On the Importance of Solar Wind Observations Upstream of Jupiter's Magnetosphere

Details On the Importance of Solar Wind Observations Upstream of Jupiter's Magnetosphere On the Importance of Solar Wind Observations Upstream of Jupiter's Magnetosphere

Dec 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufmsm23b1617f&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #SM23B-1617

Physics

[2744] Magnetospheric Physics / Magnetotail, [2756] Magnetospheric Physics / Planetary Magnetospheres, [6220] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Jupiter

Scientific paper

Dynamics in the Earth's magnetosphere are largely controlled by the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). In contrast dynamics at Jupiter are controlled by a combination of internal processes and the solar wind. The relative importance of internal processes and the solar wind remains uncertain. For instance Woch et al., [2002] reported periodic plasma bursts in the Jovian magnetotail that occurred at intervals of two to three days. Kronberg et al., [2005] have argued that these bursts were caused entirely by internal processes while Fukazawa et al., [2006] suggested that this periodic phenomenon was controlled by changes in the magnetospheric configuration which in turn were controlled by a combination internal effects and the solar wind. Recently the New Horizons spacecraft observed tailward moving plasma structures in Jupiter's distant tail (X>-200RJ). McComas et al., [2007] suggested that these structures were plasmoids like those observed nearer Jupiter. Recently Hill et al., [2009] used energetic particle observations to argue for the presence narrow magnetic filaments in the same region. We have carried out a series of MHD simulations with a long tail (1500RJ) to investigate the structure of the distant tail. We find both types of structure in the tail and that which type is present is dependent on the solar wind and IMF. The periodic plasmoid ejections occur when the IMF is northward or oscillate between northward and southward. The magnetic flux tubes like structures are formed when the dynamic pressure is oscillating. Without solar wind observations upstream of Jupiter it will be difficult to distinguish between the two types of behavior.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

On the Importance of Solar Wind Observations Upstream of Jupiter's Magnetosphere does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with On the Importance of Solar Wind Observations Upstream of Jupiter's Magnetosphere, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and On the Importance of Solar Wind Observations Upstream of Jupiter's Magnetosphere will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1878018