Solar wind energy as a source of upper-atmosphere heating on Earth and Jupiter
Abstract
Measurements of thermospheric composition by the Esro 4 gas analyzer reveal a permanent increase of exospheric temperature at high latitudes. It is argued that the required energy is ultimately derived from the solar wind and that 5 × 10-4 of the total solar wind flux intercepted by the magnetosphere of the earth will maintain the observed temperature increase. Heating of a planetary upper atmosphere by solar wind will be proportional to the cross-sectional area of the magnetosphere of the planet and the leakage rate of solar wind energy into the atmosphere. It is estimated that the ratio of heat input from solar wind with respect to the EUV heat input will be about 20 times higher on Jupiter than it is on earth if similar leakage rates at both planets are assumed. The solar wind may thus contribute to the high temperatures observed in the Jovian thermosphere.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Geophysical Research
- Pub Date:
- February 1977
- DOI:
- 10.1029/JA082i004p00727
- Bibcode:
- 1977JGR....82..727V
- Keywords:
-
- Atmospheric Heating;
- Earth Atmosphere;
- Energy Sources;
- Jupiter Atmosphere;
- Solar Wind;
- Atmospheric Composition;
- Esro 4 Satellite;
- Far Ultraviolet Radiation;
- Gas Analysis;
- Solar Flux Density;
- Solar Heating;
- Temperature Effects;
- Thermosphere;
- Upper Atmosphere;
- Particles and Fields-Interplanetary Space: Solar wind interactions with moon and planets