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Refilling Of Geosynchronous Flux Tubes As Observed At The Equator By Geos 2, Jan Josef Sojka, G. L. Wrenn

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During periods of extended quiet geomagnetic activity the geosynchronous satellite orbit lies inside the plasmasphere. Five such periods were observed by the GEOS 2 satellite. During the initial 48 hours of such periods the equatorial plasma flux tube density increases at 30 to 50 cm⁻³/day. However, on reaching ∼100 cm⁻³ the refilling rate decreases, and refilling is limited. Only when the density reaches ∼100 cm⁻³ do the plasma characteristics and fluctuations appear to be plasmaspheric and the flow predominantly corotational. The “hot outer zone” of the plasmasphere is highly structured in density and temperature when viewed …