Plasma Properties in the Earth's Magnetosheath Near the Subsolar Magnetopause: Implications for Geocoronal Density Estimates

S. A. Fuselier; S. M. Petrinec; K. J. Trattner; K. LLera; J. L. Burch; D. J. Gershman; M. A. Dayeh; N. Schwadron; H. O. Funsten; D. J. McComas

doi:10.1029/2023GL105553

Plasma Properties in the Earth's Magnetosheath Near the Subsolar Magnetopause: Implications for Geocoronal Density Estimates

S. A. Fuselier, S. M. Petrinec, K. J. Trattner, K. LLera, J. L. Burch, D. J. Gershman, M. A. Dayeh, N. Schwadron, H. O. Funsten, D. J. McComas

Astrophysical Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Combined in situ ion measurements and remote sensing of energetic neutral atoms are used to determine the geocoronal Hydrogen density at large (∼10 R_E) distances from the Earth. This method for determining the geocoronal density requires global magnetospheric modeling. Observations in the Earth's subsolar magnetosheath from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission are used to determine the accuracy of using global models to predict the geocoronal density. On average, gas dynamic and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models and observations are in reasonable agreement, with differences <25%. In addition, the MHD model subsolar magnetopause is about 0.5 R_E sunward of the observed location. However, variations around averages are large (up to a factor of 2), indicating that global models introduce relatively large uncertainties in geocoronal density estimates. Finally, the critical ion flux in the Interstellar Boundary Explorer IBEX-Hi energy range is often minimally affected by fluctuations of a factor of 2 in the density.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	e2023GL105553
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	50
Issue number	20
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL105553
State	Published - Oct 28 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Geophysics
General Earth and Planetary Sciences

Keywords

MHD modeling
geocorona
magnetopause
magnetosheath
solar wind-magnetosphere interaction

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10.1029/2023GL105553

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Fuselier, S. A., Petrinec, S. M., Trattner, K. J., LLera, K., Burch, J. L., Gershman, D. J., Dayeh, M. A., Schwadron, N., Funsten, H. O., & McComas, D. J. (2023). Plasma Properties in the Earth's Magnetosheath Near the Subsolar Magnetopause: Implications for Geocoronal Density Estimates. Geophysical Research Letters, 50(20), Article e2023GL105553. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL105553

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title = "Plasma Properties in the Earth's Magnetosheath Near the Subsolar Magnetopause: Implications for Geocoronal Density Estimates",

abstract = "Combined in situ ion measurements and remote sensing of energetic neutral atoms are used to determine the geocoronal Hydrogen density at large (∼10 RE) distances from the Earth. This method for determining the geocoronal density requires global magnetospheric modeling. Observations in the Earth's subsolar magnetosheath from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission are used to determine the accuracy of using global models to predict the geocoronal density. On average, gas dynamic and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models and observations are in reasonable agreement, with differences <25%. In addition, the MHD model subsolar magnetopause is about 0.5 RE sunward of the observed location. However, variations around averages are large (up to a factor of 2), indicating that global models introduce relatively large uncertainties in geocoronal density estimates. Finally, the critical ion flux in the Interstellar Boundary Explorer IBEX-Hi energy range is often minimally affected by fluctuations of a factor of 2 in the density.",

keywords = "MHD modeling, geocorona, magnetopause, magnetosheath, solar wind-magnetosphere interaction",

author = "Fuselier, {S. A.} and Petrinec, {S. M.} and Trattner, {K. J.} and K. LLera and Burch, {J. L.} and Gershman, {D. J.} and Dayeh, {M. A.} and N. Schwadron and Funsten, {H. O.} and McComas, {D. J.}",

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year = "2023",

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doi = "10.1029/2023GL105553",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "50",

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AU - Fuselier, S. A.

AU - Petrinec, S. M.

AU - Trattner, K. J.

AU - LLera, K.

AU - Burch, J. L.

AU - Gershman, D. J.

AU - Dayeh, M. A.

AU - Schwadron, N.

AU - Funsten, H. O.

AU - McComas, D. J.

PY - 2023/10/28

Y1 - 2023/10/28

N2 - Combined in situ ion measurements and remote sensing of energetic neutral atoms are used to determine the geocoronal Hydrogen density at large (∼10 RE) distances from the Earth. This method for determining the geocoronal density requires global magnetospheric modeling. Observations in the Earth's subsolar magnetosheath from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission are used to determine the accuracy of using global models to predict the geocoronal density. On average, gas dynamic and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models and observations are in reasonable agreement, with differences <25%. In addition, the MHD model subsolar magnetopause is about 0.5 RE sunward of the observed location. However, variations around averages are large (up to a factor of 2), indicating that global models introduce relatively large uncertainties in geocoronal density estimates. Finally, the critical ion flux in the Interstellar Boundary Explorer IBEX-Hi energy range is often minimally affected by fluctuations of a factor of 2 in the density.

AB - Combined in situ ion measurements and remote sensing of energetic neutral atoms are used to determine the geocoronal Hydrogen density at large (∼10 RE) distances from the Earth. This method for determining the geocoronal density requires global magnetospheric modeling. Observations in the Earth's subsolar magnetosheath from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission are used to determine the accuracy of using global models to predict the geocoronal density. On average, gas dynamic and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models and observations are in reasonable agreement, with differences <25%. In addition, the MHD model subsolar magnetopause is about 0.5 RE sunward of the observed location. However, variations around averages are large (up to a factor of 2), indicating that global models introduce relatively large uncertainties in geocoronal density estimates. Finally, the critical ion flux in the Interstellar Boundary Explorer IBEX-Hi energy range is often minimally affected by fluctuations of a factor of 2 in the density.

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KW - magnetopause

KW - magnetosheath

KW - solar wind-magnetosphere interaction

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Plasma Properties in the Earth's Magnetosheath Near the Subsolar Magnetopause: Implications for Geocoronal Density Estimates

Abstract

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