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Alfvénic Heating in the Cusp Ionosphere‐Thermosphere

Lotko, William ; Zhang, Binzheng

Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, 2018-12, Vol.123 (12), p.10,368-10,383 [Peer Reviewed Journal]

Washington: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

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  • Title:
    Alfvénic Heating in the Cusp Ionosphere‐Thermosphere
  • Author: Lotko, William ; Zhang, Binzheng
  • Subjects: Alfven waves ; Amplitudes ; Correlation analysis ; E region ; F region ; Heating rate ; Ionosphere ; ionosphere Alfvén resonator ; ionosphere‐thermosphere heating ; Joule heating ; Magnetic fields ; Magnetic resonance ; Magnetohydrodynamics ; Magnetosphere ; Magnetospheres ; magnetosphere‐ionosphere‐thermosphere coupling ; Mathematical analysis ; Ohmic dissipation ; Plasma density ; Resistance heating ; small‐scale field‐aligned currents ; Thermosphere ; Variability ; Wavelengths
  • Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Space physics, 2018-12, Vol.123 (12), p.10,368-10,383
  • Description: The effect of electromagnetic variability on cusp‐region ionosphere‐thermosphere heating is examined. The study is motivated by observed correlations between anomalous thermospheric density enhancements at F region altitudes and small‐scale field‐aligned currents, previously interpreted as evidence of ionospheric Alfvén resonator modes. Height‐integrated and height‐dependent heating rates for Alfvén waves incident from the magnetosphere at frequencies from 0.05 to 2 Hz and perpendicular wavelengths from 0.5 to 20 km have been calculated. The velocity well in Alfvén speed surrounding the F region plasma density maximum facilitates energy deposition by slowing, trapping, and intensifying resonant waves. The Alfvénic Joule heating rate maximizes at the resulting resonances. F region Joule heating resulting from quasistatic and Alfvénic variability with the same root‐mean‐square amplitude in the F region are shown to be comparable. At the same time, Alfvénic variability deposits little electromagnetic power in the E region, whereas quasistatic variability greatly enhances E region heating. When measured electric and magnetic fields are used to constrain the amplitude and spectral content of superposed Alfvén waves incident from the magnetosphere, the calculated F region heating rate ranges from 5 to 10 nW/m3. Key Points Nondispersive Alfvén‐wave power flowing into the cusp region from the magnetosphere deposits energy most efficiently at F region altitudes Comparatively little Alfvén‐wave power at frequencies greater than about 0.1 Hz is deposited in the E region The F region Joule heating rate for Alfvénic variability is comparable to that of quasistatic variability of comparable amplitude
  • Publisher: Washington: Blackwell Publishing Ltd
  • Language: English
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