Ionospheric Outflow During the Substorm Growth Phase: THEMIS Observations of Oxygen Ions at the Plasma Sheet Boundary.

Ionospheric outflow is an important plasma source that feeds the near‐Earth magnetotail with heavy oxygen ions. Because these ions can significantly alter the structure and stability of the magnetotail current sheet, the characteristics of this outflow are important for accurate magnetosphere modeling, including modeling of substorms—a key element of magnetosphere dynamics. Using Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) spacecraft measurements in the magnetotail (around the plasma sheet boundary), we investigate characteristics oxygen outflows observed during substorm growth phases. The observed oxygen ion temperature and flow energy indicate that the outflow is marginally stable to ion acoustic wave generation: The oxygen temperature is slightly lower than the electron temperature and slightly higher than the oxygen flow energy. Moreover, the observed outflows are accompanied by low frequency electrostatic waves that may contribute to outflow thermalization. The oxygen bulk velocity has a significant component directed toward the equatorial plane, originating from the cross‐field drift in the convection electric field. The estimated radial distances at which oxygen ions reach the plasma sheet are ∼20–40RE downtail, that is, outflows during substorm growth phases can alter current sheet characteristics around the potential magnetic reconnection region. Key Points: We present observations of ionospheric oxygen outflow during the substorm growth phaseTypical oxygen outflow is marginally stable to ion acoustic wave generationOxygen ions drift toward the equatorial plane because of convection electric field [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]