The Contribution of Plasma Sheet Bubbles to Stormtime Ring Current Buildup and Evolution of Its Energy Composition

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dc.citation.articleNumbere2023JA031693
dc.citation.issueNumber11
dc.citation.journalTitleJournal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
dc.citation.volumeNumber128
dc.contributor.authorSciola, A.
dc.contributor.authorMerkin, V. G.
dc.contributor.authorSorathia, K.
dc.contributor.authorGkioulidou, M.
dc.contributor.authorBao, S.
dc.contributor.authorToffoletto, F.
dc.contributor.authorPham, K.
dc.contributor.authorLin, D.
dc.contributor.authorMichael, A.
dc.contributor.authorWiltberger, M.
dc.contributor.authorUkhorskiy, A.
dc.date.accessioned2024-05-03T15:51:09Z
dc.date.available2024-05-03T15:51:09Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractThe formation of the stormtime ring current is a result of the inward transport and energization of plasma sheet ions. Previous studies have demonstrated that a significant fraction of the total inward plasma sheet transport takes place in the form of bursty bulk flows, known theoretically as flux tube entropy-depleted “bubbles.” However, it remains an open question to what extent bubbles contribute to the buildup of the stormtime ring current. Using the Multiscale Atmosphere Geospace Environment Model, we present a case study of the 17 March 2013 storm, including a quantitative analysis of the contribution of plasma transported by bubbles to the ring current. We show that bubbles are responsible for at least 50% of the plasma energy enhancement within 6 RE during this strong geomagnetic storm. The bubbles that penetrate within 6 RE transport energy primarily in the form of enthalpy flux, followed by Poynting flux and relatively little as bulk kinetic flux. Return flows can transport outwards a significant fraction of the plasma energy being transported by inward flows, and therefore must be considered when quantifying the net contribution of bubbles to the energy buildup. Data-model comparison with proton intensities observed by the Van Allen Probes show that the model accurately reproduces both the bulk and spectral properties of the stormtime ring current. The evolution of the ring current energy spectra throughout the modeled storm is driven by both inward transport of an evolving plasma sheet population and by charge exchange with Earth's geocorona.
dc.identifier.citationSciola, A., Merkin, V. G., Sorathia, K., Gkioulidou, M., Bao, S., Toffoletto, F., Pham, K., Lin, D., Michael, A., Wiltberger, M., & Ukhorskiy, A. (2023). The Contribution of Plasma Sheet Bubbles to Stormtime Ring Current Buildup and Evolution of Its Energy Composition. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 128(11), e2023JA031693. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JA031693
dc.identifier.digitalTheContributionPlasmaSheetBubbles
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1029/2023JA031693
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/115544
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherWiley
dc.rightsExcept where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the terms of the license or beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.titleThe Contribution of Plasma Sheet Bubbles to Stormtime Ring Current Buildup and Evolution of Its Energy Composition
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.publicationpublisher version
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