Earthward flow bursts in the inner magnetotail and their relation to auroral brightenings, AKR intensifications, geosynchronous particle injections and magnetic activity

High-velocity magnetotail flow bursts measured by the Geotail Low Energy Pl asma experiment in the premidnight equatorial region between 10 and 15 R-E have been compared with other magnetospheric phenomena. These bursts, typic ally characterized by earthward velocities approaching 1000 km/s and lastin g for times of the order of 1 min, are associated with magnetotail dipolari zations and large magnetic field fluctuations. Using supporting measurement s of the International Solar Terrestrial Physics program it is found that t he flow bursts are closely associated with auroral brightenings, AKR onsets , geosynchronous particle injections, and ground magnetic activity. Flow bu rsts for which Polar UVI images are available showed auroral brightenings t hat developed near the footpoint Geotail field line. AKR intensifications u sually accompanied the flow bursts in close time coincidence, whereas dispe rsionless geosynchronous particle injections tended to be delayed by 1-3 mi n. Since flow bursts often exhibit the earliest onsets of these various phe nomena, it seems likely that this chain of events is initiated in the tail beyond 15 RE, presumably by magnetic reconnection. It is concluded that flo w bursts are a fundamental magnetotail process of limited spacial extent th at are important in energy and magnetic flux transport in the magnetosphere . Magnetotail flow bursts are intimately connected to auroral acceleration processes and AKR generation at several thousand kilometer altitude and a f ull explanation of substorms will have to explain this relationship.