A comparison of the magnetospheric specification model, the Hardy et al. model, and satellite observations for precipitating auroral electron energy fluxes

[摘要] A semi-quantitative comparison has been made of the observed and calculated precipitating electron energy fluxes for the April 1988 magnetic storm. Electron energy fluxes were calculated by the Rice Magnetospheric Specification Model (MSM), a comprehensive model of the inner magnetospheric environment, and by the Hardy et al. model, a statistical model of electron precipitation in the auroral zone. The MSM correlates better with the observed fluxes than does the Hardy et al. model in terms of auroral boundaries, latitudinal profile and extent, and the actual magnitude of the energy flux. The sources of error in the MSM are probably: (1) Artificial flux dropouts created near the ionospheric projection of the model outer boundary, (2) an overestimate of the convection electric field, and (3) errors in locating the polar cap boundary.

[发布机构] Rice University

[效力级别] Particle physics