HR: 1340h
AN: SA43A-1071    [Abstracts]
TI: Large Storm Energy Deposition and Solar Wind Drivers: A Study of Geoeffectiveness
AU: * Turner, N E
EM: neturner@fit.edu
AF: Florida Institute of Technology, Physics and Space Sciences 150 W University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901
AU: Lopez, R E
EM: relopez@fit.edu
AF: Florida Institute of Technology, Physics and Space Sciences 150 W University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901
AB: We examine the role of solar wind driving conditions in the deposition of large amounts of energy in the magnetosphere-ionosphere system. Our database consists of eight storms ranging in size, including especially the October and November 2003 superstorms. We estimate energy deposition into the ring current, ionospheric Joule heating, and auroral precipitation for each event and compare with relevant solar wind data. Results suggest that the magnetosonic Mach number of the solar wind may be a useful parameter in identifying the potential for large amounts of energy deposition, possibly because of the role of the bow shock in modulating the magnetosheath field, and therefore its influence of reconnection rates. We use Dst, ionospheric indices, and MHD simulation results where available to investigate the magnetospheric response to different types of solar wind energy input. Our results are examined with a focus on superstorms and the driving conditions observed in connection with them.
DE: 2708 Current systems (2409)
DE: 2736 Magnetosphere/ionosphere interactions
DE: 2784 Solar wind/magnetosphere interactions
DE: 2788 Storms and substorms
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting