The effects of plasmaspheric plumes on dayside reconnection. Issue 5 (7th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ouellette, J. E.; Lyon, J. G.; Brambles, O. J.; Zhang, B.; Lotko, W.
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 121:Issue 5(2016:May)
• Page Start: 4111
• Page End: 4118
• Publication Date: 2016-05-07
• Subjects: magnetic reconnection -- plasmasphere -- magnetopause; Magnetospheric physics -- Periodicals; Space environment -- Periodicals; Cosmic physics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Atmospheres -- Periodicals; Heliosphere (Astrophysics) -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 523.01
• DOI: 10.1002/2016JA022597
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9380

Abstract

Abstract: We summarize the results of a study on the impact of plasmaspheric plumes on dayside reconnection using a three‐dimensional magnetospheric simulation code. We find that the mass loading of magnetospheric flux tubes slows local reconnection rates, though not as much as predicted by Borovsky et al. (2013) due to differences in how well the Cassak‐Shay theory matches magnetospheric configurations with and without plasmaspheric plumes. Additionally, we find that in some circumstances reconnection activity is enhanced on either side of the plumes, which moderates its impact on the total dayside reconnection rate. These results provide evidence that plasmaspheric plumes have both local‐ and global‐scale effects on dayside reconnection. Key Points: Plasmaspheric plumes slow dayside reconnection through global and local effects Reconnection may be enhanced on either side of plasmaspheric plumes Simulated reconnection rates better match Cassak‐Shay predictions when merging plasma populations have similar densities