Field-aligned currents in the magnetosphere

Certain satellite and terrestrial observations of transient magnetic fluctuations show a high degree of localization, while other observations are of a definite worldwide character. The worldwide fluctuations in the magnetic field are probably well explained in terms of hydromagnetic waves propagating through the magnetosphere in modes with the wave polarization current flowing perpendicular to the geomagnetic field. However, for the localized fluctuations such an interpretation is inconsistent with present theory of hydromagnetic wave propagation in the magnetosphere. We suggest that the observations of localized magnetic fluctuations might be better interpreted in terms of field-aligned currents in the magnetosphere.