Oxygen and hydrogen ion abundance in the near-Earth magnetosphere: Statistical results on the response to the geomagnetic and solar wind activity conditions

The composition of ions plays a crucial role for the fundamental plasma properties in the terrestrial magnetosphere. We investigate the oxygen‐to‐hydrogen ratio in the near‐Earth magnetosphere from −10 RE 274 keV O+ ion intensities, relative to the corresponding hydrogen intensities; (3) In contrast to ∼10 keV ions, the >274 keV O+ions show the strongest acceleration during growth phase and not during the expansion phase itself. This suggests a connection between the energy input to the magnetosphere and the effective energization of energetic ions during growth phase; (4) The ratio between quiet and disturbed times for the intensities of ion ionospheric outflow is similar to those observed in the near‐Earth magnetosphere at >274 keV. Therefore, the increase of the energetic ion intensity during disturbed time is likely due to the intensification and the effective acceleration of the ionospheric source. In conclusion, the energization process in the near‐Earth magnetosphere is mass dependent and it is more effective for the heavier ions. Key Points Response of the O+ and H+ to the geomagnetic and solar wind changes The strongest energetic O+ acceleration is during growth phase O+ at lower energies is strongly affected by storms and substorms