Earth's ionospheric outflow dominated by hidden cold plasma
André, M.; Eriksson, A. I.; Cully, C. M.; Engwall, E.; Vaith, H.; Torbert, R.
Sweden, United States
Abstract
The Earth constantly loses matter, mostly in the form of H+ and O+ ions. Analysis of measurements from the Cluster spacecraft reveals that the total loss of cold ions, below 1 eV in thermal energy, is larger than the previously observed, more energetic, outflow.