Effects of ion temperature anisotropy on the interhemispheric plasma transport during plasmaspheric refilling

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL017i007p00925· OSTI ID:6514267

Singh, N; Torr, D G ^[1]

---

1. Univ. of Alabama, Huntsville (USA)

Effects of temperature anisotropies on the early stage refilling of the outer plasmasphere are studied by solving an appropriate set of hydrodynamic equations. The anisotropies result from the supersonic outflows from the conjugate ionospheres and from the perpendicular ion heating in the equatorial region. The equatorial ion heating affected by wave-particle interaction is included phenomenologically. Even for the equatorial heating associated with moderate wave levels, the mirror force on the flows severely limits the interhemispheric plasma exchange. The temporal evolution of the flow developing in an empty flux tube is characterized by: (1) supersonic plasma outflows from the conjugate ionospheres, (2) reflections of the flows by the mirror force as they begin to penetrate into the opposite hemispheres, (3) formation of shocks in the reflection region and (4) propagations of the shocks to the ionospheres of the origins of the flows. In the quasi-steady state when flow completely subsides, the density distribution in the flux tube shows distinctive large-scale features, determined by the balance between electric, pressure and anisotropy forces. The latter force becomes significant in a broad equatorial region where T{sub t} >> T{sub p} and also at relatively high geomagnetic latitudes where T{sub t} << T{sub p}; T{sub t} and T{sub p} are the perpendicular and parallel ion temperatures, respectively.

• OSTI ID: 6514267
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (USA) Vol. 17:7; ISSN 0094-8276; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANISOTROPY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
HEATING
HYDRODYNAMICS
ION TEMPERATURE
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMASPHERE
SHOCK WAVES
SUPERSONIC FLOW
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
WAVE PROPAGATION