Energy coupling between the magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere Original Research Article

Characteristics of the energy couplings between the magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere have been determined through an analysis of the electromagnetic energy transfer rate J·E, the Joule heating rate J·E′ and the mechanical energy transfer rate U·(J×B) using EISCAT Common Program-1 mode data obtained from 1989 to 1991. The input electromagnetic energy is distributed to both Joule heating and the mechanical energy of the neutral gas. The energy distributed to J·E′ is larger than that to U·(J×B), but the latter one is not negligible. J·E, J·E′ and U·(J×B) respectively have two maxima in the dawn and dusk regions, not in the midmight region. These quantities show a positive correlation with the increase of the geomagnetic activity.