On the role of neutral flow in field-aligned currents
In this brief note we explore the role of the neutral atmosphere in magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling. We analyze momentum balance in the ion rest frame to form hypotheses regarding the role of neutral momentum in the lower ionosphere during geomagnetic storms. Neutral momentum that appears in t...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Annales Geophysicae |
| Online Access: | https://www.ann-geophys.net/36/53/2018/angeo-36-53-2018.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819045607524794368 |
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| author | A. J. Mannucci O. P. Verkhoglyadova X. Meng R. McGranaghan R. McGranaghan |
| author_facet | A. J. Mannucci O. P. Verkhoglyadova X. Meng R. McGranaghan R. McGranaghan |
| author_sort | A. J. Mannucci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this brief note we explore the role of the neutral atmosphere in
magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling. We analyze momentum balance in
the ion rest frame to form hypotheses regarding the role of neutral
momentum in the lower ionosphere during geomagnetic storms. Neutral
momentum that appears in the ion rest frame is likely the result of
momentum imparted to ionospheric ions by solar wind flow and
the resultant magnetospheric dynamics. The resulting ion-neutral
collisions lead to the existence of an electric field. Horizontal
electron flow balances the momentum supplied by this electric
field. We suggest a possible role played by the neutral atmosphere
in generating field-aligned currents due to local auroral
heating. Our physical interpretation suggests that thermospheric
neutral dynamics plays a complementary role to the high-latitude
field-aligned currents and electric fields resulting from
magnetospheric dynamics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:31:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1d248c26eab04617a4806e45a2f43222 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0992-7689 1432-0576 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:31:16Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annales Geophysicae |
| spelling | doaj.art-1d248c26eab04617a4806e45a2f432222022-12-21T19:07:12ZengCopernicus PublicationsAnnales Geophysicae0992-76891432-05762018-01-0136535710.5194/angeo-36-53-2018On the role of neutral flow in field-aligned currentsA. J. Mannucci0O. P. Verkhoglyadova1X. Meng2R. McGranaghan3R. McGranaghan4Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USAJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USAJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USAJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USAUniversity Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), CPAESS, Boulder, CO 80301, USAIn this brief note we explore the role of the neutral atmosphere in magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling. We analyze momentum balance in the ion rest frame to form hypotheses regarding the role of neutral momentum in the lower ionosphere during geomagnetic storms. Neutral momentum that appears in the ion rest frame is likely the result of momentum imparted to ionospheric ions by solar wind flow and the resultant magnetospheric dynamics. The resulting ion-neutral collisions lead to the existence of an electric field. Horizontal electron flow balances the momentum supplied by this electric field. We suggest a possible role played by the neutral atmosphere in generating field-aligned currents due to local auroral heating. Our physical interpretation suggests that thermospheric neutral dynamics plays a complementary role to the high-latitude field-aligned currents and electric fields resulting from magnetospheric dynamics.https://www.ann-geophys.net/36/53/2018/angeo-36-53-2018.pdf |
| spellingShingle | A. J. Mannucci O. P. Verkhoglyadova X. Meng R. McGranaghan R. McGranaghan On the role of neutral flow in field-aligned currents Annales Geophysicae |
| title | On the role of neutral flow in field-aligned currents |
| title_full | On the role of neutral flow in field-aligned currents |
| title_fullStr | On the role of neutral flow in field-aligned currents |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the role of neutral flow in field-aligned currents |
| title_short | On the role of neutral flow in field-aligned currents |
| title_sort | on the role of neutral flow in field aligned currents |
| url | https://www.ann-geophys.net/36/53/2018/angeo-36-53-2018.pdf |
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