Model calculations of minor ion populations in the plasmapause

Details Model calculations of minor ion populations in the plasmapause Model calculations of minor ion populations in the plasmapause

Jun 1987

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1987jgr....92.5885c&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research (ISSN 0148-0227), vol. 92, June 1, 1987, p. 5885-5895.

Physics

15

Atmospheric Models, Oxygen Ions, Plasmasphere, Positive Ions, Ionic Collisions, Ionospheric Ion Density, Nitrogen Ions, Vertical Distribution, Vertical Motion

Scientific paper

Recent observations of the density of minor ions at high altitudes in the outer plasmasphere show relative enhancements of O(2+) in regions of simultaneous O(+) enhancements. These regions also exhibit high ion temperatures. Computer simulations of the temperature structure of the plasmasphere under conditions of electron heating in the equatorial region suggest that such heating produces large gradients in both the electron and ion temperature in the ionosphere. These gradients result in an increase in the pressure of the electrons, which increases the polarization field, and of the ions, which results in large plasma scale heights at low altitudes and increased ion densities at high altitudes. The subsequent enhanced flux of O(2+) from the ionosphere produced by collisional drag of O(2+) by O(+) and the increased polarization field results in a significant increase in the O(2+) density above the ionosphere. At higher altitudes the O(2+)-O(+) collisions inhibit the upward flow of O(2+) resulting in a high-altitude peak in the O(2+) density. Above this peak, where collisions with O(+) begin to become insignificant, the O(2+) pressure gradient pushes the O(2+) into the equatorial reservoir. Simulations of conditions of moderate flux tube depletion result in an increase in this effect. The N(+) is also affected by collisions with O(+), but the increase in its density at high altitudes is primarily due to the scale height effect.

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