HR: 0800h
AN: SM21A-0306 [Abstracts]
TI: Rice Convection Model simulations of the injection of plasma bubbles into the inner magnetosphere
AU: * Zhang, J
EM: jichunz@rice.edu
AF: Rice University, Physics and Astronomy Department,
6100 S Main St., MS-108, Houston, TX 77005, United States
AU: Wolf, R A
EM: rawolf@rice.edu
AF: Rice University, Physics and Astronomy Department,
6100 S Main St., MS-108, Houston, TX 77005, United States
AU: Erickson, G M
EM: gmerickson@pvamu.edu
AF: Prairie View A&M University, Department of Physics,
P.O. Box 519, Mail Stop 2230, Prairie View, TX 77446, United States
AU: Sazykin, S
EM: sazykin@rice.edu
AF: Rice University, Physics and Astronomy Department,
6100 S Main St., MS-108, Houston, TX 77005, United States
AU: Toffoletto, F R
EM: toffo@rice.edu
AF: Rice University, Physics and Astronomy Department,
6100 S Main St., MS-108, Houston, TX 77005, United States
AB:
Magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail or other forms of current sheet disruption are believed to produce
bubbles, which consist of flux tubes that have entropy content PV5/3 lower than their surroundings. In this
study, Geotail observations during a bubble-injection event are used to specify the tailward boundary conditions
for the Rice Convection Model (RCM). Model results are compared to ground-based and in situ measurements
such as Dst and geosynchronous particle fluxes. We present results from the injection of RCM-computed
bubbles and their effects on the plasma bulk properties, electric field, ring current, and Birkeland currents in the
inner magnetosphere. Some first results are also presented from a series of computer runs designed to
examine sensitivity of model predictions to overall magnetospheric conditions, including standoff distance,
convection rate, pre-existing ring current, and northward turning of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF).
UR: http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~jichunz/
DE: 2721 Field-aligned currents and current systems (2409)
DE: 2730 Magnetosphere: inner
DE: 2753 Numerical modeling
DE: 2778 Ring current
DE: 2788 Magnetic storms and substorms (7954)
SC: SPA-Magnetospheric Physics [SM]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting