HR: 12:00h
AN: SA12A-07    [Abstracts]
TI: Wave Contributions of the Stormtime Ring Current to Plasmasphere-Ionosphere Coupling
AU: * Mishin, E V
EM: Evgenii.Mishin@hanscom.af.mil
AF: Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA 02567 United States
AU: Burke, W J
EM: William.Burke2@hanscom.af.mil
AF: Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, 29 Randolph Road, Hanscom AFB, MA 01731 United States
AB: During magnetic storms ring-current (RC) ions enter into previously forbidden parts of the plasmasphere. Whenever the RC plasma pressure gradient has a component in the direction of the [B× ∇ B] drift, field-aligned currents (FACs) flow into/from the conjugate ionosphere. Region 2 current continuity leads to the formation of intense polarization electric fields in the low-conductance nightside ionosphere at subauroral latitudes that drive enhanced westward convection, known as subauroral polarization streams (SAPS). Injections of RC particles are followed by strong SAPS-wave structures (SAPSWS), which collocate with suprathermal electrons and ions, elevated electron temperatures, and irregular plasma density troughs. We propose a generation mechanism of SAPSWS and elevated electron temperatures during RC injections into the plasmasphere. It includes current convective and lower-hybrid drift instabilities near the ring current's inner edge. This scenario is consistent with the CRRES and DMSP observations during the SAPSWS events.
DE: 2435 Ionospheric disturbances
DE: 2720 Energetic particles: trapped
DE: 2788 Magnetic storms and substorms (7954)
DE: 3369 Thermospheric dynamics (0358)
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005