Origins of magnetospheric plasma

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Reviews of Geophysics and Space Physics; (United States)

OSTI ID:5027282

Moore, T E ^[1]

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1. USAF, Geophysics Laboratory, Hanscom AFB, MA (United States)

A review is given of recent (1987-1990) progress in understanding of the origins of plasmas in the earth's magnetosphere. In counterpoint to the early supposition that geomagnetic phenomena are produced by energetic plasmas of solar origin, 1987 saw the publication of a provocative argument that accelerated ionospheric plasma could supply all magnetospheric auroral and ring current particles. Significant new developments of existing data sets, as well as the establishment of entirely new data sets, have improved the ability to identify plasma source regions and to track plasma through the magnetospheric system of boundary layers and reservoirs. These developments suggest that the boundary between ionospheric and solar plasmas, once taken to lie at the plasmapause, actually lies much nearer to the magnetopause. Defining this boundary as the surface where solar wind and ionosphere contribute equally to the plasma, it is referred to herein as the 'geopause'. It is now well established that the infusion of ionospheric O(+) plays a major role in the storm-time distention of the magnetotail and inflation of the inner magnetosphere. After more than two decades of observation and debate, the question remains whether magnetosheric are protons of solar or terrestrial origin. 161 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5027282
• Report Number(s): CONF-910878--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Reviews of Geophysics and Space Physics; (United States) Journal Volume: 29
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BARYONS
BOUNDARY LAYERS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CURRENTS
DATA
DOCUMENT TYPES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
INFORMATION
IONOSPHERE
IONS
LAYERS
MAGNETOTAIL
NUCLEONS
ORIGIN
OXYGEN IONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA
PROTONS
REVIEWS
RING CURRENTS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND