An examination of the structure and dynamics of the outer plasmasphere using multiple geosynchronous satellites

Details An examination of the structure and dynamics of the outer plasmasphere using multiple geosynchronous satellites An examination of the structure and dynamics of the outer plasmasphere using multiple geosynchronous satellites

Jun 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994jgr....9911475m&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 99, Issue A6, p. 11475-11482

Physics

57

Magnetospheric Physics: Plasmasphere, Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Convection

Scientific paper

The structure and the dynamics of the plasmaspheric bulge are examined using in situ three-dimensional plasma observations from magnetospheric plasma analyzers onboard multiple geosynchronous satellites. We identify the plasmasphere by the presence of high fluxes of low-energy (~few eV) ions (corresponding to densities of ~10s up to ~100 cm-3). The results from one year (1991) of nearly continuous plasma measurements from two longitudinally and latitudinally separated spacecraft are presented. This study corroborates many of the features and statistical behavior of the plasmaspheric bulge evidenced in past ground-based and single spacecraft data sets, except we often find a more complex outer plasmasphere than earlier studies have suggested. By using multipoint, simultaneous observations to separate spatial from temporal changes, this study extends previous examinations of the plasmasphere at synchronous orbit. We find that the width and location of the plasmaspheric bulge can differ significantly for the two spacecraft (separated by 6-8 hours in time), particularly during quiet geomagnetic conditions. The very different plasmaspheric morphologies seen by the two spacecraft lead us to conclude that the outer plasmasphere is often highly structured even during steady geomagnetic conditions and that the simple teardrop model of the bulge rarely, if ever, adequately describes the duskside plasmasphere.

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