Magnetospheric substorms: An equivalent circuit approach

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA093iA07p07366· OSTI ID:5153196

Liu, Z X; Lee, L C; Wei, C Q; Akasofu, S I ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks (USA)

The solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling is studied using an equivalent circuit model, in which the energy transfer from the solar wind to the inner magnetosphere and the ionosphere is assumed to consist of two parts: (1) the direct coupling between the solar wind and the polar ionosphere through the tail magnetopause; and (2) the indirect coupling through the magnetotail plasma sheet. The direct coupling leads to a highly enhanced level for region 1 field-aligned currents and the auroral electrojet, while the indirect coupling through the plasma sheet leads to the occurrence of impulsive components, which are assumed to result from the current interruption of the tail circuit. A set of circuit parameters is carefully determined on the basis of the observed plasma parameters. The circuit model thus constructed can successfully reproduce several observed behaviors of the magnetosphere during major storms and substorms. The model predicts that the maximum potential {phi}{sub max} across the plasma sheet after the onset of substorm can be 2-3 times the potential ({phi}{sub CT}) imposed at the tail magnetopause. The impulsive variations in the energy (W{sub RC}) stored in the ring current belt are found to be much smaller than the variations in the auroral electrojet and the region 1 field-aligned currents.

• DOE Contract Number: FG06-86ER13530
• OSTI ID: 5153196
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 93:A7; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTROJETS
ENERGY TRANSFER
INTERACTIONS
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC BAYS
MAGNETOTAIL
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA SHEET
POLAR REGIONS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND