Global modeling of the drivers and impacts of storm-time plasma composition
Abstract
Earth's space environment system is comprised of a myriad of plasma populations. These populations encompass characteristic energies ranging over 6 orders of magnitude; from sub-eV plasma in the ionosphere, to 10-100 keV plasma in the ring current, and MeV and higher particles in the radiation belts. Further complicating this picture is the fact that the origin of near-Earth plasma, be it the ionosphere or solar wind, remains a subject of significant debate. Simulating these disparate plasma populations in a single global simulation requires a fusion of fluid and kinetic models. In this presentation we present an improved coupling of the Polar Wind Outflow Model (PWOM), the Comprehensive Ionosphere Magnetosphere Interaction (CIMI) model, and BATSRUS model of the magnetosphere. These models are coupled together using the Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF), and represent a comprehensive model of the Earth's space environment. The improved coupling allows us to investigate the origin of near-Earth plasma by separately tracking solar wind plasma (H+) from ionospheric plasma (highlatitude H+ and O+, as well as plasmaspheric H+). Focusing on storm-time simulations, we will examine hemispheric asymmetries in the outflow, the relative role of wave-particle interactions and solar EUV in driving ionospheric outflow, and the impact on the ring current and radiation belts. We will moreover highlight the kinetic features embedded in the model and discuss current limitations future directions.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMSM11A..06G
- Keywords:
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- 2724 Magnetopause and boundary layers;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS;
- 2756 Planetary magnetospheres;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS;
- 2784 Solar wind/magnetosphere interactions;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS;
- 2788 Magnetic storms and substorms;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS