Magnetospheric electric convection field

The impact of the solar wind onto the magnetosphere generates an electric field within the inner magnetosphere (r < 10 a; with a the Earth's radius) - the convection field.[1] Its general direction is from dawn to dusk. The co-rotating thermal plasma within the inner magnetosphere drifts orthogonal to that field and to the geomagnetic field Bo. The generation process is not yet completely understood.[2] One possibility is viscous interaction between solar wind and the boundary layer of the magnetosphere (magnetopause). Another process may be magnetic reconnection. Finally, a hydromagnetic dynamo process in the polar regions of the inner magnetosphere may be possible. Direct measurements via satellites have given a fairly good picture of the structure of that field.[3][4][5] A number of models of that field exists.[6][7][8][9]

A widely used model is the Volland-Stern model [10][11] [12]

  1. ^ Gurnett, Donald (1972). Dyer, E.R. (ed.). Electrical Fields and Plasma Observations in the Magnetosphere in "Critical Problems in Magnetospheric Physics" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: American Geophysical Union. pp. 123–138. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  2. ^ Pukkinen, I., et al. (eds.): "The Inner Magnetosphere: Physics and Modelling", Geophysical Monograph AGU, Washington, D.C., 2000
  3. ^ Gurnett, Donald. Dyer, E.R. (ed.). Electrical Fields and Plasma Observations in the Magnetosphere, in Critical Problems in Magnetospheric Physics (PDF). Washington, D.C.: American Geophyscial Union. pp. 123–138. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  4. ^ Heppner, J.P., in Dyer (ed): "Critical Problems of Magnetospheric Physics", Nat.Akad. Sci., Washington, DC., 107, 1972
  5. ^ Iijima, T. and T.A. Potemra, J. Geophys. Res.,83, 599, 1978
  6. ^ McIlwain, C.E., Adv. Space Sci., 6, 187, 1986
  7. ^ Richmond, A.D., and Y. Kamide, J. Geophys. Res., 93,5741, 1988
  8. ^ Weimer, D.R., Geophys. Res. Lett., 23, 2549, 1996
  9. ^ Maynard, N.C., and A.J. Chen, J. Geophys. Res., 80, 2009, 1975
  10. ^ Volland, H., J. Geophy. Res. 78, 171, 1973
  11. ^ Stern, D., J. Geophys. Res. 80, 595, 1975
  12. ^ Burke, W.J., The Physics of Space Plasmas, Boston College, ISR, Boston, 2012