Dynamical interpretation of observed plasmasphere deformations |
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| Authors: | AJ Chen JM Grebowsky |
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| Institution: | Department of Atmospheric Physics, National Central University, Chung-Li, Taiwan, Republic of China;Laboratory for Planetary Atmospheres, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | Based on all of the OGO-5 light ion density measurements (covering the period from March, 1968 to May, 1969), a definition of “isolated plasma regions” was employed to locate the most prominent patches of enhanced light ion densities in the midst of the depleted region, outside of the main plasmasphere. On the dayside, the distribution of these isolated plasma in L.T. vs. L coordinates was quite similar to that of the “detached plasma regions” by Chappell (1974a). On the nightside, however, the new distribution revealed more frequent occurrence of these regions. Elongated thick plasmatails produced during periods of sudden enhancement of convection electric fields and subsequentially thinning and corotating of the plasmatails during quieting periods, in general, could account for the statistical distribution as well as the individual events, such as those between March 27 and April 2, 1968 and Oct. 21 and Oct. 24, 1968. As demonstrated by Kivelson (1976), wave-particle interactions could produce tremendously complicated structures observed in the near vicinity of the plasmapause and far away from the plasmasphere. Examination of H+ and He+ density measurements for period of Aug. 12–Aug. 20, 1968 indicated that the density reduction of the plasmasphere during a magnetic storm was on the same order of magnitude as that obtained from whistler techniques during a magnetospheric substorm. |
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