Heliospheric plasma sheet (HPS) impingement onto the magnetosphere as a cause of relativistic electron dropouts (REDs) via coherent EMIC wave scattering with possible consequences for climate change mechanisms. Issue 10 (10th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsurutani, B. T.; Hajra, R.; Tanimori, T.; Takada, A.; Bhanu, R.; Mannucci, A. J.; Lakhina, G. S.; Kozyra, J. U.; Shiokawa, K.; Lee, L. C.; Echer, E.; Reddy, R. V.; Gonzalez, W. D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 121:Issue 10(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 10, 130
• Page End: 10, 156
• Publication Date: 2016-10-10
• Subjects: heliospheric plasma sheet -- relativistic electron precipitation -- atmospheric energy deposition -- heliospheric current sheet -- climate change models -- SSWs; Magnetospheric physics -- Periodicals; Space environment -- Periodicals; Cosmic physics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Atmospheres -- Periodicals; Heliosphere (Astrophysics) -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 523.01
• DOI: 10.1002/2016JA022499
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9380

Abstract

Abstract: A new scenario is presented for the cause of magnetospheric relativistic electron decreases (REDs) and potential effects in the atmosphere and on climate. High‐density solar wind heliospheric plasmasheet (HPS) events impinge onto the magnetosphere, compressing it along with remnant noon‐sector outer‐zone magnetospheric ~10‐100 keV protons. The betatron accelerated protons generate coherent electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves through a temperature anisotropy (T⊥ /T|| > 1) instability. The waves in turn interact with relativistic electrons and cause the rapid loss of these particles to a small region of the atmosphere. A peak total energy deposition of ~3 × 10 20 ergs is derived for the precipitating electrons. Maximum energy deposition and creation of electron‐ion pairs at 30‐50 km and at < 30 km altitude are quantified. We focus the readers' attention on the relevance of this present work to two climate change mechanisms. Wilcox et al. (1973) noted a correlation between solar wind heliospheric current sheet (HCS) crossings and high atmospheric vorticity centers at 300 mb altitude. Tinsley et al. (1994 ) has constructed a global circuit model which depends on particle precipitation into the atmosphere. Other possible scenarios potentially affecting weather/climate change are also discussed. Key Points: Heliospheric plasmasheet impingements on the magnetosphere lead to relativistic electron losses Compressing the magnetosphere causes generation of coherent EMIC waves which confine electron losses to small region of dayside ionosphere Energy deposition and ionization at low altitudes may cause Wilcox effect and Tinsley effect