Ring Current Investigations: The Quest for Space Weather Prediction

Ring Current Investigations offers a comprehensive description of ring current dynamics in the Earth’s magnetosphere as part of the coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere system. In order to help researchers develop a deeper understanding of the fundamental physics of geomagnetic storms, it includes a detailed description of energetic charged particles injection, trapping, and loss. It reviews historical and recent advances in observations, measurements, theory and simulations of the inner magnetosphere and its coupling to the ionosphere and other surrounding plasma populations. In addition, it compares the physics of ring currents at other strongly magnetized planets in the solar system, specifically Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, with the ring current system at Earth.

Providing a description of the most important space weather effects driven by inner magnetospheric energetic particles during geomagnetic storms and present capabilities for their nowcast and forecast, Ring Current Investigations is an important reference for researchers in geophysics and space science, especially related to plasma physics, the ionosphere and magnetosphere, solar-terrestrial relations, and spacecraft anomalies.

Includes an appendix with links to downloadable video clips, illustrating features of ring current and geomagnetic storm dynamicsProvides overview of existing state-of-the-art numerical models and links for open-source code downloadsOffers guidance on how to develop numerical models within the context of the present-day understanding

1. Introduction and historical background 2. Observations and Measurement Techniques  3. Theoretical Description  4. Modeling Techniques  5. Ring Current Development  6. Ring Current Decay

7. Cross-Regional Coupling 8. Space Weather Effects and Prediction 9. Comparative Planetary Ring Currents  Appendix