Inductive Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling
Abstract
A method for coupling a global magnetospheric MHD model to either an empirical ionospheric model or a dynamic ionospheric-thermospheric model is described for conditions in which inductive electric fields are important at low altitude. Existing coupling schemes based on quasistatic dynamics are valid for processes occurring on time scales of order 100 s or longer. The formulation developed here provides an efficient algorithm for extending the validity of the coupling model to faster magnetospheric processes, down to time scales of order 10 s, while retaining the physics of quasistatic coupling as the long time-scale limit. Both lumped and distributed formulations for the coupling-region fields are developed. The inclusion of magnetic induction gives rise to magnetic energy storage at low altitude. With additional extensions of the coupling model, this magnetic energy reservoir may provide a causal conduit for parameterizing ion heating processes leading to outflow.
- Publication:
-
AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004AGUSMSA32A..04L
- Keywords:
-
- 2407 Auroral ionosphere (2704);
- 2431 Ionosphere/magnetosphere interactions (2736);
- 2704 Auroral phenomena (2407);
- 2736 Magnetosphere/ionosphere interactions;
- 2753 Numerical modeling