Oxygen Ion Dynamics in the Earth's Ring Current: Van Allen Probes Observations
Journal Article
·
· Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
- Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
- Boston Univ., MA (United States)
- Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States); Boston Univ., MA (United States)
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Univ. of New Hampshire, Durham, NH (United States)
- New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ (United States)
- Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States)
Oxygen (O+) enhancements in the inner magnetosphere are often observed during geomagnetically active times, such as geomagnetic storms. In this study, we quantitatively examine the difference in ring current dynamics with and without a substantial O+ ion population based on almost 6 years of Van Allen Probes observations. Here, our results have not only confirmed previous finding of the role of O+ ions to the ring current but also found that abundant O+ ions are always present during large storms when sym-H < -60 nT without exception, while having the pressure ratio ($$\mathscr{R}$$) between O+ and proton (H+) larger than 0.8 and occasionally even larger than 1 when L < 3. Simultaneously, the pressure anisotropy decreases with decreasing sym-H and increasing L shell. The pressure anisotropy decrease during the storm main phase is likely related to the pitch angle isotropization processes. In addition, we find that $$\mathscr{R}$$ increases during the storm main phase and then decreases during the storm recovery phase, suggesting faster buildup and decay of O+ pressure compared to H+ ions, which are probably associated with some species dependent source and/or energization as well as loss processes in the inner magnetosphere.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- 89233218CNA000001
- OSTI ID:
- 1832381
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR--21-23193
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 124; ISSN 2169-9380
- Publisher:
- American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Cluster Observations on Time‐of‐Flight Effect of Oxygen Ions in Magnetotail Reconnection Exhaust Region
|
journal | February 2020 |
Similar Records
Plasma Pressure Distribution of Ions and Electrons in the Inner Magnetosphere During CIR Driven Storms Observed During Arase Era
Formation of the oxygen torus in the inner magnetosphere: Van Allen Probes observations
Empirical modeling of the storm time innermost magnetosphere using Van Allen Probes and THEMIS data: Eastward and banana currents
Journal Article
·
Sun Sep 03 20:00:00 EDT 2023
· Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
·
OSTI ID:1999569
Formation of the oxygen torus in the inner magnetosphere: Van Allen Probes observations
Journal Article
·
Wed Feb 18 19:00:00 EST 2015
· Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
·
OSTI ID:1329553
Empirical modeling of the storm time innermost magnetosphere using Van Allen Probes and THEMIS data: Eastward and banana currents
Journal Article
·
Tue Jan 05 19:00:00 EST 2016
· Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
·
OSTI ID:1402269