Studying Subauroral Polarization Streams (SAPS) During the March 17, 2013 Magnetic Storm: Comparisons between RAM Simulations and Observations
Location
Yosemite National Park
Start Date
2-11-2014 12:00 PM
End Date
2-11-2014 12:15 PM
Description
The subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) are one of the most important features in characterizing magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling processes. In this study, we simulate one SAPS event during the March 17, 2013 storm event using the inner magnetosphere model RAM-SCB two-way coupled with the global MHD model BATS-R-US. Both ionospheric and magnetospheric signatures are analyzed and compared to observations including global convective maps from SuperDARN, cross-track ion drift from DMSP, AMPERE, and in-situ observations from the recently launched Van Allen Probes (RBSP). Parametric study of the boundary conditions for the inner magnetosphere RAM is also carried out to demonstrate the effect on the strength and evolution of SAPS. Results indicate that the model can reasonably capture the global feature of SAPS but their spatial distribution (e.g., latitudinal location and width) can be influenced by model parameters. A self-consistent electric field coupling between the inner magnetosphere model and an ionospheric potential solver appears to be an important factor.
Studying Subauroral Polarization Streams (SAPS) During the March 17, 2013 Magnetic Storm: Comparisons between RAM Simulations and Observations
Yosemite National Park
The subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) are one of the most important features in characterizing magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling processes. In this study, we simulate one SAPS event during the March 17, 2013 storm event using the inner magnetosphere model RAM-SCB two-way coupled with the global MHD model BATS-R-US. Both ionospheric and magnetospheric signatures are analyzed and compared to observations including global convective maps from SuperDARN, cross-track ion drift from DMSP, AMPERE, and in-situ observations from the recently launched Van Allen Probes (RBSP). Parametric study of the boundary conditions for the inner magnetosphere RAM is also carried out to demonstrate the effect on the strength and evolution of SAPS. Results indicate that the model can reasonably capture the global feature of SAPS but their spatial distribution (e.g., latitudinal location and width) can be influenced by model parameters. A self-consistent electric field coupling between the inner magnetosphere model and an ionospheric potential solver appears to be an important factor.