Work

Predictions of Auroral Electron Precipitation and Joule Heating at Uranus

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The precipitation of electrons and Joule heating are key processes through which energy is transferred from Uranus' magnetosphere to its upper atmosphere. These processes drive atmospheric ionization, thermospheric heating, and auroral emission at Uranus. Here we scale measurements at Earth, Saturn, and Jupiter, with relevant Voyager 2 observations to estimate the properties of magnetospheric energy input at Uranus. We find that the acceleration of electrons between the magnetosphere and thermosphere is predicted to be Earth‐like, but with significantly lower overall energy flux and field aligned currents due to Uranus' sparser magnetosphere. In addition, we estimate that the height‐integrated Joule heating rates at Uranus could reach ∼1 mW/m2, levels that would produce significant thermospheric heating.

Source: Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: 10.1029/2024gl114470

Authors: Daniel J. Gershman, George Clark

Institutions: Goddard Space Flight Center, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Language: English

Topic: Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics

Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,190

Funders: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Johns Hopkins University, Goddard Space Flight Center