Refilling of the earth's plasmasphere

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union; (United States)

OSTI ID:6893010

Horwitz, J L; Singh, N ^[1]

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1. Alabama, University, Huntsville (United States)

Theoretical concepts and models are reviewed to examine the roles of various plasma processes in the reformation of the plasmasphere following magnetic storms. Attention is given to electrostatic shock and hydrodynamic shock since they can account for the shock formation during the refilling of the region. Other mechanisms that can account for the refilling phenomena are mirror shock and extended ion heating along the flux tube. Satellite data and analytical models are described that support the mechanisms examined, and a complex set of plasma processes emerges as the solution. The refilling of the earth's plasmasphere is dominated by large-scale plasma flows and their modification by microscopic plasma processes. Plasma-removal processes are shown to operate along field lines that originate at high latitudes separating a high-density plasmasphere from the low-density plasmapause. 23 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6893010
• Journal Information: EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union; (United States), Journal Name: EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union; (United States) Vol. 72:37; ISSN 0096-3941; ISSN EOSTAJ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC STORMS
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMAPAUSE
PLASMASPHERE
SHOCK WAVES