Stratification of magnetospheric convection and its manifestations in the high-latitude ionosphere

Physical processes which, according to experimental data, can occur in the polar ionosphere are considered. A model is suggested of magnetospheric plasma convection stratification resulting from the instability connected with convection flow friction on an ionospheric substrate. A mechanism is described of formation of longitudinal electric fields and V-like potential structures. The mechanism is based on the appearance of anomabous resistance in the maxima of small-scale longitudinal currents. Because of the magnetospheric convection instability convection stratification into cells - small-scale current sheaths - is developed. Stratification scale and intensity are defined by various parameters such as convection velocity plasma density in the E-ionosphere layer, Alfven velocity in the magnetosphere. Current sheaths define the arc structure of auroral polaris