Substorms
Abstract
This chapter deals with the essence of the magnetospheric substorm, the return of magnetic flux into the magnetosphere after disconnection from the solar wind magnetic field. There are three fundamental transport processes involved: (1) thinning of the tail plasma sheet and accompanying recession of the outer boundary of the dipolar magnetosphere during the growth phase, (2) flux transport along the tail toward that boundary after onset of tail reconnection, and (3) penetration of plasma and magnetic flux into the dipolar magnetosphere. The chapter then looks at corresponding processes in the Jupiter and Saturn magnetospheres and tails, which are strongly dominated by the fast planetary rotations. It elucidates some key aspects of the entry problem, albeit from a personal vantage point, and addresses the still open questions. Finally, the chapter addresses the correlation between solar wind ram pressure and auroral activity and brightness on Jupiter and Saturn.
- Publication:
-
Magnetotails in the Solar System
- Pub Date:
- January 2015
- DOI:
- 10.1002/9781118842324.ch18
- Bibcode:
- 2015GMS...207..307H