The contribution of plasma sheet bubbles to stormtime ring current
buildup and evolution of the energy composition
Abstract
The formation of the stormtime ring current is a result of the inward
transport and energization of plasma sheet ions. Previous studies have
demonstrated that a significant fraction of the total inward plasma
sheet transport takes place in the form of bursty bulk flows (BBFs),
known theoretically as flux tube entropy-depleted “bubbles.’ However,
it remains an open question to what extent bubbles contribute to the
buildup of the stormtime ring current. Using the Multiscale Atmosphere
Geospace Environment (MAGE) Model, we present a case study of the March
17, 2013 storm, including a quantitative analysis of the contribution of
plasma transported by bubbles to the ring current. We show that bubbles
are responsible for at least 50\% of the plasma energy
enhancement within 6 R$_E$ during this strong geomagnetic storm. The
bubbles that penetrate within 6 R$_E$ transport energy primarily in
the form of enthalpy flux, followed by Poynting flux and relatively
little as bulk kinetic flux. Return flows can transport outwards a
significant fraction of the plasma energy being transported by inward
flows, and therefore must be considered when quantifying the net
contribution of bubbles to the energy buildup. Data-model comparison
with proton intensities observed by the Van Allen Probes show that the
model accurately reproduces both the bulk and spectral properties of the
stormtime ring current. The evolution of the ring current energy spectra
throughout the modeled storm is driven by both inward transport of an
evolving plasma sheet population and by charge exchange with Earth’s
geocorona.