GUVI

Global UltraViolet Imager

The effect of ring current electron scattering rates on magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

Abstract
<p>This simulation study investigated the electrodynamic impact of varying descriptions of the diffuse aurora on the magnetosphere-ionosphere (M-I) system. Pitch angle diffusion caused by waves in the inner magnetosphere is the primary source term for the diffuse aurora, especially during storm time. The magnetic local time (MLT) and storm-dependent electrodynamic impacts of the diffuse aurora were analyzed using a comparison between a new self-consistent version of the Hot Electron Ion Drift Integrator with varying electron scattering rates and real geomagnetic storm events. The results were compared with <em>D</em><em>s</em><em>t</em> and hemispheric power indices, as well as auroral electron flux and cross-track plasma velocity observations. It was found that changing the maximum lifetime of electrons in the ring current by 2\textendash6\&nbsp;h can alter electric fields in the nightside ionosphere by up to 26\%. The lifetime also strongly influenced the location of the aurora, but the model generally produced aurora equatorward of observations.</p>
Year of Publication
2017
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Volume
122
Number of Pages
4168-4189
Date Published
04/2017
URL
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2016JA023679
DOI
10.1002/2016JA023679