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Effect of field-aligned potential drop in a global magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling modelEffects of field-aligned potential drops on the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling in a steady state are studied on a global ionospheric scale. It is shown that a constant-current generator can support a larger field-aligned potential drop than a constant voltage generator under similar conditions. The magnetospheric convection pattern is distorted more in the constant current generator case than in the constant voltage generator case. The main difference between a constant current generator and a constant voltage generator is found to lie in their ability to adjust the vorticity of the magnetospheric convection. The results show that a constant current generator allows the vorticity of the magnetospheric convection to adjust so that the field-aligned current can be kept constant under the loading influence of the field-aligned potential. On the other hand, a constant voltage generator by definition cannot adjust the vorticity of the magnetospheric convection to maintain the field-aligned current under the loading influence of the field-aligned potential.
Document ID
19880059430
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Kan, J. R.
(Alaska Univ. Fairbanks, AK, United States)
Cao, F.
(Alaska, University Fairbanks, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 93
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
88A46657
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF ATM-85-21194
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAGW-1249
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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