Plasmasphere electron temperature studies using satellite observations and a theoretical model

Details Plasmasphere electron temperature studies using satellite observations and a theoretical model Plasmasphere electron temperature studies using satellite observations and a theoretical model

Jul 1996

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996jgr...10115323b&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 101, Issue A7, p. 15323-15330

Physics

22

Ionosphere: Plasma Temperature And Density, Magnetospheric Physics: Plasmasphere, Ionosphere: Modeling And Forecasting, Ionosphere: Ionosphere/Magnetosphere Interactions

Scientific paper

Electron temperature variations in the Earth's plasmasphere are studied using the Exos D satellite observations and the Sheffield University plasmasphere-ionosphere model. The observations made during the years 1989-1994 are analyzed to investigate the local time and altitude (1000-8000 km) variations of the electron temperature at magnetic latitudes 0°-45°N. The observed electron temperature Te is almost constant during both day and night and is found to have large day-to-night differences that vary with altitude and latitude; the largest day-to-night ratio in Te (~6500 K/2600 K) occurs at the highest altitude at equatorial latitudes and the smallest ratio (~3300 K/2300 K) at the lowest altitude at midlatitudes. During daytime, Te increases rapidly with altitude in the lower plasmasphere (altitude <2500 km) and slowly in the upper plasmasphere with mean gradients of 1.33 and 0.22 Kkm-1, respectively. At night, on the other hand, the lower plasmasphere is in thermal equilibrium, and in the upper plasmasphere Te increases slowly with a mean gradient equal to the daytime value. The electron temperature shows maximum latitude variation at medium plasmaspheric altitudes (around 4000 km) and smaller variations at lower and higher altitudes, particularly during daytime. At the altitude of maximum latitude variation, Te increases by about 1200 K between the equator and 40°N during both day and night. The model reproduces the observations reasonably well and is used to explain the occurrence of a prominent morning peak in Te. The morning peak becomes prominent in the lower plasmasphere at low latitudes because of the vertical E×B drift in the equatorial F region, which increases Te during morning hours and decreases Te during daytime hours. The observations and model results also show the occurrence of an afternoon peak in Te, which becomes prominent with increasing altitude and latitude; the peak could be caused by the daytime poleward neutral wind.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Plasmasphere electron temperature studies using satellite observations and a theoretical model does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Plasmasphere electron temperature studies using satellite observations and a theoretical model, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Plasmasphere electron temperature studies using satellite observations and a theoretical model will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1119291