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Mechanisms of Ionospheric Mass EjectionIonospheric outflows are directly responsive to solar wind disturbances, particularly in the dayside auroral cusp or cleft regions. Inputs of both electromagnetic energy (Poynting flux) and kinetic energy (particle precipitation) are closely correlated with these outflows. We assess the importance of processes thought to drive ionospheric outflows. These begin with the diffuse effects of photoionization and thermal equilibrium of the ionospheric topside, enhancing Jeans' escape, with ambipolar diffusion and acceleration. Auroral outflows begin with dayside reconnexion and resultant field-aligned currents and driven convection. These produce plasmaspheric plumes, collisional heating and wave-particle interactions, centrifugal acceleration, and auroral acceleration by parallel electric fields, including enhanced ambipolar fields from electron heating by precipitation particles. Solar wind energy dissipation is concentrated by the geomagnetic field into auroral regions with an amplification factor of 10-100, enhancing heavy species plasma and gas escape from gravity, and providing more current carrying capacity. Internal plasmas thus enable electromagnetic driving via coupling to the plasma and neutral gas. We assess the importance of each of these processes in terms of local escape flux production as well as global outflow, and suggest methods for their implementation within multi-species global simulation codes. We conclude by assessing outstanding obstacles to this objective.
Document ID
20100019284
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Moore, Thomas Earle
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Khazanov, George V.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Hannah, Mei-Ching
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Glocer, Alex
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2010
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2010 Western Pacific Geophysics Meeting
Location: Taipei
Country: Taiwan, Province of China
Start Date: June 19, 2010
End Date: June 26, 2010
Sponsors: American Geophysical Union
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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