Simulation of Counterstreaming H+ Outflows During Plasmasphere Refilling. Issue 6 (22nd March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Krall, J.; Huba, J. D.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 46:Issue 6(2019)
• Page Start: 3052
• Page End: 3060
• Publication Date: 2019-03-22
• Subjects: ionosphere -- plasmasphere -- refilling -- simulation; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2019GL082130
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Plasmasphere refilling is modeled using an upgraded version of the Naval Research Laboratory SAMI2 (Sami2 is Another Model of the Ionosphere) ionosphere/plasmasphere code. In this implementation of SAMI2, two fluid species are used for H +, each having a source in only one magnetic hemisphere. This is the first comprehensive plasmasphere model with two‐stream H + . With two counterstreaming H + fluids, artificial shocks or compressions at high altitude are avoided during storms and early‐stage refilling. For late‐stage refilling, runs with two‐stream SAMI2 validate previous SAMI2 (one H + fluid) refilling rates. At ionospheric altitudes ( ≲ 2, 000 km), where the single‐fluid approximation is valid for each ion, two‐stream SAMI2 results agree closely with SAMI2 results. Key Points: Counterstreaming H + is modeled with each H + fluid (H S + and H N + ) generated on only one side of the magnetic equator Two‐stream SAMI2 is the first comprehensive ionosphere/plasmasphere model with counterstreaming H + ions Two‐stream SAMI2 avoids artificial compressions during early‐stage refilling and validates previous SAMI2 late‐stage refilling rates