Penetrating electric field simulated by the MAGE and comparison with ICON observation

Two intervals were selected for detailed analysis and the latter one was compared with the vertical ion drift data from the NASA Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite. The MAGE simulations show that in southward IMF (S-IMF) cases, the dawn-dusk electric potential drop at the equator is about 12% of the cross polar cap potential difference.

Based on the MAGE simulation, the dawn-dusk potential drop at the equator varies nearly instantaneously on the order of a few minutes with the changes in the IMF B-Z or interplanetary electric field, which in turn alters the vertical ion drift. The daytime changes of the equatorial vertical ion drift in response to the penetrating electric field related to the IMF B-Z are only half of that during the nighttime. ICON data, though not inconsistent with the simulation, were not able to verify the occurrence of penetrating electric field because of its unfavorable location at the time.