Stability of the magnetospheric plasma pressure distribution and magnetospheric storms Original Research Article

One of the main features of magnetospheric storms is the increase of the inner magnetospheric plasma pressure. Models of this increase take into account the transport and acceleration of the plasma sheet particles by the large-scale dawn–dusk electric field and particle injections by the induction fields of magnetospheric substorms. Upper limit of the increase of the inner magnetospheric plasma pressure is determined by the condition of the stability of the plasma pressure profile. The most dangerous instability in the regions of low plasma parameter is the interchange instability. The development of such kind of instability leads to the loss of plasma up to form the quasi-stable profile of the plasma pressure. Developed theoretical approach gives the possibility to explain the radial dependence of the storm time plasma pressure profile and the dependence of Dst-variation on the most equatorial position of storm time auroral electrojets.