Plasmasphere-Ionosphere Coupling

The flow of thermal plasma between the upper ionosphere and magnetosphere arises as a natural consequence of time-varying ionic reactions in the F2-region and global electric fields. Recent advances in understanding the physics of light ion flow have evolved from studies of the coupled equation of continuity, momentum, and energy. Model studies indicate that the thermal structure of the topside ionosphere is complicated as a consequence of Joule heating resulting from O+-Hv collisions. Also to be discussed are the morphological implications of light ion flow, especially with regard to the relationships between the plasmapause, the formation of the electron trough region and the equatorward extension of diffuse aurorae