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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 111, A03211, doi:10.1029/2004JA010992, 2006

Modeling the connection of the global ionospheric electric fields to the solar wind

P. L. Rothwell

Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA


J. R. Jasperse

Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Hanscom Air Force Base, Bedford, Massachusetts, USA


Abstract

A global ionospheric electrostatic potential model, which we refer to as Nopper-Carovillano (N-C), can be linked with a magnetospheric potential model. The latter model, which we refer to as Hill-Siscoe-Ober (H-S-O), computes a transpolar potential Φ PC (H-S-O) based on solar wind parameters and region-1 field-aligned currents (FAC) from the magnetosheath to the ionosphere. The polar ionospheric conductance required by H-S-O is defined by the N-C model. In this way, the transpolar potential and the associated FAC are the same in both models. A distribution of region-1 FAC in the N-C model predicts a two-cell convection pattern which is in reasonable agreement with plasma drifts measured by DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program) satellites. The H-S-O model, as modified by N-C, is compared with the Weimer potential model and with the transpolar potentials observed by DMSP satellites during the 6–7 April 2000 magnetic storm. Good agreement is found in both cases. The region-2 (J2) current is estimated from the Siscoe (S-RC) ring-current circuit model which is driven by Φ PC (H-S-O). The resistor values in S-RC, as determined by N-C, when combined with the global potential solution, make it possible to estimate the time profile of the equatorial penetration electric field during the storm's main phase. With the values obtained, shielding occurs within 1 hour of onset. Equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) are seen some hours after the initial increase of Φ PC and are qualitatively consistent with the equatorial penetration electric field calculated by the combined model.

Received 23 December 2004; accepted 5 December 2005; published 10 March 2006.

Keywords: model; ionosphere; potentials.

Index Terms: 2411 Ionosphere: Electric fields (2712); 2409 Ionosphere: Current systems (2721); 2794 Magnetospheric Physics: Instruments and techniques; 2427 Ionosphere: Ionosphere/atmosphere interactions (0335); 2475 Ionosphere: Polar cap ionosphere.

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Citation: Rothwell, P. L., and J. R. Jasperse (2006), Modeling the connection of the global ionospheric electric fields to the solar wind, J. Geophys. Res., 111, A03211, doi:10.1029/2004JA010992.