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A statistical study of magnetospheric electron density using the Cluster spacecraft

A statistical study of magnetospheric electron density using the Cluster spacecraft
A statistical study of magnetospheric electron density using the Cluster spacecraft
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.
2169-9380
11,042-11,062
Sandhu, J.K.
f7695906-560e-4688-ab02-c387ebc5afc7
Yeoman, T.K.
cc3f7732-a6a5-462e-aa81-289804631314
Fear, R.C.
8755b9ed-c7dc-4cbb-ac9b-56235a0431ab
Dandouras, I.
3947e1d4-40ea-46fa-a9c4-4e426106c7fa
Sandhu, J.K.
f7695906-560e-4688-ab02-c387ebc5afc7
Yeoman, T.K.
cc3f7732-a6a5-462e-aa81-289804631314
Fear, R.C.
8755b9ed-c7dc-4cbb-ac9b-56235a0431ab
Dandouras, I.
3947e1d4-40ea-46fa-a9c4-4e426106c7fa

Sandhu, J.K., 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. (doi:10.1002/2016JA023397).

Record type: Article

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.

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Accepted/In Press date: 6 November 2016
e-pub ahead of print date: 15 November 2016
Published date: November 2016
Organisations: Astronomy Group

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 404299
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/404299
ISSN: 2169-9380
PURE UUID: 731e5f2b-4efe-4d67-9eeb-f3db64deea34
ORCID for R.C. Fear: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0589-7147

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Date deposited: 05 Jan 2017 14:10
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 04:18

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Contributors

Author: J.K. Sandhu
Author: T.K. Yeoman
Author: R.C. Fear ORCID iD
Author: I. Dandouras

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