FG: Inner Magnetosphere Cross-Energy/Population Interactions

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Focus Group Leaders:

  • Yiqun Yu (yiqunyu17@gmail.com), Beihang University
  • Colby Lemon (colby@aero.org), The Aerospace Corporation
  • Michael Liemohn(liemohn@umich.edu), University of Michigan
  • Jichun Zhang(jichun.zhang@unh.edu), University of New Hampshire


FG term: 2014-2018

Agenda at 2018 GEM summer workshop

Session 1:Inner magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

  • Location: Anasazi Ballroom
  1. Harneet Sangha: The Field-Aligned Current Structure Associated with Sub-Auroral Polarization Streams
  2. Bea Gallardo-Lacourt: STEVE: An optical structure in the subauroral region. Location and geomagnetic conditions during its formation
  3. Nithin Sivadas: Energetic precipitation during substorms: simultaneously measured in the magnetosphere and ionosphere
  4. Yiqun Yu: Self-consistent modeling of magnetosphereic precipitation and response in the ionosphere
  5. Xiangning Chu: Unexpected storm-time plasmaspheric density increase at low L shells on the nightside
  6. Yue Chao: Oxygen ion behavior in Earth’s ring current dynamics based on Van Allen Probes observation

Session 2: particle and wave dynamics

  • Location: Eldorado B
  1. Chia-Lin Huang: Quantifying Radiation Belt Electron Precipitation and Its Effect on Ionosphere and Atmosphere
  2. Mykhaylo Shumko: Evidence of Microbursts Observed Near the Equatorial Plane in the Outer Van Allen Radiation Belt
  3. Run Shi: Properties of whistler mode waves in plasmasphere and plasmaspheric plume
  4. Qianli Ma: Ion Heating by Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves in the Inner Magnetosphere’
  5. Sam Bingham: The development of source electrons and chorus wave activity during CME and CIR storms
  6. Poorya Hosseini: Investigating Wave-particle interaction at Earth's radiation belts with ground based observations
  7. Chao Yue: The composition of plasma pressure inside geostationary orbit based on Van Allen Probe observations
  8. Cristian Ferradas: Comparison of electron loss models in the inner magnetosphere

Session 3: panel discussion

  • Location: Eldorado B
  1. Report on the spacecraft charging challenge
  2. We will have a panel discussion on remaining scientific questions in the coupled inner magnetosphere system and on future plans regarding how we will continue and move forward to better understand the cross-energy/population coupling processes and interactions with tail and ionosphere. We also cordially invite the audience to participate and contribute.
  • Panelist: Mike Liemohn, Vania Jordanova, George Khazanov, Yihua Zheng


2017 miniGEM session

  • Time: 13:50 - 15:20, December 10, 2017
  • Location: Magnolia Room at the Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

We will continue the “spacecraft charging” challenges from the summer workshop. The following events are selected :

  1. 16 March to 20 March 2013
  2. 31 May to 2 June 2013

The observational data (Van Allen Probes/HOPE, and POES) are available in ASCII format, for data-model comparison: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TvXPuTmynxUk-Gn5bJEoCKDcf2shYM62?usp=sharing

We cordially encourage you to simulate the two events and present the modeling results of inner magnetosphere plasma conditions as well as the comparisons to satellite measurements. It would be nice if the model results can be interpolated into the same energy channels as in the instruments.

In addition, we also welcome talks in topics related to the focus group , particularly on the inner magnetosphere plasma waves interacting with energetic populations.

Current speaker list:

  • On the challenge event:
  1. Yihua Zheng
  2. Nikita Aseev
  3. Colby Lemon
  4. Yiqun Yu
  • On IMCEPI-related topics:
  1. Chao Yue
  2. Jichun Zhang
  3. Anthony Saikin

Agenda at 2017 GEM summer workshop

Session 1: Location: Amphitheater

  • Inner magnetosphere plasma variations and coupling to ionosphere
  1. Cristian Ferradas: Temporal evolution of ion spectral structures during a geomagnetic storm
  2. Chao Yue: The characteristic pitch angle distributions of 1 eV to 600 keV protons near the equator based on Van Allen Probes observantions
  3. Philip Fernandes: Global distribution of O+/H+ ratio based on Van Allen Probes observantions
  4. Thiago Brito: Particle tracing modeling of ion fluxes at geosynchronous orbit during substorms
  5. George Khazanov: Role of MI coupling processes in the formation of superthermal electron precipitations and electric conductance change
  6. Yiqun Yu: Modeling efforts on the auroral conductance


