2D plasma sheet ion density and temperature profiles for northward and southward IMF

[1] We previously developed a method for inferring plasma sheet ion temperature and density from ionospheric observations. Using this method and DMSP observations for 1992, we present 2D profiles of the equatorial plasma sheet ion density and temperature for southward and northward IMF for b2i > 64degrees or Kp < similar to 3. During periods of northward IMF, cold dense ions can be found plentifully along the plasma sheet flanks. However, during periods of southward IMF, the presence of these cold dense ions is noticeably diminished, especially at the dusk flank where the density peak is less discernable. These cold dense ions have been previously interpreted in terms of magnetosheath ion entry into the plasma sheet. Our result suggests that any mechanism proposed to transport magnetosheath ions from dusk LLBL to the plasma sheet along the dusk flank during periods of northward IMF would have to be able to do so efficiently over a large spatial scale.