Coordinated Cluster and Double Star observations of the dayside magnetosheath and magnetopause at different latitudes near noon

Details Coordinated Cluster and Double Star observations of the dayside magnetosheath and magnetopause at different latitudes near noon Coordinated Cluster and Double Star observations of the dayside magnetosheath and magnetopause at different latitudes near noon

Jul 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008jgra..11307s06p&link_type=abstract

Journal of Geophysical Research, Volume 113, Issue A7, CiteID A07S06

Physics

Magnetospheric Physics: Solar Wind/Magnetosphere Interactions, Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetopause And Boundary Layers, Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetic Reconnection (7526, 7835), Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosheath

Scientific paper

We present results of a favorable conjunction where the equatorial spacecraft (TC-1) of the Double Star mission exits the dayside magnetopause near the equator, while Cluster is inbound, near the southern cusp. This configuration makes it possible to compare observations of the magnetopause, around the same magnetic local time but at different latitudes. In this paper, we report on the general properties of the magnetosheath plasma at the two latitudes: unlike predictions from gasdynamic modeling, the density is found lower near the nose of the magnetopause than further downstream. Then, we present three interesting events. First, an FTE is observed at TC-1 and not at Cluster; we discuss the implications this has on the evolution of FTEs and on the size of the reconnection site. Then, a structure observed at both spacecraft is interpreted as a bulge progressing along the magnetopause. It is not clear whether this bulge is actually the remnant of an FTE or a running pulse that makes Cluster sense the reconnection layer. In any case, a rotational discontinuity is observed within it. At last, a northward turning of the magnetosheath magnetic field is observed at TC-1 and a reverse FTE is subsequently seen at Cluster, suggesting that magnetic reconnection is very fast to set up following a change in the IMF orientation.

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