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What Is The Source Of Observed Annual Variations In Plasmaspheric Density?, S. M. Guiter, C. E. Rasmussen, T. I. Gombosi, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
What Is The Source Of Observed Annual Variations In Plasmaspheric Density?, S. M. Guiter, C. E. Rasmussen, T. I. Gombosi, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
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Plasmaspheric densities have been observed previously to be higher in December than in June, with the ratio varying between 1.5 and 3.0 and with larger variations at lower L shells. In order to search for the cause of the observed annual variations, we have modeled plasmaspheric density, using a time-dependent hydrodynamic model. On an L = 2 field line with geomagnetic longitude equal to 300°, the modeled plasmaspheric densities were a factor of 1.5 times higher in December than in June. The modeled December to June density ratio was found to increase slightly with L shell, in contrast to observations; …