Journal article
Geomagnetic activity dependence of O + in transit from the ionosphere
Journal of atmospheric and solar-terrestrial physics, Vol.71(16), pp.1623-1629
2009
DOI: 10.1016/j.jastp.2008.11.003
Abstract
Energetic O
+ ions have important dynamic effects on the ring current. Insights into the effects of O
+ on ring current dynamics have come primarily from models, not observations. Here, we discuss observations of O
+ populations escaping from the ionosphere and their access to the plasma sheet and ring current. We review data establishing that a significant flux of O
+ escapes the ionosphere during geomagnetically quiet intervals. We then estimate the relative magnitude of the O
+ population in transit between the ionosphere and ring current during quiet intervals before geomagnetic storms. Our analysis suggests that dynamic reconfigurations of the magnetosphere during geomagnetic storms significantly alter the O
+ transport paths from the ionosphere to the ring current. During these reconfigurations some of the pre-existing, quiet time, in-transit O
+ populations are captured on magnetic field lines leading to the ring current. The prompt appearance of this O
+ population in the ring current could modify the evolution of the ring current in the storm growth phase. Our analysis suggests that the consequences of an activity-dependent O
+ transport path to the ring current should be systematically investigated.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Geomagnetic activity dependence of O + in transit from the ionosphere
- Creators
- W.K Peterson - University of Colorado BoulderL Andersson - University of Colorado BoulderB Callahan - University of Colorado BoulderS.R Elkington - University of Colorado BoulderR.W Winglee - University of WashingtonJ.D Scudder - University of IowaH.L Collin - Lockheed Martin ATC, B/255, ADCS, 3251 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of atmospheric and solar-terrestrial physics, Vol.71(16), pp.1623-1629
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jastp.2008.11.003
- ISSN
- 1364-6826
- eISSN
- 1879-1824
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2009
- Academic Unit
- Physics and Astronomy
- Record Identifier
- 9984200047702771
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