Modelling mesoscale processes in the global geospace system

Intermediate or mesoscale processes mediate the transfer of mass, momentum, and energy across the dynamic solar wind-magnetosphere interface, and the propagation of this input through the system to the ionosphere and atmosphere. The Dartmouth-Berkeley-Minnesota theory team has identified a number of mesoscale phenomena to be investigated as part of the GGS program, including: (1) effects of upstream density fluctuations on magnetopause dynamics, (2) three-dimensional reconnection, (3) magnetopause depletion layer studies, (4) ring current interaction with Pc 1 and Pc 5 waves, (5) generation of ion Larmor-scale current layers in the near Earth plasmasheet, (6) test particle studies in the magnetotail, (7) simulation of magnetosphere- ionosphere coupling including effects of kinetic Alfvén waves and (8) auroral acceleration region studies of the effects of kinetic Alfvén waves on particle distribution functions. A broad range of techniques will be implemented including ideal and reduced MHD, two fluid, hybrid, particle-in-cell and test particle simulations. Detailed comparison of simulation results with GGS satellite and ground based data will be undertaken.