Session 2: Location: Amphitheater

  • Wave dynamics in the inner magnetosphere
  1. Mykhaylo Shumko: Microburst Scale Size Derived From a Bouncing Packet Observed with FIREBIRD-II
  2. Kyungguk Min: Ion Bernstein instability as a possible source for O+ harmonic waves
  3. Anthony Saikin: A statistical examination of favorable plasma conditions concerning inner magnetosphere EMIC wave excitation
  4. Zhaoguo He: Multiple satellites observation of magnetic dip event during the substorm on October 10 2013
  5. Sam Bingham: Van Allen Probe Observations of Source and Seed Electrons, and Whistler Mode Chorus Wave Growth During ICME and CIR Driven Storms
  6. Run Shi: Statistical relation between low frequency hiss and convective electron injection

Session 3: Location: Amphitheater

  • Discussion on Spacecraft Charging Challenge
    • Lutz Rastaetter
    • Vania Jordanova
    • Colby Lemon
    • Alex Glocer


2016 mini GEM session

  • 12:00 -13:30pm, December 11, 2016
  • Gold Rush B, Holiday Inn San Francisco Gateway
  1. Chao Yue: Transitional behavior of different energy (1eV-50 keV) protons based on Van Allen Probes observations
  2. Chi-Ping Wang: The effect of the solar wind ULF fluctuations on electron temperature at midnight geosynchronous orbit
  3. Cristian Ferradas: Temporal evolution of ion spectral structures during a geomagnetic storm: Observations and modeling
  4. Drew Turner: Particle injections observed during a conjunction with MMS and RBSP
  5. Anthony Saikin: Local plasma conditions during EMIC wave events detected in the inner magnetosphere by the Van Allen Probes
  6. Dedong Wang: Conjugate Observations of EMIC Waves and Precipitation of Relativistic Electrons
  7. Ashley Jones: Quantifying the contribution of microbursts to global electron loss
  8. Yiqun Yu: Self-consistent electric field within the ionosphere/inner magnetosphere system
  9. Discussion: Challenge Topic: Spacecraft charging from low-energy electrons

2016 Summary Report

Agenda at 2016 joint CEDAR-GEM summer workshop

Joint Session with STIMIC (13:30-15:30, Monday, 6/20)

  1. Richard Selesnick: Control of the inner electron radiation belt by large-scale electric fields
  2. Sam Califf: Van Allen Probes observations of subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) electric fields
  3. Scott Thaller: Van Allen Probes investing of the night/dusk asymmetries of the plasmapause and dawn-dusk electric field, a synoptic study
  4. Joe Huba : Storm-time electrodynamics of the ionosphere/plasmasphere system using SAMI3/RCM
  5. Carlos Martinis: Coincident observations of all-sky images and Van Allen Probes
  6. Raluca Ilie: inductive electric field
  7. Yiqun Yu: A new ionospheric precipitation module coupled with RAM-SCB in geospace general circulation model

Session 2 (13:30-15:30, Friday 6/24)

  1. Mark Engebretson: Location of EMIC Wave Events Relative to the Plasmapause: Van Allen Probes Observations
  2. Dedong Wang: Geomagnetic Storms and EMIC waves: Van Allen Probe Observations and Related Calculations.
  3. Anthony Saikin: Testing Linear Theory on EMIC waves observed by Van Allen Probes
  4. Jichun Zhang: EMIC waves and associated relativistic electron precipitation on 25-26 January 2013
  5. Kaijun Liu: Ion Bernstein instability dependence on the proton-to-electron mass ratio: linear dispersion theory
  6. Initiation on challenge event (March 17, 2013): Spacecraft charging

Session 3 (16:00-18:00, Friday 6/24)

  1. Jiang Liu: Direct and indirect ways in which a DFB can lead to energetic particle injections: coordinated observations between RBSP, THEMIS, and GOES
  2. Yiqun Yu: The effect of ionospheric conductance on magnetotail dynamics
  3. Thiago Brito: Ion fluxes at geosynchronous orbit from backwards tracing simulations
  4. Colby Lemon:
  5. Cristian Ferradas: Temporal evolution of ion spectral structures during a geomagnetic storm: observations and modeling
  6. Jichun Zhang: Electron spectral features: observations and simulations

Call for participation in the 2016 joint CEDAR-GEM at Santa Fe

All theoretical, modeling, and observational studies are welcome.

