@article{oai:kyutech.repo.nii.ac.jp:00006349, author = {Imajo, S. and Nosé, M. and Kasahara, S. and Yokota, S. and Matsuoka, A. and Keika, K. and Hori, T. and Teramoto, Mariko and 寺本, 万里子 and Yamamoto, K. and Oimatsu, S. and Nomura, R. and Fujimoto, Akiko and 藤本, 晶子 and Shinohara, I. and Miyoshi, Y.}, issue = {7}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics}, month = {Jul}, note = {We examined the average meridional distribution of middle‐energy protons (10–180 keV) and pressure‐driven currents in the nightside (20–04 hr magnetic local time) ring current region during moderately disturbed times using the Arase satellite's data. Because the Arase satellite has a large inclination orbit of 31°, it covers the magnetic latitude (MLAT) in the range of −40° to 40° and a radial distance of <6RE. We found that the plasma pressure decreased significantly with increasing MLAT. The plasma pressure on the same L* shell at 30° < MLAT < 40° was ∼10–60% of that at 0° < 4 MLAT < 10°, and the rate of decrease was larger on lower L* shells. The pressure anisotropy, derived as the perpendicular pressure divided by the parallel pressure minus 1, decreased with radial distance and showed a weak dependence on MLAT. The magnitude of the plasma beta at 30°