Average spatial distributions of energetic O/sup +/, O/sup 2 +/, O/sup 6 +/, and C/sup 6 +/ ions in the magnetosphere observed by AMPTE CCE

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA092iA05p04459· OSTI ID:6401317

Kremser, G; Stuedemann, W; Wilken, B; Gloeckler, G; Hamilton, D C; Ipavich, F M

Investigations of the average spatial distributions of the ionospheric ions O/sup +/ and O/sup 2+/ and of the solar wind ions O/sup 6+/ and C/sup 6+/ provide a possibility to estimate the relative contributions of the ionosphere and the solar wind to the energetic ion population in the magnetosphere. We used measurements with the charge energy mass spectrometer (CHEM) on board the AMPTE CCE spacecraft to determine the relative fluxes of these ions near the equatorial plane as a function of the drift shell parameter L,the magnetic activity index Kp, and the local time LT. The O/sup +/ and O/sup 2+/ ions have radial profiles with maxima at about L = 5 and diurnal variations with a broad maximum on the dayside. The O/sup 6+/ and C/sup 6+/ ion fluxes increase with L between L = 5 and L = 7 and level off farther out. The diurnal variations of the relative O/sup 6+/ and C/sup 6+/ fluxes exhibit a pronounced minimum on the dayside. The observations can be interpreted in terms of ion convection from the tail onto quasi-trapped drift orbits and further radial diffusion onto closed drift shells. The maximum of the O/sup +/ and O/sup 2+/ fluxes as well as the minimum of the O/sup 6+/ and C/sup 6+/ fluxes on the dayside can be explained by drift shell splitting. The inward transport is associated with ion losses, mainly by charge exchange. O/sup 6 +/ and C/sup 6 +/ ions are removed already at larger distances than O/sup +/ and O/sup 2+/. As a result, the ionosphere contributes most of the oxygen ions in the magnetosphere. Important contributions from the solar wind are encountered in the outer magnetosphere(L>7). copyrightAmerican Geophysical Union 1987

• Research Organization: Max-Planck-Institut fuer Aeronomie, Katlenburg-Lindau, Federal Republic of Germany
• OSTI ID: 6401317
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 92:A5; 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
CARBON IONS
CHARGE EXCHANGE
CHARGED PARTICLES
CONVECTION
DAILY VARIATIONS
DIFFUSION
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ENERGY LEVELS
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
IONIC COMPOSITION
IONOSPHERE
IONS
MASS SPECTROMETERS
MASS TRANSFER
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
OXYGEN IONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
SATELLITES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPECTROMETERS
VARIATIONS