On ionospheric trough conductance and subauroral polarization streams: Simulation results

Abstract

Subauroral polarization streams (SAPS) are usually associated with geomagnetically disturbed times and considered a manifestation of magnetosphere and ionosphere coupling. Previous research results using radar and satellite measurements have revealed many features of the SAPS events. In this paper we focus on the effects of subauroral trough conductance on the attributes of SAPS and the evolution of the coupled magnetosphere and ionosphere system through the comprehensive ring current model, which includes the coupled electrodynamics of the inner magnetosphere and ionosphere with a self‐consistent description of the electric field. Our numerical analysis indicates that low conductance at the subauroral latitudes (due to midlatitude trough) is critical to the large amplitude of SAPS. The model results are generally in good agreement with common characteristics of SAPS and are consistent with their existing generation mechanism.