Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010jgra..11500i11y&link_type=abstract
Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 115, CiteID A00I11
Physics
3
Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Convection (2463), Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Sheet, Magnetospheric Physics: Numerical Modeling
Scientific paper
We present results of a simulation of an idealized steady magnetospheric convection (SMC) event during steady southward IMF BZ using a version of the Rice Convection Model that is coupled to an equilibrium magnetic field solver (RCM-E) and compare that to a simulation of a substorm growth phase. In contrast to the 1-hour growth phase, the 5-hour SMC event is modeled by placing a plasma distribution with substantially depleted entropy parameter PV5/3 on the RCM's high-latitude boundary. We find that the modeled large-scale configuration on the nightside during the SMC event differs significantly from the growth phase simulation. First, in the magnetotail tailward of X ≈ -10 RE, the magnetic field is dipole-like associated with thick plasma sheet. Second, near geosynchronous orbit, the magnetic field is more stretched associated with the strongly enhanced partial ring current and the inner edge of the plasma sheet moves well inside geosynchronous orbit. Third, the electric field shows strong shielding or even overshielding during the SMC; while a penetration electric field emerges in the growth phase simulation. Fourth, the ground magnetogram calculation shows large horizontal magnetic field disturbances in a much thicker auroral zone which is mainly attributed to Hall currents. Meantime, fairly negative magnetic disturbance emerges in the mid and low latitudes which is mainly attributed to the partial ring current approximately extended to terminators. Contrary to previous studies, our simulation does not produce a deep BZ minimum during strong magnetospheric convection, which implies that the pressure balance inconsistency may be dramatically alleviated if the inner magnetosphere is continuously fed with under-populated flux tubes. We also suggest that strong magnetic field without BZ minimum in the plasma sheet may explain why SMCs can last for hours without a substorm expansion since certain instabilities may not build up to threshold in such a configuration.
Song Yushu
Toffoletto Frank R.
Yang Jaek-Jin
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