The temporal evolution of H+, He+, and O+ ring current distribution functions during the January 1997 ISTP event is simulated with our kinetic drift-loss model, using data from the HYDRA, TIMAS, and CAMMICE investigations on the POLAR spacecraft as initial conditions. The boundary conditions are updated according to measurements provided by the MPA and SOPA instruments on the LANL geosynchronous satellites. The ring current contribution to the Dst index is computed using the Dessler-Parker-Sckopke relation. The model reproduces very well the main trends of ring current buildup and decay during this storm.
Our model predicts increased plasmaspheric heating few hours after cloud onset. The heating is due to Coulomb collisions between ring current ions and thermal electrons. The temporal and spatial evolution of the maximum plasmaspheric heating are in good agreement with Millstone Hill Radar observations of elevated electron temperature at mid-latitudes during this storm period.
References
Jordanova, V. K., C. J. Farrugia, J. M. Quinn, R. M. Thorne, K. W. Ogilvie, R. P. Lepping, G. Lu, A. J. Lazarus, M. F. Thomsen, and R. D. Belian, Effect of wave-particle interactions on ring current evolution for January 10-11, 1997: Initial results, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, 2971, 1998.
Jordanova, V. K., R. B. Torbert, R. M. Thorne, H. L. Collin, J. L. Roeder, and J. C. Foster, Ring current activity during the early Bz<0 phase of the January 1997 magnetic cloud, J. Geophys. Res., 104, 24895, 1999.
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Questions? Comments? Please send e-mail to Vania Jordanova: vania.jordanova@unh.edu
