Stormtime Ring Current Heating of the Ionosphere and Plasmasphere

• Published in: Journal of geophysical research. Space physics 2023-01, Vol.128 (1), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Krall, J., Fok, M.-C., Huba, J. D., Glocer, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conduction heating; Conductive heat transfer; Density ratio; DST Index; Earth; Earth ionosphere; Earth magnetosphere; Electrons; Energy; F region; Geomagnetic field; Geomagnetic storms; Geomagnetism; Heating; Heavy ions; Hydrogen ions; Ionosphere; Ionospheric models; Magnetic storms; Magnetism; magnetosphere; Magnetospheric-solar wind relationships; Outflow; Oxygen; Oxygen ions; oxygen shell; oxygen torus; Physics (General); Plasmasphere; Qualitative analysis; ring current; Ring current ions; Ring currents; Solar wind; Space Sciences (General); Storms; Temperature rise
• ISSN: 2169-9380; 2169-9402
• DOI: 10.1029/2022JA030390

The energy deposition from ring current ions into the high density “cold” plasma of the ionosphere and plasmasphere is analyzed, based on a Comprehensive Inner Magnetosphere-Ionosphere simulation of the 2015 October 7 storm. In addition, the Naval Research Laboratory Sami3 is Also a Model of the Ionosphere ionosphere/plasmasphere code is used to simulate the effect of Coulomb-collision heating of plasmasphere and ionosphere electrons by ring current ions. We find that, during stormtime peaks in the Dst index, energy is deposited at altitudes as low as 100 km. Heating along the entirety of any given field line, both in the ionosphere and plasmasphere, contributes to increased temperatures in the ionosphere F layer and inner magnetosphere and to subsequent cold O+ outflows. However, relative to the heating of the plasmasphere, the direct heating of the ionosphere by ring current ions produces only small effects. Qualitative model-data agreement on the N+/O+ density ratio is consistent with the hypothesis that these outflows are driven by thermal forcing.