An ISEE/whistler model of equatorial electron density in the magnetosphere

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91JA01548· OSTI ID:5439936

Carpenter, D L ^[1]; Anderson, R R ^[2]

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1. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
2. Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City (United States)

An empirical model of equatorial electron density in the magnetosphere has been developed, covering the range 2.25 < L < 8. Although the model is primarily intended for application to the local time interval {approximately}00-15 MLT and to situations in which global magnetic conditions have been slowly varying or relatively steady in the preceding {approximately}20 hours, a way to extend the model to the 15-24 MLT period is also described. The principal data sources for the model were (1) electron density profiles deduced from sweep frequency receiver (SFR) radio measurements made along near-equatorial ISEE 1 satellite orbits and (2) previously published results from whistlers. The model describes, in piecewise fashion, the saturated plasmasphere, the region of steep plasmapause gradients, and the plasma trough. Within the plasmasphere the model profile can be expressed as log n{sub e} = {Sigma}x{sub i}, where x{sub 1} = {minus}0.3145L + 3.9043 is the principal or reference term, and additional terms account for (1) a solar cycle variation with a peak at solar maximum, (2) an annual variation with a December maximum, and (3) a semiannual variation with equinoctial maxima. The location of the inner edge of the plasmapause (outer limit of the plasmasphere) L{sub ppi} is specified, with some qualifications, as L{sub ppi} = 5.6 {minus} 0.46Kp{sub max}, where Kp{sub max} is the maximum Kp value in the preceding 24 hours. The plasmapause density profile is described as log n{sub e} = log n{sub e}(L{sub ppi}) {minus} (L {minus} L{sub ppi})/{Delta}pp, where {Delta}pp is the scale width of the plasmapause, or distance in L value over which the density drops by an order of magnitude.

• OSTI ID: 5439936
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 97:A2; ISSN JGREA; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANNUAL VARIATIONS
DAILY VARIATIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRON DENSITY
EXPLORER SATELLITES
GEOMAGNETIC EQUATOR
IONOSPHERE
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMASPHERE
SATELLITES
VARIATIONS