Simple Diffusion Theory Models for Joule Heating in the Thermosphere

Details Simple Diffusion Theory Models for Joule Heating in the Thermosphere Simple Diffusion Theory Models for Joule Heating in the Thermosphere

Dec 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003agufmsa22a0104t&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2003, abstract #SA22A-0104

Physics

0358 Thermosphere: Energy Deposition, 2118 Energetic Particles, Solar, 2716 Energetic Particles, Precipitating

Scientific paper

The precipitation of accelerated charged particles and strong increases in ionospheric currents during geomagnetic disturbances take place mainly in the auroral oval. This energy is transmitted to the thermosphere, raising exospheric temperatures there. The thermal energy is transmitted equatorward by gravity waves and neutral winds which can be described by a diffusion equation with some suitable diffusion coefficient. The observed dependence of the enhancement of the exospheric temperature on geomagnetic latitude and the Kp index is determined. Simple diffusion theory models for the latitudinal variation of Tinf are obtained by solving the heat equation in a two-dimensional plane and transforming the solution on to the curved spherical surface of the thermosphere. Analytical solutions for three simple models are obtained: (1) An instantaneous line source at the geomagnetic pole; (2) An instantaneous cylindrical source covering the auroral oval and the polar cap; and (3) An instantaneous annular cylindrical source coinciding with the auroral oval. Models 1 and 2 yield good agreements with the observed latitudinal variation of Tinf with suitable choices of the standard deviations. Model 3 gives only fair agreement with observation.

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