Invariant latitude

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Invariant latitude is a parameter that describes where a particular magnetic field line touches the surface of the Earth. It is given by

\Lambda = \arccos\left(\sqrt{1/L}\right)

or

L = 1/\cos^2\left(\Lambda\right)

where Λ is the invariant latitude and and L is the L-value describing the magnetic field line in question.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Margaret Kivelson and Christopher Russell (1995), Introduction to Space Physics, New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, pp. 166-167