Local time variations in Jupiter's magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling system

Ray, L. C. and Achilleos, N. A. and Vogt, M. F. and Yates, J. N. (2014) Local time variations in Jupiter's magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling system. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 119 (6). pp. 4740-4751. ISSN 2169-9402

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Abstract

The ionization of neutral material ejected by Jupiter's volcanically active moon, Io, results in a plasma disc that extends from Io's orbit out through the Jovian magnetosphere. This magnetospheric plasma is coupled to the planetary ionosphere via currents which flow along the magnetic field. Inside of ∼40-RJ, these currents transfer angular momentum from the planet to the magnetospheric plasma, in an attempt to keep the plasma rigidly corotating with the planet. Jupiter's main auroral emission is a signature of this current system. To date, one-dimensional models of Jupiter's magnetosphere-ionosphere (M-I) coupling have either assumed a dipole field or used a field description appropriate to the postmidnight region of the Jovian magnetosphere. Vogt et al. (2011) described the variation of the N-S component of the magnetic field in the center of the current sheet, BN, with local time and radius. We apply a 1-D model of Jupiter's M-I current system every hour in local time using a modified description of the Vogt et al. (2011) magnetic field to investigate how local time variations in the magnetosphere affect the auroral currents and plasma angular velocity. Our model predicts the strongest aurora at dawn, with a minimum in the auroral currents existing from noon through dusk. This is a few hours duskward of the discontinuity predicted by Radioti et al. (2008). While our model predictions are consistent with some of the observations, future MI coupling models must account for the azimuthal bendback in the magnetic field.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1908
Subjects:
?? AURORAJUPITERMAGNETOSPHERE-IONOSPHERE COUPLINGPLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERESSPACE AND PLANETARY SCIENCEGEOPHYSICS ??
ID Code:
83381
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
02 Dec 2016 16:30
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
21 Sep 2023 02:08