Magnetic flux circulation in the Saturnian magnetosphere as constrained by Cassini observations in the inner magnetosphere
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In steady state, magnetic flux conservation must be maintained in Saturn’s magnetosphere. The Enceladus plumes add mass to magnetic flux tubes in the inner magnetosphere, and centrifugal force pulls the mass-loaded flux tubes outward. Those flux tubes are carried outward to the magnetotail where they deposit their mass and return to the mass loading region. It may take days for the magnetic flux to be carried outward to the tail, but the return of the nearly empty flux tubes can last only several hours, with speeds of inward motion around 200 km/s. Using time sequences of Cassini particle count rate, the difference in curvature drift and gradient drift is accounted for to determine the return speed, age, and starting dipole L-shell of return flux tubes. Determination of this flux-return process improves our understanding of the magnetic flux circulation at Saturn and provides insight into how other giant planets remove the mass added by their moons.
Date Issued
2021-11
Date Acceptance
2021-10-15
Citation
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 2021, 126 (11), pp.1-9
ISSN
2169-9380
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
Start Page
1
End Page
9
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Volume
126
Issue
11
Copyright Statement
© 2021. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. This is the accepted version of the following article: Lai, H., Jia, Y.-D., Russell, C. T., Jia, X., Masters, A., Dougherty, M. K., & Cui, J. (2021). Magnetic flux circulation in the Saturnian magnetosphere as constrained by Cassini observations in the inner magnetosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JA029304
Sponsor
The Royal Society
The Royal Society
Identifier
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021JA029304
Grant Number
UF150547
URF\R\211012
Subjects
0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences
0401 Atmospheric Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-10-23