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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Index Terms

  • Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosphere/ionosphere interactions
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Numerical modeling
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Auroral phenomena
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Energetic particles, precipitating

Abstract

Effects of the seasonal asymmetry in ionospheric Pedersen conductance on the appearance of discrete aurora

Dimitri Pokhotelov

Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA

William Lotko

Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA

Anatoly V. Streltsov

Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA

A two-dimensional numerical two-fluid MHD model of the coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere system has been used to examine the effects of seasonal asymmetry in ionospheric conductance on the development of feedback instability and associated energetic electron precipitation. Effects of finite electron inertia and anomalous resistivity in the magnetospheric MHD model lead to the formation of parallel electric fields above the ionosphere as the feedback instability develops. The Fridman-Lemaire model of energetic electron precipitation has been used to calculate the energy flux carried into the auroral ionosphere by accelerated electrons. The electron energy flux into the lower conductivity winter ionosphere is significantly greater than that into the summer ionosphere due to the asymmetry in ionospheric conductance. The higher energy flux into the winter ionosphere may increase the occurrence of discrete aurora in the winter hemisphere as detected by satellite auroral imaging.

Published 28 May 2002.

Citation: Pokhotelov, D., W. Lotko, and A. V. Streltsov (2002), Effects of the seasonal asymmetry in ionospheric Pedersen conductance on the appearance of discrete aurora, Geophys. Res. Lett., 29(10), 1437, doi:10.1029/2001GL014010.

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