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A time‐dependent theoretical model of the polar wind: Preliminary results
Author(s) -
Gombosi T. I.,
Cravens T. E.,
Nagy A. F.
Publication year - 1985
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/gl012i004p00167
Subject(s) - polar , ion , ionosphere , supersonic speed , momentum (technical analysis) , physics , polar wind , plasma , altitude (triangle) , computational physics , atmospheric sciences , atomic physics , mechanics , environmental science , meteorology , geophysics , solar wind , mathematics , nuclear physics , geometry , quantum mechanics , magnetopause , finance , economics
The coupled time dependent continuity, momentum and energy equations of a two ion (O + and H + ) quasineutral plasma were solved in order to extend our understanding of polar wind behavior. This numerical code allows studies of the time dependent behavior of polar wind‐type flows into and out of the ionosphere. Initial studies indicate that the typical time constants for electron and ion temperature changes are of the order of minutes and tens of minutes, respectively. The response time of the minor high altitude ion O + is less than an hour, whereas that of the major ion, H + , is many hours. The initial test runs also demonstrate the fact that temporary supersonic flows of both O + and H + are possible, especially in the presence of significant ion heating.