Dynamical Simulations of Plasmapause Deformations

Dynamical simulations have been developed at IASB-BIRA to model the deformations of the plasmasphere during geomagnetic substorms and other variations in the level of geomagnetic activity. The simulations are based on the mechanism of plasma instability and use the empirical Kp-dependent electric field E5D. The results of the simulations are compared with IMAGE observations that provide the first global comprehensive images of the Earth’s plasmasphere. The predicted plasmapause positions correspond generally rather satisfactorily with the EUV observations. The plasmasphere is rather extended in all MLT sectors during quiet periods. During or just after geomagnetic substorms, the plasmaspause is sharper and becomes closer to the Earth in the night sector. Periods of enhanced geomagnetic activity are associated to the formation of plumes that rotate with the plasmasphere. The simulations reproduce the formation and the motion of these plumes, as well as the development of other structures like shoulders observed at the plasmapause by EUV on IMAGE.     

Relationship of the diffuse aurora and SAR arc dynamics to substorms and storms

Investigation results of a diffuse aurora (DA) and stable auroral red (SAR) arc dynamics based on spectrophotometric observations at the Yakutsk meridian (199°E geomagnetic longitude) are presented. The relationship of an equatorward extension of DA in the 557.7 nm emission to a substorm growth phase during the magnetospheric convection intensification after the turn of IMF B_Z to the south is shown. The formation of SAR arc during the substorm expansion phase is investigated. The association of SAR arc dynamics with the development of asymmetric ring current (substorm injection) during the main phase of a storm is analyzed. It is shown how the pulsating precipitations of energetic ring current particles develop in the outer plasmasphere based on photometric observations.     

Plasmasphere Response: Tutorial and Review of Recent Imaging Results

The plasmasphere is the cold, dense innermost region of the magnetosphere that is populated by upflow of ionospheric plasma along geomagnetic field lines. Driven directly by dayside magnetopause reconnection, enhanced sunward convection erodes the outer layers of the plasmasphere. Erosion causes the plasmasphere outer boundary, the plasmapause, to move inward on the nightside and outward on the dayside to form plumes of dense plasma extending sunward into the outer magnetosphere. Coupling between the inner magnetosphere and ionosphere can significantly modify the convection field, either enhancing sunward flows near dusk or shielding them on the night side. The plasmaspheric configuration plays a crucial role in the inner magnetosphere; wave-particle interactions inside the plasmasphere can cause scattering and loss of warmer space plasmas such as the ring current and radiation belts.