Energy budget of the magnetosphere-ionosphere system in solar Cycle 23

Abstract

The energy budget of the magnetosphere-ionosphere (MI) system during 1998–2008 was examined by using Akasofu’s epsilon function. The results showed that 1) the yearly average rate of solar wind energy input into the MI system was 4.51 GGJ (GGJ=1018 J), while the yearly average total dissipation was 4.30 GGJ; 2) the energy partitioning in the ring current and polar region was 56%:44%; 3) the energy input and dissipation processes continuously proceeded both in storm-substorm events and less disturbed intervals, suggesting the significant contribution of slow but long-lasting energy process during the less disturbance periods to the total energy budget. In addition, we found in this study an interesting phenomenon “self-adjustment ability” of the MI system which behaves just like a water reservoir. During solar active years, the input energy is more than the dissipated energy, implying that a portion of the input energy is not immediately released, but is stored in the magnetosphere. On the other hand, during less active years, the dissipated energy is more than the input energy, implying that the previously stored energy makes up for the energy input shortage in this period.