(1)How is the mass of the atmosphere processed to constitute the outflow? (2)How is the energy from the magnetosphere processed through the system resulting in ion outflow? (3) Rate of mass outflow as a function of energy input: A) How does that depend on conditions such as seasons and or geomagnetic conditions. B) The role of ion outflow in storms.

Auroral Luminosity Downward Alfvén Poynting Flux Upward Ion Beams Liou et al. ‘97 Keiling et al. ‘03 Collin et al. ‘98

Carlson et al. ‘01 Alfvén Wave Induced Outflow

OUTFLOW Strangeway et al. ’02

Li and Temerin ‘93

Auroral substorms & geomagnetic storms Hypothesis (McFadden) Substorms deposit EM energy at low altitude. Ionosphere expands, promoting intense ion outflows. Stormtime electric fields force outflowing ions into near-earth plasmasheet. Betatron acceleration energizes earthward convecting ions. The now prodigious, energetic ions further energize the ring current, intensifying the storm.

Occurrence of Upward Ion Beams Near 1R E Altitude (Polar TIMAS) Collin et al. ‘98