loading page

Simulating the Ion Precipitation from the Inner Magnetosphere by H-band and He-band Electro Magnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) Waves
  • +2
  • Shreedevi P R,
  • Yiqun Yu,
  • Binbin Ni,
  • Anthony Saikin,
  • Vania K Jordanova
Shreedevi P R
School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Yiqun Yu
Beihang University
Author Profile
Binbin Ni
Department of Space Physics, School of Electronic Information, Wuhan University
Author Profile
Anthony Saikin
University of California
Author Profile
Vania K Jordanova
Space Science and Application, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Author Profile

Abstract

During geomagnetic storms, magnetospheric wave activity drives the ion precipitation which can become an important source of energy flux into the ionosphere and strongly affect the dynamics of the Magnetosphere-Ionosphere (MI) coupling. In this study, we investigate the role of Electro Magnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) waves in causing ion precipitation into the ionosphere using simulations from the RAM-SCBE model with and without EMIC waves included. The global distribution of H-band and He-band EMIC wave intensity in the model is based on three different EMIC wave models statistically derived from satellite measurements. Comparisons among the simulations and with observations suggest that the EMIC wave model based on recent Van Allen Probes observations is the best in reproducing the realistic ion precipitation into the ionosphere. Specifically, the maximum precipitating proton fluxes appear at L=4-5 in the afternoon-to-night sector which is in good agreement with statistical results, and the temporal evolution of integrated proton energy fluxes at auroral latitudes is consistent with earlier studies of the stormtime precipitating proton energy fluxes and vary in close relation to the Dst index. Besides, the simulations with this wave model can account for the enhanced precipitation of <20 keV proton energy fluxes at regions closer to earth (L<5) as measured by NOAA/POES satellites, and reproduce reasonably well the intensity of <30 keV proton energy fluxes measured by DMSP satellites. It is suggested that the inclusion of H-band EMIC waves improves the intensity of precipitation in the model leading to better agreement with the NOAA/POES data.