This paper reports on results from a study of the poleward edge of the
auroral oval in the morning sector using a comprehensive blend of in
situ and ground-based measurements. Three rockets, equipped to measure
electric and magnetic fields, energetic particles, and plasma density
flew into an auroral display whose dynamical features were recorded w
ith a digital image intensified all-sky camera as well as with an inco
herent scatter radar. In addition, a number of DMSP satellite measurem
ents bracketed the launch time. Evidence is presented here that in a c
ondition of declining magnetic activity Sun-aligned arcs are injected
into the polar cap at velocities similar to 7 km/s from locations of p
eriodic brightening along the morningside of the auroral oval. The mul
tipoint in situ measurements allow some separation of temporal and spa
tial effects and strongly suggest a poleward contraction of the convec
tion pattern of about 0.25 degrees INVL in 70 s. The most equatorward
of the two brightest arcs studied erupted into a region which already
was characterized by strong sunward convection. The most poleward, how
ever, pushed into a region that had been convecting in an antisunward
direction at velocities exceeding 1 km/s less than 2 min earlier, and
it is likely that sunward convection subsequently pertained poleward o
f that are as well. We believe that these events mark the reconfigurat
ion of the magnetosphere into a system characterized by a smaller pola
r cap.