Joint Session (13:30-15:30, Monday, 6/20) with storm-time inner magnetosphere ionosphere convection (STIMIC)

  • Impacts of large-scale or transient electric fields on inner magnetosphere populations. Topics include, but not limited to,
    • Improve the electric field self-consistency in global models
    • Establish the connection between inner magnetosphere population and the convection or SAPS electric field
  • The role of particle precipitation of magnetospheric origin on the ionospheric electrodynamics, such as conductivity, electric fields, etc.

Session 2 (13:30-15:30, Friday 6/24)

  • Plasma wave dynamics in the inner magnetosphere and their influence on the dynamics of plasmasphere, ring current, and radiation belts
  • Magnetospheric particle dynamics and effects on plasma waves

Session 3 (16:00-18:00, Friday 6/24)

  • Interactions between plasma and electric/magnetic fields in the mid-tail to inner magnetosphere/ionosphere region
  • The role of mid-tail dynamics on the inner magnetosphere dynamics
  • Discussion on challenge. Topics for discussion include
    • What central topic to be focused on? E.g., ionospheric conductance challenge, role of electric field?
    • Observations: multi-satellite conjunctions
    • Modeling: feasibility of data-model comparisons, or model-model comparisons.

Summary Report for 2015 GEM workshop

The summary report of IMCEPI is here: [1]

Agenda at 2015 GEM summer workshop

Joint session with "QARBM" (Tuesday, 16 June 2015 3:30 - 5:00pm):

  1. Wen Li: Quantitative simulation of radiation belt electron dynamics using 3D diffusion code
  2. Yuri Shprits: Combined Convective and Diffusive Simulation: VERB-4D Results
  3. Xiangrong Fu: Modeling EMIC wave generation from ring current ions
  4. Anthony Saikin: The geomagnetic condition dependence of the spatial distributions of EMIC waves observed by the Van Allen Probes
  5. Jacob Bortnik: Generation of chorus waves in a lab plasma
  6. Xin An: Linear excitation of whistler waves
  7. Shuo Wu: Hybrid Code Simulations of Whistler Waves in Compressed Dipole Field
  8. Chih-ping Wang: Multi-point observation of ULF waves

Session 1 (Wednesday, 17 June 2015 10:30-12:15pm):

  • Topic: "wave-particle interactions": Waves excited in the inner magnetosphere due to unstable particle conditions can significantly alter the ring current/radiation belt dynamics. In this session, we will focus on wave and particle dynamics and the role of waves in the cross-population interactions in the inner magnetosphere.
  1. Mark Engebretson: Van Allen probes, NOAA, and ground observations of an intense Pc 1 wave event extending 12 hours in MLT and its resulting depletion of the outer radiation belt
  2. Justin Lee: Discussion of Wave-Particle Interactions during the 18-22 Feb 2014 Storm
  3. Michael Hartinger: The effect of azimuthal wave number on ULF wave-particle interactions
  4. Chen Zhou: Excitation of Dayside Chorus Waves due to Magnetic Field Line Compression in Response to Interplanetary Shocks
  5. Homayon Aryan: The distribution of plasmaspheric Hiss and Chorus waves in the inner magnetosphere as functions of geomagnetic activity and solar wind parameters
  6. Robert Allen: Statistical study of EMIC waves observed by Cluster
  7. Konstantin Gamayunov: Multiscale nature of electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave development in Earth’s magnetosphere
  8. Vania Jordanova: RAM-SCB simulations of plasma wave dynamics
  9. Adam Kellerman: Forecasting the Earth’s radiation environment with GREEP and VERB: a synthesis of empirical- and physics-based modeling across multiple energies and spatial regions

Session 2 (Wednesday, 17 June 2015 13:30 - 15:00pm):

