Global Dynamics of Storm-Time Ring Current: Analysis of Energetic Neutral Atom Observations

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Abstract

The investigators will use observations of energetic neutral atoms (ENA) to study the dynamics of the ring current. They will perform a case study of the October 29, 1995, geomagnetic storm to determine the relative contributions of neutral atoms, the charge-exchange loss-rate of ring current ions, the energy spectral variations of ions during the storm, and the relationship between ENA and the magnetic index Dst. They will also conduct a statistical study of ENA events observed by the Geotail satellite. The statistical study will identify trends in the composition of ENA during the course of a magnetic storm. Comparison of ENA observations between the Geotail and Polar satellites will be made to compare the total ENA intensity at two locations in space. The study will help develop the ENA technique as a diagnostic tool for the structure of the inner magnetosphere.