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A Mechanism for the Loading-Unloading Substorm Cycle Missing in MHD Global Magnetospheric Simulation ModelsLoading and consequent unloading of magnetic flux is an essential element of the substorm cycle in Earth's magnetotail. We are unaware of an available global MHD magnetospheric simulation model that includes a loading- unloading cycle in its behavior. Given the central role that MHD models presently play in the development of our understanding of magnetospheric dynamics, and given the present plans for the central role that these models will play in ongoing space weather prediction programs, it is clear that this failure must be corrected. A 2-dimensional numerical driven current-sheet model has been developed that incorporates an idealized current- driven instability with a resistive MHD system. Under steady loading, the model exhibits a global loading- unloading cycle. The specific mechanism for producing the loading-unloading cycle will be discussed. It will be shown that scale-free avalanching of electromagnetic energy through the model, from loading to unloading, is carried by repetitive bursts of localized reconnection. Each burst leads, somewhat later, to a field configuration that is capable of exciting a reconnection burst again. This process repeats itself in an intermittent manner while the total field energy in the system falls. At the end of an unloading interval, the total field energy is reduced to well below that necessary to initiate the next unloading event and, thus, a loading-unloading cycle results. It will be shown that, in this model, it is the topology of bursty localized reconnection that is responsible for the appearance of the loading-unloading cycle.
Document ID
20050176536
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Klimas, A. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Uritsky, V.
(Saint Petersburg State Univ. Saint Petersburg, Russia)
Vassiliadis, D.
(Sarissa Technologies Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Baker, D. N.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2005
Subject Category
Geophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2005 Joint Assembly Meeting
Location: New Orleans, LA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 23, 2005
End Date: June 27, 2005
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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