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Solar Wind Influence on the Oxygen Content of Ion Outflow in the High-Altitude Polar Cap During Solar Minimum ConditionsWe correlate solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) properties with the properties of O(+) and H(+) during early 1996 (solar minimum) at altitudes between 5.5 and 8.9 R(sub E) geocentric using the Thermal Ion Dynamics Experiment (TIDE) on the Polar satellite. Throughout the high-altitude polar cap we observe H(+) to be more abundant than O(+). O(+) is found to be more abundant at lower latitudes when the solar wind speed is low (and Kp is low), while at higher solar wind speeds (and high Kp), O(+) is observed across most of the polar cap. The O(+) density and parallel flux are well organized by solar wind dynamic pressure, both increasing with solar wind dynamic pressure. Both the O(+) density and parallel flux have positive correlations with both V(sub SW)B(sub IMF) and E(sub SW). No correlation is found between O(+) density and IMF Bz, although a nonlinear relationship with IMF By is observed, possibly due to a strong linear correlation with the dynamic pressure. H(+) is not as highly correlated with solar wind and IMF parameters, although H(+) density and parallel flux are negatively correlated with IMF By and positively correlated with both V(sub SW)B(sub IMF) and E(sub SW). In this solar minimum data set, H(+) is dominant, so that contributions of this plasma to the plasma sheet would have very low O(+) to H(+) ratios.
Document ID
20010067639
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Elliott, H. A.
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL United States)
Comfort, R. H.
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL United States)
Craven, P. D.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Chandler, M. O.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Moore, T. E.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
April 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 106
Issue: A4
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Report/Patent Number
Paper-2000JA003022
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGT5-40018
CONTRACT_GRANT: NCC8-65
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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