A semiempirical model of large-scale magnetospheric electric fields

Abstract

Semiempirical analytic formulas for large-scale electric magnetospheric fields are developed that are valid within the inner magnetosphere as well as within the ionosphere. These electric fields drive ionospheric electric currents. Moreover, field-aligned electric currents must exist in order to maintain the magnetospheric electric field configuration. The model calculations are compared and are shown to be consistent with the shape of the plasmapause, the equivalent electric current systems of DP 1 and DP 2, the available electric field observations at ionospheric altitudes, and the observations of field-aligned electric currents.