The MIA Electron Precipitation Dynamics

The Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Atmosphere (MIA) is a nonlinear system with ion and neutral

gases mechanically coupled with each other via collisional processes at lower altitudes and electromagnetically

coupled to the magnetosphere and solar wind. During geomagnetic storms and substorms, the magnetosphere

and ionosphere are strongly coupled by loss-cone precipitating magnetospheric electrons from the Earth's

plasma sheet. Electrons within the loss cone are subject to a variety of magnetospheric, ionospheric, and

atmospheric processes. The dynamics of the precipitating electron flux formation is therefore very complex

involving the interplay between energy and transport within the electromagnetic field of conjugate hemispheres.

This talk will be focusing on these processes in the region of the diffuse aurora which is the major contributor

of particle energy to high latitude ionosphere and atmosphere.