data to determine the response of magnetospheric currents to coupling with the solar wind. In the first study, we apply the concept of dimensional analysis to the problem of solar wind-magnetosphere coupling in order to find the dependence of the coupling rate on solar wind variables. We find that energy input to the magnetosphere and as represented by the AE indices occurs at a rate proportional to p...