The relationship between the edge plasma temperature, the magnetic topology, and the ionization region. (Top) Self-consistently calculated EMC3-EIRENE background plasma temperature in the Edge-Islands configuration (a) and the No-Edge-Islands configuration (b). In the Edge-Islands configuration, the 8/7 island structure can clearly be seen in the temperature plot. (Bottom) EMC3-EIRENE plots of the plasma source rate, S_p, in the Edge-Islands configuration (c) and the No-Edge-Islands configuration (d). Note that in the Edge-Islands configuration, the ionization region is smaller and peaks near the 8/7 island X-point. This is in contrast to the source rate in the No-Edge-Islands case which is more diffuse and penetrates more deeply into the confinement region.