Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling

Author: Kiyoshi Ushida
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Large-scale magnetospheric processes reveal the physical connections involved in the Earth-Sun interaction. Over the past 20 years, continuous satellite observations and extensive computer simulations have led us to recognize the crucial role of the polar ionosphere in these large-scale magnetospheric processes. It has been demonstrated that high-latitude electromagnetic phenomena, such as auroras, electric fields, and currents, exhibit extremely complex spatiotemporal variations. The challenge we now face is to understand and interpret the vast and complex observational results in the Earth's magnetosphere-ionosphere system. This book discusses the electromagnetic coupling that occurs between the hot, dilute plasma of the magnetosphere and the cold, dense plasma of the ionosphere, and provides a detailed examination of the difficulties encountered in understanding how fundamental observational phenomena are interconnected, as well as the significance of such understanding. This book is suitable for professionals working in space physics, Earth environment, and space weather forecasting, and can also serve as a reference for graduate students in related fields at universities.