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Collisionless dissipation and plasma kinetic processes regulate magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. The formation of parallel electric fields in the low-altitude magnetosphere produces electron beams that carry large energy fluxes into the ionosphere and magnetosphere. The downgoing beams modify the ionospheric conductivity and the electrodynamics of MI coupling. Topside collisionless ion heating supercharges mass outflow from the ionosphere and enhances inertial MI coupling. Simple empirical and physical transport models of these processes, for use in regulating MHD and fluid dynamic coupling between the LFM and TING models, are being developed at Dartmouth. Click on image at left to enlarge. |