  • Topic: "Plasma-field coupling": Significant advances are being achieved in the modeling of our geospace system so that global models are able to more self-consistently represent the coupling between the plasma and electric/magnetic fields in the mid-tail and near-Earth regions. These improvements could greatly advance our understanding of the source population from the magentotail region and their role on the inner magnetospheric dynamics. We would like to call for presentation that address the interactions/coupling between plasma and fields in the near-Earth and tail regions.
  1. Lois Smith: Plasmaspheric Suprathermal Heating from Cyclotron Resonance with Equatorial Noise
  2. Raluca Ilie: Calculating the Inductive electric fields in the terrestrial magnetosphere
  3. Samuel Califf: Van Allen Probes observations of SAPS during the 28 June 2013 geomagnetic storm
  4. Hong Zhao: The evolution of ring current ion energy density and energy content during geomagnetic storms based on Van Allen Probes measurements
  5. Jichun Zhang: “Trunk-like” heavy ion structures observed by the Van Allen Probes
  6. Cristian Ferradas: Ion nose spectral structures observed by the Van Allen Probes
  7. Jesse Woodroffe
  8. Colby Lemon

Session 3 (Wednesday, 17 June 2015 15:30-17:00pm):

  • Topic: "M-I coupling": A thorough understanding of the inner magnetosphere dynamics requires an integrated investigation of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system, as the ionosphere provides the inner magnetosphere with an energy reservoir through particle precipitation as well as feedbacks with convectional/pulsing electric field that changes the transport of energetic particles in plasmasphere/ring current. In this session, we would like to call for modeling and observational contributions on the interexchange between the ring current/radiation belt/plasmasphere and the ionosphere.
  1. Dan Welling: Relationship between ionospheric outflow and the ring current
  2. George Khazanov: Superthermal Electrons Magnetosphere – Ionosphere Coupling in the Regions of Diffuse Aurora
  3. Megan Gillies: Investigating pulsating aurora at low electron energies
  4. Ryan Mcgranaghan: Modes of high-latitude conductance variability derived from DMSP F6-F8 and F16-F18 energetic electron precipitation observations: Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis
  5. Alexa Halford (challenge event): BARREL Observations of long period precipitation on Jan 26th 2013
  6. Jichun Zhang (challenge event): EMIC waves and associated relativistic electron precipitation on 25-26 January 2013
  7. Yiqun Yu (challenge event): Modeling ionospheric electron precipitation due to wave particle interactions in the ring current and the feedback on the inner magnetosphere for the 25-26 January 2013 event
  8. Yi-jiun Su (Challenge storm event on March 17 2013) RBSP/MagEIS observations: Local electron acceleration in the inner radiation belt?

Call for participation at 2015 GEM summer workshop

If you would like to present in any of the sessions listed below with relevant topics, please send us (at yiqun@lanl.gov) the title(s) of your presentation(s) by June 7th, 2015. Thank you in advance for your valuable contribution! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Yiqun, Colby, Jichun, and Mike

Session 1: Wednesday, 17 June 2015 10:30 - 12:15pm

  • Topic: "wave-particle interactions": Waves excited in the inner magnetosphere due to unstable particle conditions can significantly alter the ring current/radiation belt dynamics. In this session, we will focus on wave and particle dynamics and the role of waves in the cross-population interactions in the inner magnetosphere.

Session 2: Wednesday, 17 June 2015 13:30 - 15:00pm

  • Topic: "Plasma-field coupling": Significant advances are being achieved in the modeling of our geospace system so that global models are able to more self-consistently represent the coupling between the plasma and electric/magnetic fields in the mid-tail and near-Earth regions. These improvements could greatly advance our understanding of the source population from the magentotail region and their role on the inner magnetospheric dynamics. We would like to call for presentation that address the interactions/coupling between plasma and fields in the near-Earth and tail regions.

Session 3: Wednesday, 17 June 2015 15:30-17:00pm

  • Topic: "M-I coupling": A thorough understanding of the inner magnetosphere dynamics requires an integrated investigation of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system, as the ionosphere provides the inner magnetosphere with an energy reservoir through particle precipitation as well as feedbacks with convectional/pulsing electric field that changes the transport of energetic particles in plasmasphere/ring current. In this session, we would like to call for modeling and observational contributions on the interexchange between the ring current/radiation belt/plasmasphere and the ionosphere.

