Distribution of ionospheric O~ ion in synchronous altitude region

Since ions originating from the ionosphere were discovered in the magnetosphere in the be-ginning of 1970s[1], it is gradually confirmed that the ionosphere is a source of magnetospheric ion (the other source is solar wind). Research result on ionospheric…

Distribution of ionospheric O+ion in synchronous altitude region

Based on satellite observation data, using dynamics equation, the ionospheric O+ion's distribution in the synchronous altitude region for different geomagnetic activity index Kp is studied by theoretical modeling and numerical analyzing, and semi-empirical models for the O+ion's density and flux versus longitude in the synchronous altitude region for different Kp are given. The main results show that in the synchronous altitude region:(i) The O+ ion's density andflux in dayside are larger than those in nightside.(ii) With longitude changing, the higher the geomagnetic activity index Kp is, the higher the O+ion's density and flux, and their variation amplitude will be. The O+ion's density and flux when Kp ≥ 6 will be about ten times as great as that when Kp = 0.(iii) When Kp = 0 or Kp ≥ 6, the O+ion's density reaches maximum at longitudes 120°and240°respectively, and minimum in the magnetotail. When Kp = 3-5, the O+ion'sdensity gets to maximum at longitude 0°, and minimum in the magnetotail. However, the O+ ion's flux reaches maximum at longitude 120°and 240°respectively, and minimum in the magnetotail for any Kp value.