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The Ion Temperature Gradient Contribution to the Global Magnetopause Current
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  • Jason M H Beedle,
  • Daniel J Gershman,
  • Vadim M Uritsky,
  • Tai D Phan,
  • Barbara L. Giles
Jason M H Beedle
The Catholic University of America

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Daniel J Gershman
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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Vadim M Uritsky
The Catholic University of America
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Tai D Phan
Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California Berkeley
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Barbara L. Giles
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
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Abstract

Magnetopause diamagnetic currents arise from density and temperature driven pressure gradients across the boundary layer. While theoretically recognized, the temperature contributions to the magnetopause current system have not yet been systematically studied. To bridge this gap, we used a database of Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) magnetopause crossings to analyze diamagnetic currents and their contributions across the dayside and flank magnetopause. Our results indicate that the ion temperature gradient component makes up to 30% of the ion diamagnetic current along the magnetopause and typically opposes the classical Chapman-Ferraro current direction, interfering destructively with the density gradient component, thus lowering the total diamagnetic current. This effect is most pronounced on the flank magnetopause. The electron diamagnetic current was found to be 4 to 12 times weaker than the ion diamagnetic current on average.