Stormtime Behavior of Low Energy Charged Particles in the Vicinity of the Plasmapause
Location
Yosemite National Park
Start Date
2-6-1974 10:15 AM
End Date
2-6-1974 10:30 AM
Description
Temporal and latitudinal variations of charged particle temperatures and densities over the energy range 0.1 to 50 ev have been determined during five magnetic storms. The study is based on data from spherical electrostatic analyzers flown on the Injun 5 and OGO-III satellites. The following plasma characteristics are found for each storm, the thermal density gradients at the plasmapause boundary increase. Ion and electron temperatures polewards of the boundary increase above the prestorm values by 2000 to 6000 degrees. At the same time temperatures within the plasmasphere are increased to the order of 1000 degrees over a latitude range of approximately 10 degrees equatorwards of the boundary. The decrease in thermal charged particles at the plasma-pause boundary also coincides with an increase in the flux of hyperthermal ions and electrons. The energy transfer across the plasmapause is calculated and the results are discussed in relation to the theoretical developments of Cornwall et.al. and Cole.
Stormtime Behavior of Low Energy Charged Particles in the Vicinity of the Plasmapause
Yosemite National Park
Temporal and latitudinal variations of charged particle temperatures and densities over the energy range 0.1 to 50 ev have been determined during five magnetic storms. The study is based on data from spherical electrostatic analyzers flown on the Injun 5 and OGO-III satellites. The following plasma characteristics are found for each storm, the thermal density gradients at the plasmapause boundary increase. Ion and electron temperatures polewards of the boundary increase above the prestorm values by 2000 to 6000 degrees. At the same time temperatures within the plasmasphere are increased to the order of 1000 degrees over a latitude range of approximately 10 degrees equatorwards of the boundary. The decrease in thermal charged particles at the plasma-pause boundary also coincides with an increase in the flux of hyperthermal ions and electrons. The energy transfer across the plasmapause is calculated and the results are discussed in relation to the theoretical developments of Cornwall et.al. and Cole.