Magnetospheric plasma sources and losses: future directions

Abstract

There are but two sources of plasma for the magnetosphere, an external source, the solar wind, and an internal source, the ionosphere. Chapters 2 through 6 of Ms book have presented a detailed discussion of how these sources contribute to the overall plasma content of the magnetosphere and to its resident particle populations. Chapter 7 summarises the general level of our understanding with respect to these magnetospheric sources and losses as well as the global flow of plasma through the system. It appears that while the overall plasma balance of the global magnetosphere is known to first order, many specific elements of the plasma balancing process are not understood or have not been observed. A substantial amount of theoretical, analytical, and experimental work remains to be done in order to provide answers to the many open questions identified in this book. This chapter discusses the major open questions that remain in determining the contribution of each source to the magnetosphere’s plasma content.