The Physical Response of the Inner Magnetosphere to Geoeffective Solar Wind Drivers: Electrodynamics Coupling Effects, Disturbance Magnetic Field, and the Dst Index

Regents Of The University Of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor MI

Investigators

Abstract

The investigators will study the impact of dynamic changes in the geosynchronous plasma sheet populations by modeling a range of magnetic storm sizes and steady magnetospheric convection events. Understanding the ways in which energy moves into and through the inner magnetosphere or is dissipated with the magnetosphere-ionosphere system in response to solar wind inputs provides the key to predicting the resulting effects on Earth's atmosphere. The study will address the role of density and temperature changes in the plasma sheet population, the role of penetration electric fields and long duration magnetic storms, the relation between convection events and small storms, and the contribution of the ring current to the storm energy budget and decay time scales. A major goal of this study is the quantification of how the electrodynamics of the inner magnetosphere responds to the solar wind drivers. Furthermore, the connection with ground-based magnetometer measurements, ionospheric current systems, and the global magnetosphere-ionosphere energy budget will be investigated.