Joint session with "Quantitative assessment of radiation belt dynamics" Focus Group: Tuesday, 16 June 2015, 15:30-17:00pm

  • The two FGs have common interest in understanding how plasma waves are formed and how much they influence the radiation belt dynamics in the near-Earth regions. We hope to see presentations that address the coupled effects between important plasma waves in the inner magnetosphere and the changes in the energetic populations.
Challenge events for Session 1:

a) Feb 18-22, 2014:

  • CME impact, prolonged storm main phase and recovery phase.
  • Substantial substorm injections.
  • There were already interesting observations from THEMIS spacecraft, including plasmaspheric plum-like density enhancement on the dusk, He+ band EMIC waves, enhanced convections.

We would like to see more comprehensive investigation from using Van Allen Probes and other datasets as well as modeling efforts, to address the generation mechanism of the waves, the variability of cold/warm/energetic plasma due to the interaction with waves. 

Challenge events for Session 3:

a) January 25-26, 2013:

  • Small storm event, isolated substorm injections for 2-3 hours
  • BARREL observation of energetic particle precipitation
  • Van Allen Probes observation of EMIC waves

b) March 17, 2013:

  • CME impact, intense storm
  • Substantial ion and electron injections observed by various satellites
  • Enhanced electron precipitation, dramatic variations in the ring current/radiation belts

We would like to call for both observational and modeling efforts on these events to study the coupling between wave-induced particle precipitation and plasma dynamics in the inner magnetosphere.

Agenda at 2014 GEM summer workshop

Session 1

  • Topic: "Influence of ring current/plasmasphere populations on wave-particle interactions, and the feedback effect"

June 19, Thursday 1:30-3:00pm

  1. Yiqun Yu - Brief overview of the FG
  2. Jichun Zhang - Introduction of Session 1
  3. Hyomin Kim - Inferring Magnetospheric heavy ion density using EMIC waves
  4. Robert C. Allen - A statistical study of EMIC waves observed by Cluster: Wave properties
  5. Anthony Saikin - A statistical study on the Hydrogen-, Helium-, and Oxygen-band EMIC waves witnessed by the Van Allen Probes
  6. Justin Lee - Application of THEMIS low-energy ion composition statistics to EMIC wave observations and modeling
  7. Xiangrong Fu - PIC Simulations of Banded Chorus Excitation Using RBSP HOPE Data
  8. Vania Jordanova - Modeling ring curent and plasma waves with RAM-SCB
  9. David Mackler - Statistical correlation of low altitude ENA emission with geomagnetic activity over the declining phase of Solar Cycle 23

Session 2

  • Topic: "Self-consistent coupling between fields and plasma in the magnetosphere"

June 19, Thursday 3:30-5:00pm

  1. Colby Lemon - Introduction of Session 2
  2. Raluca Ilie - Self-consistent coupling of HEIDI and MHD fields
  3. Cristian P. Ferradas - Heavy ion dominance near Cluster perigees
  4. Yiqun Yu - Ring current particle injections: global simulations and Van Allen Probes observations during 17 March 2013 storm
  5. Jiang Liu - Dipolarization fronts in the inner magnetosphere observed by RBSP, and their role in energetic particle injection

Session 3

  • Topic: "Improve the self-consistent links between different magnetosphere/ionosphere regimes, such aswave-particle interactions, particle precipitation, and ionospheric conductivity in global models"

June 20, Friday 10:30-12:15pm

  1. Yiqun Yu - Introduction of Session 3
  2. Vania Jordanova - Particle precipitation by plasma waves in the ring current
  3. Mike Liemohn - On the plasmasphere shape and dynamics during different solar wind driving conditions
  4. Robert C. Allen - A statistical study of EMIC waves observed by Cluster: Associated plasma properties
  5. Binzheng Zhang - Effects of ionospheric conductance on magnetotail reconnection and flow distribution
  6. Hyunju Connor - Initial results of storm-time IT responses using OpenGGCM-CTIM global magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere coupling model
  7. Colby Lemon - Improved physics of electron precipitation and ionospheric conductance enhancement in the RCM-E
  8. Discussion on Potential challenge event: March 17, 2013 storm/Jun 1, 2013 storm

Focus Group Proposal (2013)

