John G. Lyon

A set of magnetohydrodynamic equations is developed for multiple ion species in the limit of small Larmor radius. The derivation proceeds to explicitly calculate the Lorentz force resulting from the small ion drift velocities. The net effect is that in this limit all the ions move perpendicular to the magnetic field with the same speed, but are free‐streaming relative to one another in the parallel direction. The ions couple one to another in the parallel direction from changes in the magnetic field direction, leading to a collision‐like term that, however, maintains a constant total kinetic energy. The equations governing parallel (centrifugal) acceleration, which may be an important process for ionospheric outflow, are then derived. The dispersion relation for a two‐species, isotropic fluid with arbitrary mass and charge fractions, as well as electron pressure, is derived and the resulting wave modes are analyzed. A planar Alfvén mode separates from other, generally compressible, modes. It becomes unstable when the ram pressure of the streaming exceeds the firehose limit. The remaining modes satisfy a sixth order equation in the phase speed when counterstreaming and electron pressure are allowed. Without counterstreaming, three stable modes always exist, with two counter‐propagating waves each, regardless of the presence of electron pressure. For the streaming case there are three modes, with two asymmetrically propagating waves each, whose behavior can be quite complicated, especially near the firehose instability limit. An example global magnetosphere simulation of a geomagnetic storm is presented using the derived multifluid formalism.

A set of MHD equations is developed for multiple ion species in the limit of small Larmor radius. The derivation proceeds to explicitly calculate the Lorentz force resulting from the small ion drift velocities. The net effect is that in this limit all the ions move perpendicular to the magnetic field with the same E×B speed, but are free-streaming relative to one another in the parallel direction. The ions couple one to another in the parallel direction from changes in the magnetic field direction, leading to a collision-like term that, however, maintains a constant total kinetic energy. The equations governing parallel (centrifugal) acceleration, which may be an important process for ionospheric outflow, are then derived. The dispersion relation for a two-species, isotropic fluid with arbitrary mass and charge fractions, as well as electron pressure, is derived and the resulting wave modes are analyzed. A planar Alfvén mode separates from other, generally compressible, modes. It becomes unstable when the ram pressure of the streaming exceeds the firehose limit. The remaining modes satisfy a sixth order equation in the phase speed when counterstreaming and electron pressure are allowed. Without counterstreaming, three stable modes always exist, with two counter-propagating waves each, regardless of the presence of electron pressure. For the streaming case there are three modes, with two asymmetrically propagating waves each, whose behavior can be quite complicated, especially near the firehose instability limit. An example global magnetosphere simulation of a geomagnetic storm is presented using the derived multifluid formalism.

The geospace plume, referring to the combined processes of the plasmaspheric and the ionospheric storm‐enhanced density (SED)/total electron content (TEC) plumes, is one of the unique features of geomagnetic storms. The apparent spatial overlap and joint temporal evolution between the plasmaspheric plume and the equatorial mapping of the SED/TEC plume indicate strong magnetospheric‐ionospheric coupling. However, a systematic modeling study of the factors contributing to geospace plume development has not yet been performed due to the lack of a sufficiently comprehensive model including all the relevant physical processes. In this paper, we present a numerical simulation of the geospace plume in the 31 March 2001 storm using the Multiscale Atmosphere‐Geospace Environment model. The simulation reproduces the observed linkage of the two plumes, which, we interpret as a result of both being driven by the electric field that maps between the magnetosphere and the ionosphere. The model predicts two velocity channels of sunward plasma drift at different latitudes in the dusk sector during the storm main phase, which are identified as the sub‐auroral polarization stream (subauroral polarization streams (SAPS)) and the convection return flow, respectively. The SAPS is responsible for the erosion of the plasmasphere plume and contributes to the ionospheric TEC depletion in the midlatitude trough region. We further find the spatial distributions of the magnetospheric ring current ions and electrons, determined by a delicate balance of the energy‐dependent gradient/curvature drifts and the E × B drifts, are crucial to sustain the SAPS electric field that shapes the geospace plume throughout the storm main phase.

The geospace plume, referring to the combined processes of the plasmaspheric and the ionospheric storm-enhanced density (SED)/total electron content (TEC) plumes, is one of the unique features of geomagnetic storms. The apparent spatial overlap and joint temporal evolution between the plasmaspheric plume and the equatorial mapping of the SED/TEC plume indicate strong magnetospheric-ionospheric coupling. However, a systematic modeling study of the factors contributing to geospace plume development has not yet been performed due to the lack of a sufficiently comprehensive model including all the relevant physical processes. In this paper, we present a numerical simulation of the geospace plume in the March 31, 2001 storm using the Multiscale Atmosphere Geospace Environment model. The simulation reproduces the observed linkage of the two plumes, which, we interpret as a result of both being driven by the electric field that maps between the magnetosphere and the ionosphere. The model predicts two velocity channels of sunward plasma drift at different latitudes in the dusk sector during the storm main phase, which are identified as the sub-auroral polarization stream (SAPS) and the convection return flow, respectively. The SAPS is responsible for the erosion of the plasmasphere plume and contributes to the ionospheric TEC depletion in the midlatitude trough region. We further find the spatial distributions of the magnetospheric ring current ions and electrons, determined by a delicate balance of the energy-dependent gradient/curvature drifts and the E´B drifts, are crucial to sustain the SAPS electric field that shapes the geospace plume throughout the storm main phase.

