The role of magnetospheric plasma in solar wind-magnetosphere coupling: A review

Abstract

A variety of magnetospheric plasma populations have been proposed to impact solar wind-magnetosphere coupling. These magnetospheric populations could mass load the dayside magnetopause and include the plasmaspheric plume, plasma cloak, ion plasma sheet, and dayside ion outflow. Each has different densities, ion composition, and spatial/temporal occurrences at the dayside magnetopause which may coupling in different ways. These properties are reviewed as well as proposed mechanisms for impacting wave formation and magnetic reconnection. Broader discussion on control of solar wind-magnetosphere coupling governed by through local boundary physics or through the driving of the solar wind (local versus global control) is also considered.