Open AccessModeling subauroral polarization streams equatorward of the plasmapause footprints
Author(s) -
Pintér B.,
Thom S. D.,
Balthazor R.,
Vo H.,
Bailey G. J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2005ja011457
Subject(s) - plasmasphere , thermosphere , ionosphere , geophysics , f region , ion , polarization (electrochemistry) , night sky , low latitude , atmospheric sciences , latitude , geology , magnetosphere , physics , magnetic field , geodesy , astronomy , chemistry , quantum mechanics
We report on a modeling study on the effects of subauroral polarization stream (SAPS) events equatorward of the plasmapause footprints, using the Sheffield Coupled Thermosphere‐Ionosphere‐Plasmasphere (CTIP) model. SAPS events are simulated by imposing a poleward electric field for 2 hours in the premidnight sector between 50° and 60° magnetic latitude. The presence of the SAPS results in a decrease in vertical total electron count and F region ion density, while the height of the F region can rise by up to 100 km. A study of the relative importance of the physical processes finds that the most significant contribution is the temperature increase due to ion‐neutral friction, resulting in increased reaction rates of O + loss. The recovery time for the SAPS studied is up to 10 hours.