We have developed a new model that includes both plasmaspheric refilling and the evolution of the plasmapause. The model self-consistently solves the temporal variation of plasma distribution from the ionosphere within the dynamic plasmapause, as well as the refilling of plasma from the ionosphere. In the saturated plasmasphere, we found reasonable agreement between the model and previous measurements of electron densities. Furthermore, by imposing realistic electric fields and a depletion of flux tubes, the model demonstrates the temporal evolution of a sharp gradient in the plasma density distribution, such as seen at the plasmapause from the observations. In this presentation, a detailed analysis of the evolution of the plasmapause gradients is discussed. We also compare refilling time scales with observations.

http://lucid.igpp.ucla.edu/lessons/ess265/2005/7th-ISSS/CONTENTS/DATA_PDF/P-3-28.PDF

G. Millward

Papers

Application of a fluid-type model for plasmapause and plasmaspheric refilling