First-principles physics of cusp/polar cap thermospheric disturbances

This first-principles examination of physics driving the cusp/polar upper thermosphere response to significant input energy impulses discloses previously unappreciated factors essential to thermospheric input-response relationships. The physics essential to coupling of cusp input-response processes is detailed, to make previously unexplained up-to-doubling of air density and drag near 400 km not only understandable but expected, if not inevitable. Presented as a common natural consequence of magnetic reconnection near the magneto-pause, this energy-coupling from sun to upper atmosphere is through familiar processes, but by inadequately appreciated linkages. The underlying physics applies more broadly than this. We trace a logic path that should clarify the input-response, and lay out a path which if followed should enable most existing time-dependent 3-D global thermospheric models to significantly improve the realism of their representation and prediction of cusp/polar thermosphere disturbances to transient energy sources. We illustrate the concept with a sample model-run incorporating representative data. Citation: Carlson, H. C., T. Spain, A. Aruliah, A. Skjaeveland, and J. Moen (2012), First-principles physics of cusp/polar cap thermospheric disturbances, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L19103, doi:10.1029/2012GL053034.