A statistical study of magnetospheric electron density using the Cluster spacecraft

Sandhu, Jasmine, Yeoman, T. K., Fear, R. C. and Dandouras, I. (2016) A statistical study of magnetospheric electron density using the Cluster spacecraft. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 121 (11). 11,042-11,062. ISSN 2169-9380

[img]
Preview
Text
2016JA023397.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Download (3MB) | Preview
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JA023397

Abstract

Observations from the WHISPER (Waves of High frequency and Sounder for Probing of Electron density by Relaxation) instrument on board Cluster, for the interval spanning 2001–2012, are utilized to determine an empirical model describing the total electron density along closed geomagnetic field lines. The model, representing field lines in the region of 4.5≤L < 9.5, includes dependences on L and magnetic local time. Data verification tests ensured that the WHISPER data set provided unbiased measurements for low‐density regions, including comparisons with Plasma Electron and Current Experiment and Electric Field and Waves observations. The model was determined by modeling variations in the electron density along the field lines, which is observed to follow a power law distribution along the geomagnetic field at high latitudes, with power law index values ranging from approximately 0.0 to 1.2. However, a localized peak in electron density close to the magnetic equator is observed, which is described using a Gaussian peak function, with the electron density peak ranging as high as 10 cm−3 above the background power law dependence. The resulting model illustrates some key features of the electron density spatial distribution. The role of the number density distribution, represented by the empirical electron density model, in determining the total plasma mass density is also explored. By combining the empirical electron density model with an empirical average ion mass model, the total plasma mass density distribution is inferred, which includes contributions of both the number density and ion composition of the plasma in the region.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Research funded by Science and Technology Facilities Council (ST/K502121ST/H002480/1) | STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship (ST/K004298/1)
Uncontrolled Keywords: mass density, field line dependence, Cluster, electron density
Subjects: F300 Physics
F900 Others in Physical Sciences
Department: Faculties > Engineering and Environment > Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering
Depositing User: Rachel Branson
Date Deposited: 14 Apr 2021 09:29
Last Modified: 31 Jul 2021 15:48
URI: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/45918

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics