Modeling of Properties of the Plasmasphere under Quiet
and Disturbed Conditions

A. V. Tashchilin and E. B. Romanova

Institute of Solar–Terrestrial Physics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia

e-mail: avt@iszf.irk.ru, ebr@iszf.irk.ru

Received December 14, 2012

Abstract—Based on theoretical models of the ionosphere and the plasmasphere, the ion composition variations
in the plasmasphere and the plasmapause structure were studied depending on the choice of the distribution
model of the magnetospheric convection electric field at low and high geomagnetic activity at the equinox and
the December solstice. Based on the model calculations performed, the plasmapause shape and size during an
increase and decrease in geomagnetic activity were studied. It was revealed that the size of the plasmasphere
mainly depends on the magnetic local time (MLT) sector and the level of geomagnetic activity, and it greatly
depends on the maximum universal time during the equinox. The Earth’s plasmasphere asymmetry is mani-
fested in the noon–midnight and morning–evening directions. The analysis results of daily and seasonal varia-
tions in the ionic composition of the Earth’s plasmasphere at a moderate solar activity level show that there is
a certain increase in the ion concentrations of H⁺ and He⁺ in the winter period probably due to an increase in
the exospheric density at the summer to winter transition. The data obtained are in good agreement with satellite
observations which makes it possible to use the model proposed to study the plasmasphere under different geo-
physical conditions.

DOI: 10.1134/S0016793214010150

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