  We discuss the question as to how the magnetospheric energy source feeds the
ionospheric current system.
  It is shown that a consistent application and further development of Kennel's
ideas makes it possible to successfully solve the magnetosphere-ionosphere
coupling problem in regard to the formation of auroral electrojets by steady
volume currents generated in the magnetosphere by the magnetospheric MHD
generator in the case of a simple model which, nevertheless, retains the
essential features of the reality. It is concluded that the whole of the
complicated magnetospheric ''design'' only acts to redistribute, in space and
time, currents and energy fluxes which must be supplied by external sources to
feed the dissipative processes in the ionosphere.