We show the possible existence of a significant axial asymmetry in the reconnection separator at the Jovian magnetopause using first‐principle, physics‐based global simulations. Under eastward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions near Jupiter's orbit, reconnection occurs at the southern‐dusk and northern magnetopause with large shear angles between the magnetospheric and magnetosheath magnetic fields. When driven by the westward IMF, the reconnection position switches to the northern‐dusk and southern magnetopause. Component reconnection at the southern‐dusk/northern‐dusk magnetopause is associated with the interaction of the IMF with the nearly‐dipolar background fields. Nearly‐antiparallel reconnection near the noon‐midnight plane at the northern/southern magnetopause is related to the dawn‐dusk asymmetric, helical, closed lobe magnetic fields, which is a consequence of significant planetary corotation effects and not expected at Earth. Such configuration is testable as Juno has proceeded its orbit to the high‐altitude cusps and provides new insight into the interpretation of measurements from other rotationally‐driven systems.

The MODIS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) 16-day composite data product (MOD12Q) was used to develop annual cropland and crop-specific map products (corn, soybeans, and wheat) for the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin (GLB). The crop area distributions and changes in crop rotations were characterized by comparing annual crop map products for 2005, 2006, and 2007. The total acreages for corn and soybeans were relatively balanced for calendar years 2005 (31,462 and 31,283 km², respectively) and 2006 (30,766 and 30,972 km², respectively). Conversely, corn acreage increased approximately 21% from 2006 to 2007, while soybean and wheat acreage decreased approximately 9% and 21%, respectively. Two-year crop rotational change analyses were conducted for the 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 time periods. The large increase in corn acreages for 2007 introduced crop rotation changes across the GLB. Compared to 2005–2006, crop rotation patterns for 2006–2007 resulted in increased corn–corn, soybean–corn, and wheat–corn rotations. The increased corn acreages could have potential negative impacts on nutrient loadings, pesticide exposures, and sediment-mediated habitat degradation. Increases in US corn acreages in 2007 were related to new biofuel mandates, while Canadian increases were attributed to higher worldwide corn prices. Additional study is needed to determine the potential impacts of increases in corn-based ethanol agricultural production on watershed ecosystems and receiving waters.

Solar eruptions cause geomagnetic storms in the near-Earth environment, creating spectacular aurorae visible to the human eye and invisible dynamic changes permeating all of geospace. Just equatorward of the aurora, radars and satellites often observe intense westward plasma flows called subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) in the dusk-to-midnight ionosphere. SAPS occur across a narrow latitudinal range and lead to intense frictional heating of the ionospheric plasma and atmospheric neutral gas. SAPS also generate small-scale plasma waves and density irregularities that interfere with radio communications. As opposed to the commonly observed duskside SAPS, intense eastward subauroral plasma flows in the morning sector were recently discovered to have occurred during a super storm on 20 November 2003. However, the origin of these flows termed “dawnside SAPS” could not be explained by the same mechanism that causes SAPS on the duskside and has remained a mystery. Through real-event global geospace simulations, here we demonstrate that dawnside SAPS can only occur during major storm conditions. During these times the magnetospheric plasma convection is so strong as to effectively transport ions to the dawnside, whereas they are typically deflected to the dusk by the energy-dependent drifts. Ring current pressure then builds up on the dawnside and drives field-aligned currents that connect to the subauroral ionosphere, where eastward SAPS are generated. The origin of dawnside SAPS explicated in this study advances our understanding of how the geospace system responds to strongly disturbed solar wind driving conditions that can have severe detrimental impacts on human society and infrastructure.

Strong subauroral plasma flows were observed in the dawnside ionosphere during the 20 November 2003 super geomagnetic storm. They are identified as dawnside subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) in which plasma drift direction is eastward and opposite to the westward SAPS typically found in the dusk sector. Both dawnside and duskside SAPS are driven by the enhanced meridional electric field in the low latitude portion of Region-2 field-aligned currents (FACs) in the subauroral region where ionospheric conductance is relatively low. However, dawnside eastward SAPS were only observed in the main and recovery phases while duskside westward SAPS were found much earlier before the sudden storm commencement. Simulations with the Multiscale Atmosphere-Geospace Environment (MAGE) model demonstrate that the eastward SAPS are associated with dawnside ring current build-up. Unlike the duskside where ring current build-up and SAPS formation can occur under moderate driving conditions, strong magnetospheric convection is required for plasmasheet ions to overcome their energy-dependent drifts to effectively build up the dawnside ring current and upward Region-2 FACs. We further used test particle simulations to show the characteristic drift pattern of energetic protons under strong convection conditions and how they are related to the dawnside SAPS occurrence. This study demonstrates the connection between the level of solar wind driving condition and a rare ionospheric structure, eastward SAPS on the dawnside, which only occur under strong convection typically associated with intense or super storms. Dawnside SAPS are suggested as a unique feature of major geomagnetic storms.

The role of diffuse electron precipitation in forming subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) is investigated with the Multiscale Atmosphere-Geospace Environment (MAGE) model. Diffuse precipitation is derived from the distribution of drifting electrons calculated in MAGE. SAPS manifest themselves as a separate mesoscale flow channel in the duskside ionosphere when diffuse precipitation is implemented in MAGE, whereas it merges with the primary auroral convection when diffuse precipitation is turned off. SAPS overlap with the downward Region-2 field-aligned currents equatorward of diffuse precipitation, where poleward electric fields closing the Pedersen currents are strong due to a low conductance in the subauroral ionosphere. The Region-2 field-aligned currents extend to lower latitudes than diffuse precipitation because the ring current protons penetrate closer to the Earth than the electrons do. This study demonstrates the critical role of diffuse electron precipitation in determining SAPS location and structure.