Premium
MHD simulation of the transpolar potential after a solar‐wind density pulse
Author(s) -
Ober D. M.,
Wilson G. R.,
Maynard N. C.,
Burke W. J.,
Siebert K. D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2005gl024655
Subject(s) - magnetosphere , magnetopause , solar wind , physics , magnetohydrodynamics , geophysics , interplanetary magnetic field , magnetohydrodynamic drive , polar wind , computational physics , interplanetary spaceflight , atmospheric sciences , flux (metallurgy) , mechanics , plasma , materials science , quantum mechanics , metallurgy
On 10 January 1997 an isolated solar wind density pulse, with other interplanetary parameters remaining steady, led to an enhanced transpolar potential (Φ TP ) that is not predicted by either the Weimer or Siscoe‐Hill models. However, a magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the magnetosphere's response to a sudden increase in solar wind density does predict an Φ TP increase consistent with satellite observations during the 10 January 1997 event. The response is transient, decaying after several tens of minutes toward an equilibrium that is close to the original potential. The simulated Φ TP increase derives from erosion of the dayside magnetopause and transport of newly opened flux across the polar cap. The exponential decay of Φ TP results from inductance in the magnetosphere‐ionosphere circuit.