Topic Description

This focus group aims to improve physical knowledge and modeling of the inner magnetosphere, particularly the ring current interactions and feedback with other populations in the magnetosphere (e.g., plasmasphere, radiation belt, and ionosphere). Gaps still exist in the self-consistent modeling of ring current dynamics due to complex cross-energy interactions with the radiation belts, plasmasphere, and ionosphere. While the plasmasphere and radiation belts do not contribute significantly to the inner magnetosphere current systems or directly drive electric shielding and thus are often neglected or treated crudely in ring current modeling, they still play a very important role as a driver of the dynamics of the inner magnetosphere. The plasmasphere influences the plasma wave environment that controls pitch-angle scattering rates and subsequent precipitation losses of ring current and radiation belt particles. In addition to directly altering the phase space density in the inner magnetosphere, the precipitation also enhances ionospheric conductivity and outflow rate, which modifies the inner magnetospheric electric field and composition and in turn influences the magnetic field via the modified current systems. In recent years, efforts have been made to include/improve self-consistency between the plasma and fields, and we believe the time is right to turn out focus to what has been viewed as “second order effects” in the ring current modeling community, and has certainly suffered from a paucity of insitu equatorial inner magnetospheric measurements.

Existing kinetic models (e.g., RAM-SCB, RCM, RCM-E, CRCM, HEIDI) use oversimplified scattering rates due to wave-particle interactions. These models can use electric fields more-orless self-consistently obtained from an ionospheric potential solver that often still treats the conductivity non-self-consistently. Moreover, the inner magnetosphere ion composition is usually specified based on empirical models, not on first-principle physics, and therefore cannot provide event-specific influence or outcomes. These sample issues are the consequences of overlooking the proper connection with other populations or regimes. Therefore, to further our knowledge of the ring current dynamics and the nonlinear feedback process with other populations, we desire comprehensive models that tie the ring current to other regions in a selfconsistent approach. Such a desire requires the modeling capability that takes into account physical mechanisms in different regimes as well as the interactions in between.

This focus group will foster interactions among observations, simulations, and modeling. The broad scientific goals of this focus group are, through implementation of physics in the existing models, to contribute to the physics-based understanding of (1) the mechanisms responsible for the ring current growth and decay, (2) the interactions with particles in other regions, e.g., the radiation belts and plasmasphere, and (3) the nonlinear feedback mechanisms. The main deliverable will the development of more comprehensive, full physics circulation modules, consistent with the goal of GEM program.

Timeliness of the Focus Group

Our focus group is timely for the following reasons:

  • The Van Allen Probes provide extensive simultaneous high-resolution near-equatorial particle measurements over a wide energy range as well as plasma wave measurements from different inner magnetospheric components (e.g., plasmasphere, ring current and radiation belt). This enables our capability to monitor cross-energy interactions between different populations in the inner magnetosphere. In addition, the Cluster and THEMIS missions also cover a wide energy range and hence provide a great opportunity for multi-point simultaneous investigation of the inner magnetosphere.
  • The recently ended “Near Earth Magnetosphere: Fields, Plasma, and Coupling” focus group (2007-2012) improved modeling capabilities in self-consistently coupling plasma with electromagnetic fields (e.g., RAM-SCB, RCM, RCM-E, CRCM, HEIDI). Now it is time to move forward and continue to improve modeling capabilities by stimulating the development of more comprehensive, full-physics models that could account for self-consistent crossenergy/population coupling processes. Some GGCM modules (e.g., SWMF, OpenGGCM, LFM) have already been developed to include one or more inner-magnetospheric modules, providing a necessary and important base.
  • The “Plasmasphere-Magnetosphere Interaction (PMI)” focus group (2008-2013), which investigated the cold plasma population and evolution, has just ended. Our focus group would build on what was learned and apply that to couple the plasmasphere with higher energy populations, therefore continue the investigation of plasmaspheric dynamics.

Fit/Relevance to Existing GEM Focus Group

The group is intended to fill a niche within GEM that is not addressed by any active focus group but will work with and leverage results from existing GEM efforts.

  • Tail-Inner Magnetosphere Interactions (2012-2016)

This focus group endeavors to investigate the physical mechanisms of tail transport modes into the inner magnetosphere while excluding the discussion on variations in the inner magnetosphere. We will use the results from this focus group as tail drivers for modeling ring current dynamics and subsequent interactions with other inner magnetosphere populations.

