The Magnetosheath Transport: From Local Kinetics to Global Dynamics (MAST) project quantitatively assessed the solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere (SW-M-I) energetics including effects of solar wind and magnetosheath fluctuations to resolve the energy dissipation processes and paths under a variety of solar wind and IMF conditions. Specifically, we seeked to understand the solar wind energy entry processes through the magnetopause, and the effects of solar wind and/or magnetosheath fluctuations on these processes. The research was carried out by Qusai Al Shidi, Matti Ala-Lahti, and Austin Brenner, in collaboration with Minna Palmroth from the University of Helsinki.
The research employed three global magnetospheric simulation setups employing two versions of the Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) Geospace model and the Vlasiator global Vlasov simulation (collaboration with University of Helsinki).
We compared the model results with in-situ measurements using THEMIS, Van Allen Probes, MMS, Cluster, and other available spacecraft as well as with geomagnetic indices AU/AL and SYM-H, or their equivalents using additional stations provided by the SuperMAG network. We compared the energy dissipation in the ionosphere and in the inner magnetosphere under differently fluctuating solar wind driving using observational proxies based on the geomagnetic indices.
 Research funded by the NSF |
