Ring Current Recovery: Electric Field and Plasma Sheet Density Effects

Recent simulation results agree that modifying the near-earth plasma sheet density at the start of the recovery phase of a magnetic storm ought to dramatically modify the recovery rate. Specifically, simulations predict that with lower plasma sheet density, the ring current recovers more quickly. Continued convection during the recovery phase can amplify this effect. We present an observational study that appears to contradict the simulations: the predominant controlling factor of the initial rate of recovery is the convection strength, while plasma sheet density plays at most a minor role.