Segmentation of SED by Boundary Flows Associated With Westward Drifting Partial Ring current

Abstract The segmentation mechanism of polar cap patches is agreed to be related to temporal changes of interplanetary magnetic field or transient reconnection. In this letter, using Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model driven by two‐way coupled Block‐Adaptive‐Tree‐Solarwind‐Roe‐Upwind‐Scheme and Ri...

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Main Authors: Zihan Wang, Shasha Zou, Thomas Coppeans, Jiaen Ren, Aaron Ridley, Tamas Gombosi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-07-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL084041
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author Zihan Wang
Shasha Zou
Thomas Coppeans
Jiaen Ren
Aaron Ridley
Tamas Gombosi
author_facet Zihan Wang
Shasha Zou
Thomas Coppeans
Jiaen Ren
Aaron Ridley
Tamas Gombosi
author_sort Zihan Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The segmentation mechanism of polar cap patches is agreed to be related to temporal changes of interplanetary magnetic field or transient reconnection. In this letter, using Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model driven by two‐way coupled Block‐Adaptive‐Tree‐Solarwind‐Roe‐Upwind‐Scheme and Rice Convection Model, a new segmentation mechanism is proposed. This mechanism works as follows: A strong boundary flow between the Region 1 and Region 2 field‐aligned currents develops, while a shielding process develops in the inner magnetosphere. As the partial ring current drifts westward, the peak of the boundary flow also moves westward. This strong boundary flow raises the ion temperature through enhanced frictional heating, enhances the chemical recombination reaction rate, and reduces the electron density. When this boundary flow crosses the storm‐enhanced density (SED) plume, the plume will be segmented into patches. No external interplanetary magnetic field variations or transient reconnections are required in this mechanism.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2019-07-01
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-dd9205b2f57e4f5ca1cf168d8efc28872025-08-20T03:44:57ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072019-07-0146147920792810.1029/2019GL084041Segmentation of SED by Boundary Flows Associated With Westward Drifting Partial Ring currentZihan Wang0Shasha Zou1Thomas Coppeans2Jiaen Ren3Aaron Ridley4Tamas Gombosi5Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USADepartment of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USADepartment of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USADepartment of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USADepartment of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USADepartment of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USAAbstract The segmentation mechanism of polar cap patches is agreed to be related to temporal changes of interplanetary magnetic field or transient reconnection. In this letter, using Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model driven by two‐way coupled Block‐Adaptive‐Tree‐Solarwind‐Roe‐Upwind‐Scheme and Rice Convection Model, a new segmentation mechanism is proposed. This mechanism works as follows: A strong boundary flow between the Region 1 and Region 2 field‐aligned currents develops, while a shielding process develops in the inner magnetosphere. As the partial ring current drifts westward, the peak of the boundary flow also moves westward. This strong boundary flow raises the ion temperature through enhanced frictional heating, enhances the chemical recombination reaction rate, and reduces the electron density. When this boundary flow crosses the storm‐enhanced density (SED) plume, the plume will be segmented into patches. No external interplanetary magnetic field variations or transient reconnections are required in this mechanism.https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL084041polar cap patchpartial ring currentBirkeland current boundary flow
spellingShingle Zihan Wang
Shasha Zou
Thomas Coppeans
Jiaen Ren
Aaron Ridley
Tamas Gombosi
Segmentation of SED by Boundary Flows Associated With Westward Drifting Partial Ring current
Geophysical Research Letters
polar cap patch
partial ring current
Birkeland current boundary flow
title Segmentation of SED by Boundary Flows Associated With Westward Drifting Partial Ring current
title_full Segmentation of SED by Boundary Flows Associated With Westward Drifting Partial Ring current
title_fullStr Segmentation of SED by Boundary Flows Associated With Westward Drifting Partial Ring current
title_full_unstemmed Segmentation of SED by Boundary Flows Associated With Westward Drifting Partial Ring current
title_short Segmentation of SED by Boundary Flows Associated With Westward Drifting Partial Ring current
title_sort segmentation of sed by boundary flows associated with westward drifting partial ring current
topic polar cap patch
partial ring current
Birkeland current boundary flow
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL084041
work_keys_str_mv AT zihanwang segmentationofsedbyboundaryflowsassociatedwithwestwarddriftingpartialringcurrent
AT shashazou segmentationofsedbyboundaryflowsassociatedwithwestwarddriftingpartialringcurrent
AT thomascoppeans segmentationofsedbyboundaryflowsassociatedwithwestwarddriftingpartialringcurrent
AT jiaenren segmentationofsedbyboundaryflowsassociatedwithwestwarddriftingpartialringcurrent
AT aaronridley segmentationofsedbyboundaryflowsassociatedwithwestwarddriftingpartialringcurrent
AT tamasgombosi segmentationofsedbyboundaryflowsassociatedwithwestwarddriftingpartialringcurrent