Simulating Superstorm Plasma Sources

Mei-Ching Fok1, Thomas E. Moore1, Dominique C. Delcourt2

Joel A. Fedder3, and Steven P. Slinker4

1NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, USA2Centre d'etude des Environnements Terrestre et Planetaires, France

3Icarus Research Inc., USA4Naval Research Laboratory, USA

SM44A-05, May 29, 20082008 Joint Assembly

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

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Superstorm on 20-21 November 2003

Global Ion Kinetic Model

Solar Wind Parameters

LFM Event Run

Test-Particle

Model

Polar, Auroral Outflow Models

Solar Wind Particle

Distribution

Polar Wind Particle

Distribution

Auroral Wind Particle

Distribution

Comprehensive Ring Current Model (CRCM) Plasmasphere Model

Global Ion Kinetic Model

Solar Wind Parameters

LFM Event Run

Test-Particle

Model

Polar, Auroral Outflow Models

Solar Wind Particle

Distribution

Polar Wind Particle

Distribution

Auroral Wind Particle

Distribution

Plasmaspheric Outflow Model

Comprehensive Ring Current Model (CRCM) Plasmasphere Model

Global Ion Kinetic Model

Solar Wind Parameters

LFM Event Run

Test-Particle

Model

Polar, Auroral Outflow Models

Solar Wind Particle

Distribution

Polar Wind Particle

Distribution

Auroral Wind Particle

Distribution

Plasmaspheric Outflow Model

Plasmaspheric Wind Particle

Distribution

Comprehensive Ring Current Model (CRCM) Plasmasphere Model

Plasmasphere Model Driven by LFM-CRCM Fields

CRCM run without plasmaspheric wind particles

CRCM run with plasmaspheric wind particles

• Plasmapause is closer to the Earth when plasmaspheric wind is not included.

• Similar plume structure and escape flux on the dayside for both cases.

Auroral Wind:Pressure

Polar Wind: Pressure

Plasmaspheric Wind: Pressure

Ring Current Total Energy

• Similar total energy: SW and AW displaced by PSW

• PSW is dominant over SW and AW

Global Ion (H+) Energetics

• Enhances total energy

• Reduces mean energy of solar wind

• Reduces overall mean energy

• Suggests two-temperature ring current plasma

Why Is Plasmaspheric-Wind Dominant in Ring Current?

• High PSW density at dusk local times at the CRCM boundary.

• Deep penetration of keV’s PsW particles into low L’s

Plasmaspheric Wind (PSW)

Solar Wind (SW)

Conclusions

• Plasmaspheric wind (PSW) important, even dominant

• PsW “displaces” other sources (CRCM is self-consistent)

• But how to detect PSW (THEMIS observed PSW)?

With PSW Without PSW

Backup Slides

Plasmaspheric Wind: Mean Energy