Solar Illumination Control of the Polar Wind
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Authors
Maes, L.
Maggiolo, R.
De Keyser, J.
André, M.
Eriksson, A.I.
Haaland, S.
Li, K.
Poedts, S.
Discipline
Physical sciences
Subject
low-energy ions
ion outflow
polar wind
magnetosphere
solar illumination
ionosphere
Audience
Scientific
Date
2017Metadata
Show full item recordDescription
Polar wind outflow is an important process through which the ionosphere supplies plasma to the magnetosphere. The main source of energy driving the polar wind is solar illumination of the ionosphere. As a result, many studies have found a relation between polar wind flux densities and solar EUV intensity, but less is known about their relation to the solar zenith angle at the ionospheric origin, certainly at higher altitudes. The low energy of the outflowing particles and spacecraft charging means it is very difficult to measure the polar wind at high altitudes. We take advantage of an alternative method that allows estimations of the polar wind flux densities far in the lobes. We analyze measurements made by the Cluster spacecraft at altitudes from 4 up to 20 RE. We observe a strong dependence on the solar zenith angle in the ion flux density and see that both the ion velocity and density exhibit a solar zenith angle dependence as well. We also find a seasonal variation of the flux density.
Citation
Maes, L.; Maggiolo, R.; De Keyser, J.; André, M.; Eriksson, A.I.; Haaland, S.; Li, K.; Poedts, S. (2017). Solar Illumination Control of the Polar Wind. , Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, Vol. 122, Issue 11, 11468-11480, DOI: 10.1002/2017JA024615.Identifiers
Type
Article
Peer-Review
Yes
Language
eng