Influence of upstream solar wind on thermospheric flows at Jupiter

TL;DR

This study uses a global circulation model to analyze how upstream solar wind conditions influence Jupiter's thermospheric flows, currents, and energy dissipation, revealing significant impacts on Joule heating and ion drag.

Contribution

It introduces a novel simulation approach linking solar wind variability to thermospheric dynamics and energy inputs at Jupiter.

Findings

Joule heating and ion drag increase by ~190% and ~185% from compressed to expanded magnetosphere models.

Boundary conditions at the magnetodisc's outer edge significantly affect angular momentum transfer.

Variations in upstream solar wind alter the energy and flow patterns in Jupiter's thermosphere.

Abstract

The coupling of Jupiter's magnetosphere and ionosphere plays a vital role in creating its auroral emissions. The strength of these emissions is dependent on the difference in speed of the rotational flows within Jupiter's high-latitude thermosphere and the planet's magnetodisc. Using an azimuthally symmetric global circulation model, we have simulated how upstream solar wind conditions affect the energy and direction of atmospheric flows. In order to simulate the effect of a varying dynamic pressure in the upstream solar wind, we calculated three magnetic field profiles representing compressed, averaged and expanded `middle' magnetospheres. These profiles were then used to solve for the angular velocity of plasma in the magnetosphere. This angular velocity determines the strength of currents flowing between the ionosphere and magnetosphere. We examine the influence of variability in this current system upon the global winds and energy inputs within the Jovian thermosphere. We find that the power dissipated by Joule heating and ion drag increases by ~190% and ~185% from our compressed to expanded model respectively. We investigated the effect of exterior boundary conditions on our models and found that by reducing the radial current at the outer edge of the magnetodisc, we also limit the thermosphere's ability to transmit angular momentum to this region.