Openggcm Simulations of Energy Conversion in Dipolarization Fronts

Abstract:

Over the past few years results from the THEMIS mission have shown that
Bursty Bulk Flows (BBFs) and the associated Dipolarization Fronts (DFs)
are ubiquitous features of the tail plasma sheet. They also play a major role
in the transport of energy, plasma, and magnetic flux. However, their role
in converting energy is not entirely clear. DFs have been implicated
as significant electromagnetic energy dissipation sites,
thus competing with reconnection as a major energy conversion process.
In this presentation we use
global OpenGGCM simulations to assess the role that BBFs and DFs play in the
energy and entropy budget of the tail, and the relative importance of dissipation
at DFs versus dissipation at reconnection sites.