  • Storm-time Inner Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Convection (2013-2017)

This focus group aims to understand the coupled inner magnetosphere-ionosphere system, emphasizing the convection link. Our focus group will be complimentary to the SIMIC focus group by investigating the inner magnetosphere cross-population interactions that can alter the inner magnetosphere-ionosphere electrodynamics.

  • Radiation Belt and Wave Modeling (2010-2014)

The wave-particle interaction is one important physical mechanism in the ring current and plasmasphere. We will work with the RBWM focus group to constrain physical models improved/developed under our focus group.

  • The Ionospheric Source of Magnetospheric Plasma-measuring, modeling and merging into the GEM GGCM (2011-2015)

The merging of ionospheric sources into the GGCM will provide tools for better understanding the effects of heavy ions on the ring current and radiation belt dynamics, which is one of the goals of our focus group.

  • Metrics and Validation (2011-2015)

Our focus group is directly related to this M&V focus group contributing to the development of more self-consistent and realistic global circulation models.

Goals and Deliverables

The goals of this proposed focus group are to provide a detailed, quantitative understanding of the coupled inner magnetosphere by including cross-energy and cross-population coupling processes. Some specific goals are:

  • How do the cold plasmasphere and ring current properties influence wave-particle interactions and what are the feedback mechanisms?

These questions will be addressed through efforts such as determining the relative role of various driving mechanisms on the ring current dynamics, developing empirical or numerical models of wave distributions in the inner magnetosphere, quantifying scattering rates by different types of waves, implementing loss rates in physical models, analyzing multi-spacecraft measurements, inferring cold plasma density, and correlating wave evolution to the dynamics of ring current and radiation belts.

  • How do the cross-energy/population interactions alter the inner magnetospheric dynamics?

To address this question, modeling efforts to couple physical models from different regions are required, including coupling the plasmasphere, radiation belts, and ring current, and constructing an ionospheric conductivity model based on particle precipitation due to magnetospheric waves. Enhanced precipitation also drives ionospheric ions into the magnetosphere, changing the content and dynamics of the ring current and radiation belts, suggesting the need to develop a self-consistent circulation link between the ionosphere and inner magnetosphere.

The main deliverable will be the development of more comprehensive, self-consistent physics-based circulation models, which is the main goal of the GEM program. They will be used for the study of ring current dynamics and interactions with the plasmasphere, radiation belts, and ionosphere. Detailed deliverables will include global wave distribution models, loss rates due to different types of waves in the ring current, plasmasphere, and radiation belts, and a dynamic module of ionospheric conductivity.

Co-Chairs

  • Yiqun Yu (yiqun@lanl.gov) Expertise: MHD and kinetic modeling, MI coupling
  • Colby Lemon (colby@aero.org) Expertise: ring current, radiation belt
  • Michael Liemohn (liemohn@umich.edu) Expertise: ring current, plasmasphere, MI coupling
  • Jichun Zhang (jichun.zhang@unh.edu) Expertise: ring current, wave-particle interaction

Research Area

Inner Magnetospheric Research Area

Term of Focus Group

Five Years (2014 -- 2018)

Expected Activities and Challenges

Below are some scheduled activities in the Focus Group: (1) A statistical study of the global distributions of various plasmas waves; (2) Kinetic model improvements in wave-particle interactions, precipitation, and ionospheric conductivity modeling; (3) Model development to couple different inner magnetosphere components; (4) Data-model comparisons with in-situ and ground-based measurement for the validation of the improved/developed models.

The challenges for modelers will be to reasonably well reproduce realistic events within different regimes. We plan to call for a series of challenges by simulating several storm events using different models with the same input, in order to improve the modeling capabilities through implementation of the physics. For example, in Year 1, we will set up a challenge study for several recent storms (e.g., those on 1 June 2013 and 2 November 2012) within the Van Allen Probes era, to compare and identify physical processes necessary for implementation in the models. In Year 2, modelers will present their capabilities with the same driving conditions and identify commonalities and discrepancies. With achievements obtained over years in both models and statistical quantities, we will repeat the challenge studies to further evaluate the model capabilities, with a potential collaboration with the Metrics and Validation Focus group.

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